Do we confuse terms when there is a cold snap?

cold wave

In Spain we have suffered a cold wave of Siberian origin throughout the peninsula, except in the Canary Islands. We have been and still many autonomous communities are still on alert for low temperatures, heavy rains and gusts of wind.

During the cold waves There are many ways to explain or transmit cold, but meteorologists use some jargon that we may not understand well. What terms are used in cold spells?

What does it mean when a cold snap reaches its peak?

When a cold wave reaches its peak is equivalent to reaching the coldest point, that is, when the thermometers are going to indicate the lowest temperatures of the entire cold wave. It not only means that the cold wave reaches the minimum of temperatures, but that peak also refers to the moment of a period in which it is critical or culminating for some physical, organic processes, etc.

Minus below zero

Usually people are surprised when thermometers reach freezing temperatures. As it is not common for them to drop so low, expressions such as "there are temperatures below zero" are the order of the day. In addition to our Spanish vocabulary, we also hear it from the media on many occasions. In this way, we get confused with the terminology. And it is that the temperatures are either negative degrees or below zero, but not both.

Where does the cold come from?

It is always said that when it is really cold, it is polar cold. That is, the cold comes to us through the wind from the north pole. However, the cold and cold waves do not always come from the poles. Sometimes they come from Siberia, sometimes from the steppes, etc. But for the Spanish it will always be the polar cold.

Being chilled

It is one of the typical expressions of people when they enter work or the cafeteria. I'm chilling with cold. It is an expression that refers to being so cold that he is "stunned." This feeling is very common when temperatures drop so low.

cold wave

Thermal clothing vs thermal clothing

Also on colder days Internet searches increase on how to heat your home, save on heating and bundle up well to avoid catching a cold. The most important thing is to look for clothes that thermally insulate us from the cold to be as comfortable as possible on the street and at home. The clothes that make us avoid contact with the cold are thermal clothing, that is, socks, undershirts, gloves, coats, etc. But keep in mind that it is "thermal" clothing and not "thermal" clothing. Thermal clothing is clothing that protects us from the cold, but the term thermal refers to everything related to hot water springs. Do not confuse, but, google thermal clothing, to see what you get.

Glacial cold

Similar to thermal and thermal and polar cold, we tend to confuse the terms "glacial" and "glacier". In many news we find the expression "a bitter cold." However, glacier refers to everything related to glaciers and ice masses that accumulate above the limit of perpetual snow. While glacial is our thing, a 'very cold temperature' or 'that makes it freeze or freeze'.

glacier

Write cold and ice or cold and ice

It is usually said at the time of writing a wave of cold and ice. However, the correct way to put it is cold snap and ice. Thanks to the diphthong hie, it is not necessary to put the e for the conjunction. There are always those who affirm that the thing is not so bad, that this is not cold or glacial or polar or anything, that it is a little cold, like a little thing, almost a friito, we could say, or a fricito, which are the diminutives of this noun, for which we are not infrequently asked.


Be the first to comment

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *

*

*

  1. Responsible for the data: Miguel Ángel Gatón
  2. Purpose of the data: Control SPAM, comment management.
  3. Legitimation: Your consent
  4. Communication of the data: The data will not be communicated to third parties except by legal obligation.
  5. Data storage: Database hosted by Occentus Networks (EU)
  6. Rights: At any time you can limit, recover and delete your information.