The maximum deviation of any points from a straight line drawn as a "best fit" through the calibration points of an instrument with a linear response curve. Usually expressed as a percentage of full- scale range.

See calorie.

A protocol similar to RS232 which makes use of differential transmission to provide high speed data transmission over significantly longer distances.

For a given locality and month, an empirical expression devised for the purpose of classifying climates numerically on the basis of precipitation and evaporation.

The water portion of the earth as distinguished from the solid part, called the lithosphere, and from the gaseous outer envelope, called the atmosphere.

Ice crystal deposits formed by sublimation (conversion of water vapor directly to ice) when temperature and dew point are below freezing.

A vent used with pressure sensors to reduce the effect of wind on the pressure inlet. It is normally mounted remotely and connected to the sensor using airtight tubing.

An accumulation of granular ice tufts on the windward sides of exposed objects that is formed from supercooled fog or cloud and built out directly against the wind.

The combined processes by which water is transferred from the earth's surface to the atmosphere: evaporation of liquid or solid water plus transpiration from plants.

An instrument used for measuring the specific gravity of a liquid.

The length of air flow past a wind vane required for the vane to respond to 50 percent of a step change in wind direction. Expressed in feet or meters and calculated from delay time times wind tunnel speed.

Same as dew-point hygrometer.

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

General term for any device that measures precipitation: principally a rain gauge or snow gauge.

Rate of flow of water past a point in a stream, expressed as volume per unit time, i.e. cubic feet per second.

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 ...

An early and once universal name for the mercury barometer.

Read Only Memory. A memory that cannot be altered in normal use of a computer, Usually used to store information permanently, such as firmware programs.

An Instrument used to determine dew point.

Companion to the wet-bulb thermometer in a psychrometer. Used to measure ambient air temperature.