In general, pertaining to or affording an overall view. In meteorology, this term has become somewhat specialized in referring to the use of meteorological data obtained simultaneously over a wide area for the purpose of obtaining a comprehensive and near ...

In general, any object that reflects incident energy. Usually it is a device designed for specific reflection characteristics.

An instrument for determining the direction of cloud motion. There are two basic designs of nephoscope, the directvision nephoscope and the mirror nephoscope.

A scale with the ice point at zero degrees and the boiling point of water at 80 degrees, with pressure of one atmosphere.

The stage on a fixed river gauge at which it is necessary to begin issuing warnings or river forecasts if adequate precautionary measures are to be taken before flood stage is reached.

Solar radiation scattered by particles in the atmosphere.

NEXt Generation RADar. A NWS network of about 140 Doppler radars operating nationwide.

A thermometer which uses a transducing element whose element proper-ties are a function of its thermal state. Common meteorological examples of such thermometers are the resistance thermometer and the thermoelectric thermometer.

A unit of power equal to one joule per second or 10' ergs per second.

A rain gauge capable of measuring very small amounts of precipitation. Also called micropluviometer, trace recorder.

That horizontal wind velocity at which the Coriolis acceleration exactly balances the horizontal pressure force. It is directed along contour lines or isobars.

Wind with a speed between 7 and 10 knots (8 and 12 mph), Beaufort scale number 3.

Same as fogbow.

An instrument for measuring differences of electric potential.

See calorie.

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.

A Sunshine recorder of the type in which the time scale is supplied by the motion of the sun. The instrument, which is pointed at the celestial pole, consists of a hemispherical mirror mounted externally on the optical axis of a camera. The lens of the ca ...

Same as dropsonde.

A temperature telemeter.

The range of operating conditions within which a device is designed to operate and for which operating influences are stated. See operating conditions, reference operating conditions.