A thermometer. the sensitive element of which consists of two metal strips which have different coefficients of expansion and are brazed together. The distortions of the system in response to temperature variations are used as a measure of temperature. It ...

A numbering system using a base number of 2 and having only two digits: 0 and 1. The fundamental system of representing information with electrical pulses.

Abbreviation for binary digit. The smallest unit of information, equal to one binary decision, i.e. 1/0, on/off, yes/no.

A wind vane used to obtain the horizontal and vertical components of the wind.

A hypothetical, ideal body which absorbs completely all incident radiation. independent of wavelength and direction. No actual substance behaves as a true black body, although platinum black and other soots rather closely approximate this ideal. However, ...

A thermometer whose sensitive element has been made to resemble a black body by covering it with lamp black. The thermometer is placed in an evacuated transparent chamber which is maintained at a constant temperature. The instrument responds to insolation ...

A severe weather condition characterized by low temperatures and strong winds bearing a great amount of snow, either falling or picked up from the ground.

Reduction of visibility by strong winds blowing across dry ground with little or no vegetation. Visibilities of 1/8 mile or less over a widespread area are criteria for a Blowing Dust Advisory.

Temperature of equilibrium between the liquid and vapor phases of a substance at a given pressure.

The record obtained from a bolometer.

Instrument for measuring the intensity of radiant energy. Its principle is based on the variation of electrical resistance, with the incoming radiation, of one or both the metallic strips which the instrument comprises.

A thermoelectric thermometer used for measuring air temperature. The name is derived from the fact that the reference thermocouple is placed in an insulated bottle.

Closed, curved, flexible tube of elliptic cross section which is deformed, according to type, by variations of atmosphere spheric pressure or temperature and so provides a measurement of the particular parameter.

Wind with a speed between 4 and 27 knots (4 and 31 mph); Beaufort scale numbers 2 through 6.

A combination cup anemometer and pressure-plate anemometer, consisting of an array of cups about a vertical axis of rotation, the free rotation of which is restricted by a suitable spring arrangement.

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.

Clouds which cover between 6/10 and 9/10 of the sky. See Sky Terminology.

A general term to designate apparatus designed to observe the details of weather during thunderstorms.

A water-temperature thermometer provided with an insulated container around the bulb. It is lowered into the sea on a line until it has had time to reach the temperature of the surface water, then withdrawn and read. The insulated water surrounding the bu ...

A radar term for a single pulse of radio energy.