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 ...

A system of physical units based on the use of the centimeter, gram. and the second as elementary quantities of length. mass. and time.

Electromagnetic radiation lying in the wavelength interval between 0.8 micron and I millimeter. At the lower limit of this interval, the infrared radiation spectrum is bounded by visible radiation, while on its upper limit it is bounded by microwave radia ...

A calorimetric radiation instrument of historic interest used for the measurement of outgoing heat radiation from the earth during an interval of time. The time integration is performed by allowing the radiation to fall on an uninsulated vessel containing ...

The lowest value of a measured quality at which a sensor meets its accuracy specification.

A reversing thermometer which is encased in a strong glass outer shell that protects it against hydrostatic pressure. Compare to unprotected thermometer.

Atmospheric layer throughout which there is no change of temperature with height, i.e. a zero lapse rate.

A point (or line) on a scale used for reference or comparison purposes. In calibration of meteorological thermometers, for example, the fiducial points are 100

General name for an instrument which measures the earth's magnetic field intensity.

Wind with a speed between 48 and 55 knots (55 and 63 mph), Beaufort scale number 10.

Precipitation of very small, white opaque particles of ice, fairly flat or elongated, with diameters less than 1 mm. The solid equivalent of drizzle.

The total amount of water transferred to the atmosphere by evapotranspiration.

Any wind blowing down an incline. If warm, it is a foehn. If cold, it may be a fall wind or a gravity wind.

Temperature based on an absolute scale.

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 line of equal or constant pressure.

The smallest change in the environment that causes detectable change in the indication of an instrument. Compare to sensitivity.

A recording pressure-tube anemometer in which the wind scale of the float manometer has been made linear by the use of springs, i.e. Dines anemometer.

Line drawn through geographical points recording equal amounts of precipitation during a given time period or for a particular storm.

Fine dust or salt particles dispersed through a portion of the atmosphere; a type of lithometer. The particles are so small they cannot be felt or seen with the naked eye. Many haze formations are caused by the presence of an abundance of condensation nuc ...