A motorlike device containing a rotor and a stator and capable of converting an angular position into an electrical signal, or an electrical signal into an angular position. When several synchros are correctly connected, all of the rotors will align thems ...

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

An instrument used for measuring geometric angles. See radio direction-finder.

The unit of force in the centimeter-gram-second system of physical units, i.e. one gm cm per sec2, equal to 7.233 x 10-5 poundal.

Electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength than visible radiation but longer than x-rays, between 0.02 and 0.4 micron (200 and 4000 angstrom).

Same as fogbow.

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

The direction, with respect to magnetic north, from which the wind is blowing. Distinguish from true wind direction.

Any device or instrument for measuring salinity, especially one based on electrical conductivity methods.

The depth of water that would result from the melting of snow or ice, assuming measurement on a horizontal surface and no infiltration or evaporation.

The temperature at which a solid substance undergoes fusion, i.e. melts, changes from solid to liquid form. All substances have their characteristic melting points. For very pure substances the temperature range over which the process of fusion occurs is ...

A type of pressure-plate anemometer in which the plate, restrained by a stiff spring, is held perpendicular to the wind. The wind-activated motion of the plate is measured electrically. The natural frequency of this system can be made high enough so that ...

A wind blowing in a direction perpendicular to the course of a moving object.

An instrument used to reveal but not necessarily measure the presence of an electrical quantity. It is used to display the output of a sensing element after suitable amplification and modification. Sometimes called display.

The level at which ice crystals and snowflakes melt as they descend through the atmosphere.

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

A method of winds aloft observation accomplished by tracking a balloon-borne radar target or radiosonde with either radar or a radio theodolite.

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.

A contact anemometer connected to an electrical circuit which is so arranged that the average wind speed is indicated.

An instrument which measures the effective terrestrial radiation. See Angstrom pyrgeometer.