Same as rain gauge.

An instrument which determines the black-body temperature of a substance by measuring its thermal radiation.

bucket rain gauge-A rain gauge where the precipitation collected by the receiver empties into one side of a chamber which is partioned transversely at its center and is balanced bistably upon a horizontal axis. When a predetermined amount of water has bee ...

Downward-facing pyranometer used for measuring reflected solar radiation.

Federal Aviation Administration.

A type of rain gauge shield consisting of freely hanging, evenly spaced slats arranged circularly around the gauge. The advantage of this shield is that the slats do not easily accumulate snow, permitting its use on unattended gauges. See rain gauge shiel ...

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 ...

Contraction for radiosonde observation.

Abbreviation for radio frequency.

A hygrometer which includes an arrangement for the time recording of atmospheric humidity.

A radiosonde whose carrier wave is switched on and off in such a manner that the interval of time between the transmission of signals if a function of the magnitude of the meteorological elements being measured.

The component of the radiosonde which includes the modulating blocking oscillator and the radiofrequency carrier oscillator.

A thermometer which utilizes the thermal properties of gas. There are two forms of this instrument: (a) a type in which the gas is kept at constant volume, and pressure is the thermometric property, and (b) a type in which the gas is kept at constant pres ...

Same as Aeolian.

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

A wind blowing in the same direction as the heading of a moving object. thus assisting the object's intended progress. The opposite of a head wind.

A small balloon used to determine the height of the cloud base. The height can be computed from the ascent velocity of the balloon and the time required for its disappearance into the cloud.

A component of the wind (often using Cartesian coordinates. i.e. X and Y wind vectors). Also, an arrow representing wind velocity, drawn to point in the direction of the wind and with a length proportional to wind speed.

The general term for anemometers operating on the principle that the heat transfer to air from an object at an elevated temperature is a function of the air speed. Examples are the hot-wire anemometer and the katathermometer.

National Weather Service. Administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce.