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thermal
thermal Used as a noun, the term refers to air that rises in a column over some localized heat source; it rises through the atmospheric environment as a result of its reduced density. Intense heating over land (and particularly over some types of surface) results in adiabatic expansion and uplift. When thermals rise to condensation level, short-lived clouds (e.g. fair-weather cumulus) may form. Continued strong thermals can result in the growth of the cloud into large cumulus or cumulonimbus. When the upward growth reaches a stable layer, the cloud top may spread laterally.
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AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "thermal." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 13 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "thermal." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 13, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-thermal.html AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "thermal." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved February 13, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-thermal.html |
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thermal
ther·mal / ˈ[unvoicedth]ərməl/ • adj. of or relating to heat. ∎ another term for geothermal. ∎ (of a garment) made of a fabric that provides exceptional insulation to keep the body warm: thermal underwear. • n. 1. an upward current of warm air, used by gliders, balloons, and birds to gain height. 2. (usu. thermals) a thermal garment, esp. underwear. DERIVATIVES: ther·mal·ly adv. |
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"thermal." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 13 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "thermal." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 13, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-thermal.html "thermal." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 13, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-thermal.html |
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thermal
thermal (noun) Air that rises in a column over some localized heat source, as a result of its reduced density. When thermals rise to the condensation level, short-lived clouds (e.g. fair-weather cumulus) may form. In continued strong thermals, the cloud may develop into large cumulus or cumulonimbus. When the upward growth reaches a stable layer, the cloud top may spread laterally.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "thermal." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 13 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "thermal." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 13, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-thermal.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "thermal." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved February 13, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-thermal.html |
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thermal
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"thermal." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 13 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "thermal." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 13, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-thermal.html "thermal." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 13, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-thermal.html |
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thermal
thermal pert. to hot springs XVIII; pert. to heat XIX. -F. thermal, f. Gr. thérmē heat; see -AL1.
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T. F. HOAD. "thermal." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 13 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "thermal." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 13, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-thermal.html T. F. HOAD. "thermal." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 13, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-thermal.html |
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thermal
thermal
•sewellel
•camel, enamel, entrammel, mammal, trammel
•miasmal, phantasmal
•Carmel
•abysmal, baptismal, catechismal, dismal, paroxysmal
•animal • minimal • lachrymal
•maximal
•decimal, infinitesimal
•septimal • optimal • primal • Rommel
•abnormal, conformal, formal, normal, paranormal, subnormal
•chromosomal • Kümmel
•Brummell, pommel, pummel
•epidermal, geothermal, isothermal, pachydermal, taxidermal, thermal
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"thermal." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 13 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "thermal." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 13, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-thermal.html "thermal." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 13, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-thermal.html |
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