Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #

ABNDT

abundant


Absolute Temperature

the temperature of a body or substance using the Kelvin temperature scale. It is calculated by adding 273.15 to the Celsius temperature of the body.


Absolute Zero

 the lowest theoretically possible temperature in the universe, 0 Kelvin (-273.15°C or -459.7°F). All motion (including molecular vibration) stops at this temperature.


Absorption

the process of retaining incoming radiant energy in a substance


ABT

about


ABV

above


AC

see Altocumulus


AC

Anticipated Convection - see Convective Outlook


ACCAS (usually pronounced ACK-kis)

see Altocumulus Castellanus


Accretion

when ice crystals collide with supercooled droplets, freezing on contact and sticking together. This process is also known as riming (see Rime Ice) and can produce graupel (snow pellets).


ACCUM or ACCUMS

accumulation(s)


Acid Rain

falling rain (or snow) that has become acidic as a result of its combination with gaseous pollutants, such as oxides of sulfur and nitrogen


ACLD

above cloud level


ACPY

accompany


ACRS

across


ACTV

active


ACYC

see Anticyclone


Adiabatic

Changes in temperature caused by the expansion (cooling) or compression (warming) of a body of air as it rises or descends in the atmosphere, with no exchange of heat with the surrounding air.


ADJ

adjacent


Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR)

an instrument that flies on NOAA polar orbiting satellites. It measures radiation at five different wavelengths: one visible (visible radiation), one reflective near-infrared, one middle infrared, and two thermal infrared.


Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS)

a computerized system that processes data received at a NWS Forecast Office from various weather observing systems


ADVCTN

see Advection


Advection (ADVCTN)

the transport of an atmospheric property (e.g., temperature) by the wind


Advection Fog

fog that forms when warm air flows over a cold surface and cools from below until saturation is reached.


ADVN

advance


ADVY

advisory


AFB

Air Force Base


AFCT

affect


AFOS

Automation of Field Operations and Services


AFT

after


AFTN

afternoon


AFTR

after


AFWA

Air Force Weather Agency


Aggregation

when falling ice crystals collide and stick to one another. This is how many snowflakes are formed.


AGL

above ground level


AGN

again


AHD

ahead


Air

the mixture of gases that surrounds the earth


Air Mass (AMS)

a body of air that extends hundreds or thousands of kilometers horizontally and is relatively uniform in temperature and moisture content (see continental arcticcontinental polarcontinental tropicalmaritime polar, and maritime tropical air masses)


Air Parcel

an imaginary body of air a few meters in diameter that possesses nearly uniform properties within it. Also referred to as a Parcel.


Air Pollution

airborne gaseous, chemical, or organic matter that pollutes the atmosphere


Air Pressure

the pressure exerted by the air


Air-Mass Thunderstorm

thunderstorm that forms from localized convection within an unstable air mass (e.g., not along a frontal boundary); because all thunderstorms are associated with some type of forcing mechanism, synoptic-scale or otherwise, the term is somewhat controversial and should be used with discretion


AK

Alaska


AL

Alabama


Albedo

the fraction of radiation that reflects off a body


Alberta Clipper

a fast-moving low pressure system that moves southeast out of the Canadian province of Alberta through the Plains, Midwest, and Great Lakes region usually during the winter. It is usually accompanied by light snow, strong winds, and colder temperatures.


ALF

aloft


ALG

along


Algorithm

a computer program (or set of programs) that is designed to systematically solve a certain kind of problem. WSR-88D radars (NEXRAD) employ algorithms to analyze radar data and automatically determine storm motion, probability of hailVIL, accumulated rainfall, and several other parameters.


ALQDS

all quadrants


ALTHO

although


Altimeter

an instrument for measuring the altitude with respect to a fixed level


Altocumulus (AC)

a mid-level cloud that occurs as a layer or patch with a wavy appearance and is typically white and/or gray


Altocumulus Castellanus (ACCAS)

mid-level clouds (bases generally 8,000 to 15,000 feet), of which at least a fraction of their upper parts show cumulus-type development. These clouds often are taller than they are wide, giving them a turret-shaped appearance. ACCAS clouds are a sign of instability aloft, and may precede the rapid development of thunderstorms.


Altostratus (AS)

a mid-level cloud that occurs as a sheet or layer with a striated, fibrous, or uniform appearance and is gray or bluish (never white)


Ambient Air

the surrounding undisturbed outside air


AMD

amend


American Meteorological Society (AMS)

the American Meteorological Society promotes the development and distribution of information and education on the atmospheric (and related oceanic and hydrologic) sciences and the advancement of their professional applications. (External Link)


Amplitude

the distance from rest to crest in a wave. In other words, it is the displacement of a particle from its rest position. Let’s say that we have a rope at rest and it is lying straight on the ground. If someone comes along and wiggles the rope from side to side like a snake, we see a wave. The distance between a crest (or peak) and the original rest position is the amplitude. The amplitude can also be measured from the trough to the rest position.


