Hurricane - a tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour or greater.
Typhoons - are tropical cyclones that hit coasts along the northwest Pacific Ocean. They may take place at virtually any time of the year and sometimes kill 100,000 or more people at a time. In some parts of the world, such as India and Australia, these storms are called cyclones.
Storm Surges - associated with typhoons and hurricanes, storm surges frequently flood low-lying areas. First the pressure drop within the storm allows water in the ocean to rise. High winds then pile up the water. The surges cause temporary increases in sea level of as much as 6 m. Tsunamis popularly called tidal waves are triggered by offshore earthquakes rather than cylonic winds.
Waterspouts - are usually weak tornadoes that form over open water. Occasionally, waterspouts whirl to shore, wrecking boats and damaging docks and sea front buildings.
Air Pressure - a force on a given area, due to the weight of air.
Barometer - an instrument used to measure air pressure.
Convection - movement of heat by warm and cold currents.
Convection Cells - pattern of air circulation caused by the uneven heating of the earth's surface.
Monsoon - a seasonal wind caused by temperature differences between land and ocean.
Coriolis Effect - change in direction of a moving object due to the earth's rotation.
Cyclone- a rotating wind system with low pressure at the center.
Anticyclone - a rotating wind system with high pressure at the center.
General Circulation- worldwide pattern of wind and weather.
Doldrums - zone of light unsteady wind around the equator.
Trade Winds- a belt of unsteady winds blowing toward the equator.
Polar Easterlies - a belt of winds flowing away from the pole.
Prevailing Westerlies - a belt of westerly winds in the middle latitudes.
Crests- top of the waves.
Troughs- bottoms of the waves.
Tides -the rise and fall of the seas caused by the moon's and sun's gravity.
Submitted By St. Norbert College Ocean Voyagers Program