Q Vectors - These vectors are calculated by meteorologists in order to find areas of the atmosphere with vertical ascent. They are an important tool because their interpretation allows meteorologists the ability to diagnose areas of lift in the vicinity of fronts as well as upper level jet streaks. Diagnosing lift is key to meteorologists because lift results in clouds and at times precipitation.

Frontolosis - The dissipation of a frontal zone due to a weakening contrast between two air masses. The temperature gradient weakens during frontolysis, meaning the rate of change of the temperature along the frontal boundary is lessening. At the end of frontolysis, the front no longer exists. The opposite of frontolysis is frontogenesis.

Cyclolysis - The process that occurs when a cyclone is weakening and decaying. At the end of cyclolysis, the cyclone has become extinct.

Thunderstorm - A local storm that spawns from a cumulonimbus cloud and is accompanied by lightning and thunder. The atmospheric conditions needed to produce a thunderstorm are warm and moist conditions in the low levels. It is estimated that around 1,800 thunderstorms are occurring on Earth at any given moment.

Lilapsophobia - This is the fear of tornadoes/hurricanes. People that have lived through the occurrence of a severe hurricane or tornado are most susceptible to this phobia.

Air Mass Thunderstorm - Generally, a thunderstorm not associated with a front or other type of synoptic-scale forcing mechanism. Air mass thunderstorms typically are associated with warm, humid air in the summer months; they develop during the afternoon in response to solar heating, and typically have a short lifespan. They are less likely to be severe than other types of thunderstorms, but they are still capable of producing gusty winds, brief heavy rain, and (in extreme cases) hail over 3/4 inch in diameter.

sounding - A sounding is the graphical output taken by a rawindsonde which is launched with a weather balloon to record various atmospheric variables in differing altitudes. Temperature, moisture, and wind speed/direction are most commonly measured when a sounding is taken. The data can be plotted on a diagram called a skew-t diagram which can give important details on the atmosphere such as how stable or unstable it is.