A rain gauge which automatically records the amount of precipitation collected, as a function of time.

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 ...

An absolute pyhrliometer, developed by C.G. Abbott, in which the radiation-sensing element is a blackened water-calorimeter.

Winds which, over a small area, differ from those which would be appropriate to the general pressure distribution.

See calorie.

The total electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun. About 99.9 percent of its energy output falls within the wavelength interval from 0. 15 microns to 4.0 microns, with peak intensity near 0.47 microns. About one-half of the total energy in the solar ...

A unit of energy defined as the heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. It is equal to 252.1 calories or to 1055 joules.

Wind with a speed between 48 and 55 knots (55 and 63 mph), Beaufort scale number 10.

An inert gas. An element found in the atmosphere to the extent of only 0.000114 percent by volume. Its molecular weight is 83.7.

The range of operating conditions of a device within which operating influences are negligible. The range is usually narrow. Reference operating conditions are the conditions under which reference performance is stated and the base from which the values o ...

An instrument which records the duration of sunshine and gives a quantitative measure of the amount of sunshine by the action of the sun's rays upon blueprint paper. A type of sunshine recorder.

A device used by oceanographers to obtain subsurface samples of sea water. The "bottle" is lowered by wire, its valves open at both ends. It is then closed in situ by allowing a weight (called a messenger) to slide down the wire and strike the reversing m ...

A common type of terrestrial scintillation; shimmering over a hot surface (such as a roadway) on a quiet, cloudless. summer day.

The total area drained by a river and its tributaries. Same as watershed.

Apparatus in which radar techniques are used to determine the range, elevation, and azimuth of a balloonborne target, to computer upper-air wind data. It is a type of rawin system.

Quantitative Precipitation Forecast.

The transmission of data collected at a remote location over communications channels to a central station.

A flower-like diagram indicating the relative frequencies of different wind directions for a given station and period of time.

A device for measuring the river stage. Also called stream gauge.

The process of modifying some characteristic of a wave (the carrier) so that it varies in step with the instantaneous value of another wave (the modulating wave) in order to transmit a message. The modified characteristic may be frequency, phase, and/or a ...