User:Nairb.Idi9/Meteor (meteorology)

In meteorology, a meteor is any observable phenomena in the atmosphere or on the surface of the Earth. Meteors include various visible or audible phenomena, such as precipitation, suspensions or deposits of particles, and electrical or optical phenomena.

The term meteor was introduced into meteorology in the 1975 edition of the WMO's International Cloud Atlas, which defines four classifications of meteors based on their constituent particles or formation process: hydrometeors, lithometeors, photometeors and electrometeors.

Etymology
Sharing the same origins as meteorology, the word meteor comes from the Ancient Greek word μετέωρος (metéōros) which means "high in the air."

Hydrometeors
A hydrometeor (from Ancient Greek ὕδωρ húdōr, “water”) is a meteor with water, either in liquid or solid state, as its constituent particle. Hydrometeors are the result of atmospheric water going through processes of condensation, freezing and deposition in the atmosphere or at the Earth's surface. Any water particle blown by the wind from the Earth's surface are also classified as hydrometeors.

Hydrometeors are subdivided into five types, namely: (1) suspended particles, (2) precipitation, (3) particles raised by the wind, (4) deposits of particles, and (5) spouts.

Lithometeor
A lithometeor (from λῐ́θος líthos, “stone”) is a meteor that consists of solid, non-aqueous particles. Lithometeors belong to one of two types: (1) suspension of particles, and (2) particles raised by the wind.

Photometeor
A photometeor (from φῶς phôs, “light”) is a meteor that involves the reflection, refraction, diffraction or interference of light from the Sun or the Moon.

Electrometeor
An electrometeor (from ἤλεκτρον ḗlektron, “amber”) is a visible or audible meteor caused by atmospheric electricity.