• Convection

The tendency of cold, dense fluids to fall and displace warm, less dense fluids. 
• Condense

To give off latent heat and change states from a gas to a liquid. 
• Euphonious

having a pleasant sound. 
• front

a sloping surface in the atmosphere, separating air masses of differing temperature and/or density. 
• Jet stream

Upper level air flowing at up to 150 mph in a westerly direction in the Northern hemisphere. 
• Latent heat

Heat that's taken up or given off during a change of state. 
• OTD

Optical transient detector: a satellite capable of detecting extremely brief flashes of light, used to measure global lightning patterns. 
• Tornadic thunderstorm

A large thunderstorm that has the wind, temperature and humidity that make it capable of producing a tornado. 
• Tornado alley

A section of the Great Plains, including parts of Oklahoma, Texas.

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This lesson created by "The Why Files," a NISE project funded by the NSF. Lesson used by permission. Original lesson and graphics copyright NISE. Modifications copyright BPNM. 
Image courtesy NSSL (National Severe Storm Laboratory)