A synoptic code approved by the World Meteorological Organization in which the observable meteorological elements are encoded and transmitted in "words" of five numerical digits length. Often abbreviated synoptic code.

Of or pertaining to the air, atmosphere, or aviation. Also, same as antenna.

The ratio of the output of an instrument to the input value, i.e. a rain gauge with a sensitivity of 1 tip per 0.01"

A device, similar to a phytometer, for measuring transpiration. It consists of a small vessel containing water and sealed so that the only escape of moisture is by transpiration from a leaf, twig, or small plant with its cut end inserted in the water.

American Standard Code for Information Interchange. A standard code used to represent data using 8 bits (7 data bits and I parity bit) per character.

A rain gauge which automatically records the amount of precipitation collected, as a function of time.

The portion of the strearnflow during any month or year derived from precipitation in previous months or years.

A rainbow seen in the spray of the ocean. It is optically the same phenomenon as the ordinary rainbow.

Wind with a speed between 11 and 16 knots (13 and 18 mph); Beaufort scale number 4.

A self-recording thermometer.

The mass density of a parcel of air expressed in units of mass per volume.

A device used by oceanographers to obtain subsurface samples of sea water. The "bottle" is lowered by wire, its valves open at both ends. It is then closed in situ by allowing a weight (called a messenger) to slide down the wire and strike the reversing m ...

The temperature registered by a thermometer with its bulb at the level of the tops of the grass blades in short turf.

A modification of the dew cell used in radiosonde equipment.

A decrease in the central pressure of a pressure system. Usually applied to a low rather than to a high.

Pertaining to rain, or more broadly, to precipitation.

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

For a given locality and month, an empirical expression devised for the purpose of classifying climates numerically on the basis of precipitation and evaporation.

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 ...

Old snow that has become granular and compacted as a result of melting and refreezing.