A strong wind characterized by a sudden onset, a duration on the order of minutes, and a rather sudden decrease in speed.

A measure of luminous flux remaining in a light beam after it has passed through a specified distance of the atmosphere.

A rocket designed primarily for routine upper air observations in the lower 250,000 feet of the atmosphere, especially that portion inaccessible to balloons (above 100,000 feet).

A type of wind vane having a split or V-shaped tail. The apex orients itself to the direction of the wind.

An anemometer which measures wind speed by means of the properties of wind-borne sound waves. It operates on the principle that the propagation velocity of a sound wave in a moving medium is equal to the velocity of sound with respect to the medium plus t ...

Name sometimes used in place of pyranometer as a generic term.

A colorless and odorless gaseous element. The lightest and apparently the most abundant chemical element in the universe. However, it is found only in trace quantities in the observable portion of our atmosphere, only about 0.00005 percent by volume of dr ...

A line of equal or constant pressure.

Precipitation of white, opaque, spherical or conical ice particles that are crisp and easily crushed and that have diameters of 2 to 5 mm.

The scientific study of the waters of the earth, especially with relation to the effects of precipitation and evaporation upon the occurrence and character of water in streams, lakes, and on or below the land surface. In terms of the hydrologic cycle, the ...

A clay atmometer consisting of a hollow ceramic sphere through which evaporation occurs. Evaporation is measured by the loss of water from the reservoir which feeds the sphere.

An area of low barometric pressure, with its attendant system of winds. Also called a depression or cyclone.

A spring which is designed to achieve a fixed spring constant over a wide temperature range. Usually, this involves an alloy with high nickel content such as Ni-Span C. It is common for these springs to be stress relieved at elevated temperature after for ...

Wind with a speed between 34 and 40 knots (39 and 46 mph); Beaufort scale number 8.

A graduated scale placed in a position so that the stage of a stream may be read directly from it. Staff gauges may be placed on bridge piers or pilings, etc., or placed on specially constructed supports.

A mercury barometer of the fixed cistern type in which a moveable scale terminating in an ivory point is used to compensate for the variations in the height of the mercury in the cistern

The quantity to be measured (or modulated, or detected, or operated upon) which is received by an instrument. Thus, for a thermometer. temperature is the input quantity.

A balloon having a detachable tail which is released when the balloon has undergone a predetermined expansion. It thus serves to measure approximately the density of the atmosphere at the point of release.

A unit of pressure which directly expresses the force exerted by the atmosphere. Equal to 1000 dynes/cm2 or 100 pascals.

The process by which water in plants is transferred as water vapor to the atmosphere. Also, the amount of water so transferred.