An instrument used for measuring the specific gravity of a liquid.

Ice crystal deposits formed by sublimation (conversion of water vapor directly to ice) when temperature and dew point are below freezing.

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 ...

Similar to the spectroheliograph, but used for visual instead of photographic purposes.

The combined processes by which water is transferred from the earth's surface to the atmosphere: evaporation of liquid or solid water plus transpiration from plants.

In a system of moist air, the dimensionless ratio of the mass of water vapor to the mass of dry air. For many purposes, the mixing ratio may be approximated by the specific humidity.

A transducer which converts electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible, and ultraviolet regions into electrical quantities such as voltage, current, or resistance. Also called photo cell.

In meteorology, an area of low pressure; a low or trough.

The flux of visible radiation, so weighted as to account for the manner in which the response of the human eye varies with the Wavelength of radiation. The basic unit for luminous flux is the lumen,

Radiation coming from the solid angle of the sun's disc, as opposed to diffuse sky radiation, effective terrestrial radiation, or radiation from any other source. Direct solar radiation is measured by pyrheliometers.

In a system of moist air, the dimensionless ratio of the mass of water vapor to the total mass of the system.

An instrument consisting of a series of graduated cylinders possessing selective collection efficiencies. It is used for the measurement of quantities relating to the size distribution of cloud droplets.

Overflowing by water of the normal confines of a stream or other body of water, or accumulation of water by drainage over areas which are not normally submerged.

A hygrometer which determines the amount of precipitable moisture in a given region of the atmosphere by measuring attenuation of radiant energy caused by the absorption bands of water vapor.

Downward scattered and reflected solar radiation, coming from the whole hemisphere with the exception of the solid angle of the sun's disc on a surface perpendicular to the axis of this cone.

check chamber-A chamber use to check the sensing elements of radiosonde equipment.

A fixed support for mounting maximum and minimum thermometers of the liquid-in-glass type. The support holds the thermometers at the correct operating attitude and also permits their rotation for resetting when desired.

Liquid water at temperatures colder than freezing.

A protocol similar to RS232 which makes use of differential transmission to provide high speed data transmission over significantly longer distances.

An instrument used to measure changes in the level of the water in an evaporation pan. The gauge is normally placed in a Stillwell and adjusted so that the point of the hook just breaks the water surface. The change in water level is read on the attached ...