A plastic molding component formed by the reaction of phenol and formaldehyde. It can be heavily reinforced or "filled" with glass fibers or other materials. Phenolics are known for their high impact strength, excellent wear characteristics, and dimension ...

An accumulation of granular ice tufts on the windward sides of exposed objects that is formed from supercooled fog or cloud and built out directly against the wind.

A description or explanation of the manner in which the height of the ceiling is determined, i.e. aircraft ceiling, balloon ceiling. estimated ceiling, indefinite ceiling, measured ceiling, precipitation ceiling.

A unit of mass numerically equal to the molecular weight of the substance. The gram-mote or gram-molecule is the mass in grams numerically equal to the molecular weight, i.e. a gram-mole of oxygen is 32 grams.

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 ...

The water volume within a specified portion of a stream channel.

Same as atmospheric pressure.

A graphical aid used in fire weather forecasting to calculate the degree of forest-fire danger (or burning index). Commonly in the form of a circular slide rule, the firedanger meter relates numerical indices of (a) the seasonal stage of foliage, (b) the ...

A measure of the amount of "spin" (or rotation) in the atmosphere.

See calorie.

Same as contact anemometer.

That stage, on a fixed river gauge, at which overflow of the natural banks of the stream begins to cause damage in any portion of the reach for which the gauge is used as an index.

A small, moveable graduated scale adjacent and parallel to the main scale of an instrument. It provides a means for interpolating between the graduations of the main scale.

The audio-frequency signal transmitted by the Diamond-Hinman radiosonde when the baroswitch pen passes each fifth contact of the commutator up to a number determined by the design of the commutator. It then signals every contact except the fifth, which is ...

The amount of precipitation captured by a rain gauge.

An atmospheric sounding instrument which is supported by a captive balloon and used to obtain temperature and humidity data from the ground level to a height of a few thousand feet. The data is telemetered to the ground through a wire cable.

A large plastic constant-level balloon for duration flying at very high altitudes.

The array of indicating marks and figure in relation to which the position of an index is observed, i.e. a scale plate on a recorder.

Generally, an instrument designed to measure or estimate the blueness of the sky. See Linke-scale.

An anemometer which derives wind speed from measurements of dynamic wind pressures. Wind blowing into a tube develops a pressure greater than the static pressure, while wind blowing across a tube develops a pressure less than the static. This pressure dif ...