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

A hypothetical body which absorbs some constant fraction, between zero and one, of all electromagnetic radiation incident upon it, which fraction is the absorptivity and is independent of wavelength. Compare to black body, white body.

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

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.

An instrument for measuring radiant energy. It consists of an ether differential thermometer with blackened bulbs. One of the bulbs is exposed to the unknown radiation and the other to a black body source whose temperature can be varied. Equality of radia ...

A technique for making winds aloft observations in which two theodolites located at either end of a baseline follow the ascent of a pilot balloon. Synchronous measurements of the elevation and azimuth angles of the balloon. taken at periodic intervals, pe ...

A small, limited-capacity central processing unit contained entirely on one semiconductor chip.

The volume of liquid water evaporated per unit area in unit time. usually measured as the depth of liquid water lost per unit time from the whole area.

A measure of the intrinsic luminous intensity emitted by a source in a given direction. Luminance is a measure only of light. The comparable term for electromagnetic radiation in general is radiance.

meter-An instrument for measuring the transmissivity of the atmosphere; a type of transmissometer. It consists of a constant- intensity collimated light source located at a suitable distance from a photoelectric cell. Variation in the turbidity of the atm ...

A high-altitude sounding system consisting of a small solid- propellant research rocket carried aloft by a large plastic balloon. The rocket is fired near the maximum altitude of the balloon flight.

A line drawn through geographical points having the same pluvial index.

Determined by weighing a special type of wooden stick that has been exposed in the woods, its weight being proportional to its contained water.

Thermometer used for measuring the lowest temperature attained during a given interval of time, for example, a day.

In general, solar radiation received at the earth's surface. Contracted from incoming solar radiation.

Solar and terrestrial radiation directed downwards (towards the earth's surface); incoming radiation.

A particular pattern of snow sampler having an internal diameter of 1.485 inches so that each inch of water in the sample weighs one ounce.

Rate of flow of water past a point in a stream, expressed as volume per unit time, i.e. cubic feet per second.

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.

Read Only Memory. A memory that cannot be altered in normal use of a computer, Usually used to store information permanently, such as firmware programs.