Condensation - The change of state from vapor to liquid. The process releases latent heat. Conditional instability - A type of atmospheric instability where the air is stable if it is dry, and unstable if it is saturated. Conduction - The transfer of sensible heat from a warm object to a cool object through contact. Convection - A transfer of heat within a fluid by fluid motions.
Meteorologists refer to vertical motions as convective.
Horizontal motions are advective. Convective Temperature - The temperature to which air must be heated to generate convection solely by heating. Convective instability - The state of an unsaturated layer of air whose lapse rates of temperature and moisture are such that when lifted adiabatically to saturation, convection is spontaneous. Surface convergence leads to rising air whereas upper-level convergence causes subsidence. Coriolis force - An apparent force that makes moving objects deflect to the right of motion in the Northern Hemisphere.