A balloon-borne instrument for the simultaneous measurement and transmission of meteorological data. It includes transducers for the measurement of pressure, temperature, and humidity; a modulator for the conversion of the output of the transducers to a q ...

The addition of one or more redundant bits to information to verify its accuracy.

A device used on certain types of instruments to prevent unwanted radiation from affecting the measurement of a quantity. Also called solar radiation shield.

A diagram showing the intensity of the radiation field in all directions from a transmitting radio or radar antenna at a given distance from the antenna.

A device which automatically records the water equivalent of snow on a given surface as a function of time. A small sample of a radioactive salt is placed in the ground in a shielded collimator which directs a beam of radioactive particles upwards. A Geig ...

National Centers for Environmental Prediction. Central computer and communications facility of the National Weather Service; located in Washington, DC.

A rainbow of angular radius of about 50

General name for an instrument designed to measure the vertical component of the wind speed. See anemoclinometer.

Having a specific relationship to a time base or clock. In synchronous communications, data characters are sent according to a timing signal which synchronizes the two communicating devices.

The probability distribution of random errors, typically a normal distribution with a zero mean.

Any one of six gases, helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon, all of whose shells of planetary electrons contain stable numbers of electrons such that the atoms are chemically inactive.

A sudden brief increase in the speed of the wind, followed by a lull or slackening. Compare to peak gust.

A measure of the intensity of gusts given by the ratio of the total range of wind speed between gusts and the intermediate periods of lighter wind to the mean wind speed, averaged over both gusts and lulls.

A generic term for any machine that enables a human being to communicate with a computer.

An evaluation of upper air temperature, pressure, and humidity from radio signals received from a balloon- borne radiosonde.

Any source of radiant energy, especially electromagnetic energy.

A measurement of atmospheric conditions aloft, above the effective range of a surface weather observation. Elements evaluated include temperature, humidity, pressure, wind speed, and wind direction.

The record made by a hygrograph.

A device for measuring the height of tide. It may be simply a graduated staff in a sheltered location where visual observations can be made, or it may consist of an elaborate recording instrument (sometimes called a marigraph) making a continuous graphic ...

Same as rain-intensity gauge.