An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
English-French-Persian

An unusual, frequently severe weather condition characterized by strong winds and dust-filled air over an extensive area. See also → dust devil, → dust whirl.

→ dust; → storm.

A violent disturbance of the Earth's magnetic field, distinct from regular diurnal variations, following a → solar flare or → coronal mass ejection.

→ geomagnetic; → storm.

A temporary, worldwide disturbance of the Earth's magnetic field by streams of charged particles from the Sun. Magnetic storms are frequently characterized by a sudden onset, in which the magnetic field undergoes marked changes in the course of an hour or less, followed by a very gradual return to normalcy, which may take several days.

→ magnetic; → storm.

A violent atmospheric disturbance on Mars marked by high amounts of dust, especially during spring and summer seasons of the planet southern hemisphere. The elongated orbit of Mars has several important consequences. During southern spring and summer, Mars travels near its → perihelion, while its southern pole is tilted toward the Sun. Therefore, its surface receives much more heat . The atmosphere's temperature near surface raises and since the upper layers of the atmosphere are cold, warm air moves up and takes dust particles upward. Each several years big storms occur and cover significant portions of the planet such that dust stays in the atmosphere for several weeks or months. See also → Mars' calendar.

→ Mars; → dust; → storm.

An extremely intense → meteor shower, in which hundreds or even many thousands of → meteors per hour may be observed. During the great → Leonids meteor storm of 1833 an estimated number of about 150,000 meteors fell per hour.

→ meteor; → storm.

Strong radio frequency radiation from the Sun, occurring in association with eruptions of solar flares or other causes of solar activity.

→ radio; → storm.

A strong wind carrying sand through the air.

→ sand; → storm.

An atmospheric disturbance with strong winds accompanied by rain, snow, or other precipitation and often by thunder and lightning.
A violent disturbance or upheaval.

M.E, from O.E. storm; cf. O.S., M.L.G., M.Du., Du. storm, O.H.G., Ger. sturm.

Tufân "storm; the roaring of the sea; noise, confused hum of men or animals," Lori tufo, Laki tuf "intense shower accompanied by wind," from tufidan "to roar, raise a tumult."

A → storm of → thunder and → lightning. Thunderstorms are associated with → convective clouds (Cumulonimbus) and are often accompanied by → precipitation. They are usually short-lived and hit on only a small area.

→ thunder; → storm.

Tondar-tuf, tufân-e tondari, from tondar, → thunder + tuf stem of tufidan "to roar, to raise a tumult," tufân "storm, the roaring of the sea, the confused hum of men or animals." This Persian word may be related to Gk. typhon "whirlwind, mythical monster associated with tempests."