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frost

(Encyclopedia)frost or hoarfrost, ice formed by the condensation of atmospheric water vapor on a surface when the temperature of the surface is below 32℉ (0℃). In the formation of frost, a gas (water vapor) is ...

Inuvik

(Encyclopedia)Inuvik ĭnˈo͞ovĭk [key], town, Northwest Territories, Canada, on the east channel of the M...

Semnan

(Encyclopedia)Semnan sĕmnänˈ [key], city (1991 pop. 75,131), capital of Semnan prov., N Iran. It is the trade and transportation center of a fertile agricultural region. Manufactures of the city include textiles...

Tanega-shima

(Encyclopedia)Tanega-shima tänāˈgä-shĭmä [key], island, 176 sq mi (456 sq km), off S Kyushu, Japan. Fishing and farming are important there. It is the site of Japan's main rocket launch center and a space sat...

Mimas

(Encyclopedia)Mimas mīˈmăs [key], in astronomy, one of the named moons, or natural satellites, of Saturn. Also known as Saturn I (or S1), Mimas is 244 mi (392 km) in diameter, orbits Saturn at a mean distance of...

humidity

(Encyclopedia)humidity, moisture content of the atmosphere, a primary element of climate. Humidity measurements include absolute humidity, the mass of water vapor per unit volume of natural air; relative humidity (...

Woomera

(Encyclopedia)Woomera wo͞oˈmərə [key], village (2016 pop. 146), South Australia, S Australia, near Lake Torrens. It is located within the large Woomera Range Complex, which includes and air force and missile-te...

smart weapon

(Encyclopedia)smart weapon, missile or steerable bomb equipped with a laser, television, or satellite guidance system. Smart weapons, which use guidance systems that rely on external assistance, are distinguished f...

Marvin, Charles Frederick

(Encyclopedia)Marvin, Charles Frederick, 1858–1943, American meteorologist, b. Putnam (now part of Zanesville), Ohio, grad. Ohio State Univ., 1883. He entered (1884) the U.S. Signal Service, predecessor of the We...

blizzard

(Encyclopedia)blizzard, winter storm characterized by high winds, low temperatures, and driving snow; according to the official definition given in 1958 by the U.S. Weather Bureau, the winds must exceed 35 mi (56 k...