Meteorology: Random Listings 

The wind speed and direction at various levels in the atmosphere above the level reached by surface weather observations.

A form of psychrometer with wet-bulb and dry-bulb thermometers mounted on opposite sides of a specialty designed graph of the psychrometric tables. It is so arranged that the intersections of two curves determined by the wet-bulb and dry-bulb readings -yi ...

A type of hygrometer which measures the water vapor content of the atmosphere by means of the absorption of vapor by a hygroscopic chemical.

Determined by weighing a special type of wooden stick that has been exposed in the woods, its weight being proportional to its contained water.

That temperature at which, in a specified latitude, the reading of a particular barometer requires no temperature or latitude correction.

An instrument designed to measure the effect of sunlight on evaporation from plant foliage. It consists of a porous clay atmometer whose surface has been blackened so that it absorbs radiant energy.

A general name for instruments which detect the presence of (but do not necessarily measure) small electrical charges by electrostatic means. Compare to electrometer.

The condition of the atmosphere when the amount of water vapor present is the maximum possible at the existing temperature.

The standard deviation (positive square-root of the variation) of the errors associated with physical measurements of an unknown quantity, or statistical estimates of an unknown parameter or of a random variable.

Electromagnetic radiation lying within the wavelength interval to which the human eye is sensitive, the spectral interval from approximately 0.4 to 0.7 microns (4000 to 7000 angstroms). Bounded on the short-wavelength end by ultraviolet radiation and on t ...

Electromagnetic radiation lying in the wavelength interval between 0.8 micron and I millimeter. At the lower limit of this interval, the infrared radiation spectrum is bounded by visible radiation, while on its upper limit it is bounded by microwave radia ...

The effect upon the measurement of rainfall caused by the presence of the rain gauge.

meter-An instrument for measuring the transmissivity of the atmosphere; a type of transmissometer. It consists of a constant- intensity collimated light source located at a suitable distance from a photoelectric cell. Variation in the turbidity of the atm ...

A unit that represents one degree of deviation from a reference point in the mean daily outdoor temperature (usually 65

In a system of moist air, the dimensionless ratio of the mass of water vapor to the total mass of the system.

A wind (or component thereof) directed down the slope of an incline and caused by greater air density near the slope than at the same levels some distance horizontally from the slope. Also called drainage wind and sometimes called katabatic wind.

The minimum temperature shown by a minimum thermometer exposed in an open situation with its bulb at the level of the tops of the grass blades of short turf.

The ratio of the amount of electromagnetic radiation reflected by a body to the amount incipient upon it, commonly expressed as a percentage. The albedo is to be distinguished from the reflectivity, which refers to one specific wavelength.

A system of physical units based on the use of the centimeter, gram. and the second as elementary quantities of length. mass. and time.