K
The terms and definitions found in the glossary relate to the science of meteorology.
For descriptions and definitions of words used in the Bureau's forecasts and warnings, please refer to Weather Words.
- Katabatic wind
- Downslope wind caused by greater air density on the slope than at some distance, horizontally from it. The wind is associated with surface cooling of the slope.
- Kelvin
- Unit of thermodynamic temperature. Symbol: K
K = C + 273.2
Zero Kelvin is referred to as "Absolute Zero". - Kite balloon
- Captive balloon of special form used to maintain meteorological instruments at an approximately constant height in the atmosphere.
- Knot
- Unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour.
- Køppen's classification of climates
- Classification of climate based on annual and monthly means of temperature and precipitation (rainfall) which also takes into account the vegetation limits. It is a tool for presenting the world pattern of climate and for identifying important deviations from this pattern.
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