A mercury barometer which measures atmospheric pressure by weighing the mercury in the column or cistern.

Contraction for radiosonde observation.

In general, the transformation of data from a "raw" form to some useable form. In meteorology, this often refers to the conversion of the observed value of an element to the value which it would theoretically have at some selected or standard level. The m ...

The process by which small particles suspended in a medium of a different refractive index diffuse a portion of the incident radiation in all directions. In scattering no energy transformation results, only a change in the spatial distribution of the radi ...

Either of two colored luminous spots that appear at points 22

Programs or instructions which are stored in readonly memory.

A hydrostatic principle that pressure supplied to an enclosed fluid is transmitted undiminished to every portion of the fluid and to the walls of the containing vessel.

Emission or transfer of energy in the form of electromagnetic waves or particles.

Balance of the water resources of a region, comparing precipitation and inflow with outflow, evaporation, and accumulation.

An instrument which measures the spectral distribution of the intensity of direct solar radiation.

A device used on certain types of instruments to prevent unwanted radiation from affecting the measurement of a quantity. Also called solar radiation shield.

An apparatus, used in studying soil temperatures, for measuring the total supply of heat during a given period.

Any one of a family of circular arcs consisting of concentric colored bands, arranged from red on the inside to blue on the outside, which may be seen on a "sheet" of water drops (rain, fog, spray). The most common of the many possible is the primary rain ...

That portion of the atmosphere which is above the lower troposphere. Generally applied to levels above 850 mb.

Abbreviation for mean sea level.

That temperature at which, in a specified latitude, the reading of a particular barometer requires no temperature or latitude correction.

Downward-facing pyranometer used for measuring reflected solar radiation.

The minimum temperature shown by a minimum thermometer exposed in an open situation with its bulb at the level of the tops of the grass blades of short turf.

An instrument for measuring the difference of the solar radiation falling on both sides of a horizontal surface from the whole hemisphere.

A pointed device which indicates the amount of resistance encountered when it is forced into a material such as snow or soil. See ram penetrometer.