AMS

see Air Mass


AMT

amount


Anemometer

an instrument for measuring the speed of the wind


Aneroid Barometer

barometer in which the action of atmospheric pressure in bending a metallic surface is made to move a pointer


Angle of Incidence

the angle at which a ray of light (or radiation) strikes a surface. It is measured between the incoming ray and a perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence (i.e., where the ray strikes).


Angle of Reflection

the angle at which a reflected ray of energy leaves a reflecting surface. It is measured between the outgoing ray and a perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence (i.e., where the ray strikes).


Angle of Refraction

the angle at which a refracted ray of energy leaves the interface at which the refraction occurred. It is measured between the direction of the refracted ray and a perpendicular to the interface at the point of refraction.


Angstrom or Ångstrom

a unit of length used in the measurement of the wavelength of short electromagnetic radiation, like X-rays. Named for A.J. Ångstrom (1814-1874), a Swedish physicist.


Anomalous Propagation

radar term for false (non-precipitation) echoes resulting from nonstandard propagation of the radar beam under certain atmospheric conditions


Anomaly

the departure or deviation from normal. For example, let’s say that the normal temperature for a month is 50 °F. If the actual temperature average for the month is 55 °F, the monthly temperature is 5 °F above normal, which is a positive anomaly of 5 °F. A negative anomaly occurs when a temperature is below the normal value.


Anticyclone (ACYC)

an atmospheric circulation that rotates clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counter-clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere, which usually has a diameter of 2000 to 3000 kilometers


Anticyclonic Rotation

rotation in the opposite sense as the earth’s rotation (i.e., clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere as would be seen from above); the opposite of cyclonic rotation


Anticyclonic Vorticity Advection (AVA)

see Negative Vorticity Advection


Anvil (or Anvil Cloud)

a supplementary cloud feature viewed as the spreading of the upper portion of a cumulonimbus cloud; thunderstorm anvils may spread hundreds of miles downwind from the storm’s updraft.


Anvil Crawler

lightning discharge that occurs in the anvil of a thunderstorm and is characterized by one or more channels that appear to crawl along the underside of the anvil. They typically appear during the weakening or dissipating stage of a parent thunderstorm, or during an active MCS.


AOA

at or above


AOB

at or below


Aphelion

the point on the annual orbit of a body (about the sun) that is farthest from the sun; at present, the earth reaches this point (152 million kilometer from the sun) on about 5 July. Opposite of perihelion.


Apogee

the point on the orbit of the moon (or any other earth satellite) that is farthest from the earth. Opposite of perigee.


Apparent Force

an imaginary force. Newton’s First Law of Motion needs a coordinate system that does not move (inertial motion). However, the earth moves underneath us, so we use apparent forces to explain what we observe. Apparent forces include Coriolis Force and Centrifugal Force.


APRCH

approach


APRCHG

approaching


APRCHS

approaches


AR

Arkansas


Archimedes’ Principle

a net upward or buoyant force, equal in magnitude to the weight of the displaced fluid, acts upon a body either partly or wholly submerged in a fluid at rest under the influence of gravity. Named for Archimedes (287-212 BC), a Greek mathematician who discovered the principle.


Arctic Air Mass (A AMS)

see Continental Arctic Air Mass.


Arctic Oscillation (AO)

a pattern in which pressure at polar and middle latitudes fluctuates, leading to a difference in storm paths in the Northern Hemisphere. For example, in the "negative phase", cold air plunges into the Midwestern United States and western Europe, and storms bring rain to the Mediterranean. In the "positive phase", the opposite is true, so storms follow a more northern path, leaving areas such as California, Spain, and the Middle East drier.


Arcus

a low, horizontal cloud formation associated with the leading edge of the thunderstorm outflow (i.e., the gust front); roll clouds and shelf clouds both are types of arcus clouds


Area Forecast Discussion (AFD)

a detailed NWS product that discusses the meteorological thinking behind a forecast. This product is useful in learning more about how weather works.


ARND

around


ARR

arrive/arrival


AS

see Altostratus


ASAP

as soon as possible


ASL

above sea level


ASSCD

associated


Atmosphere

the air surrounding and bound to the earth


Atmospheric Greenhouse Effect

the warming of the atmosphere by absorption and reemission of infrared radiation by molecules in the atmosphere


Atmospheric Pressure

the pressure exerted on an object as a result of the weight of the column of air above the object


Atmospheric Radiation

 Infrared radiation (energy in the wavelength interval of 3 to 80 micrometer) emitted by or being propagated through the atmosphere. It consists of both upwelling and downwelling components. Compare with terrestrial radiation.


Atmospheric Stability

the amount of resistance of a layer of air to vertical motion (How likely is it that a parcel will rise or sink?). It is also the condition of equilibrium. Stable equilibrium occurs when a parcel or object will return to its original position, while unstable equilibrium occurs when a parcel moves away from its original position. For example, if one pushes a rock at the bottom of a valley up a hill, the rock will keep rolling back down the hill. This is stable equilibrium. If a rock is at the top of the mountain and gets nudged, it will roll down and away from its original position. This is unstable equilibrium.


Atmospheric Wave

any pattern with some roughly identifiable periodicity in time and/or space. In meteorology, waves in the horizontal flow pattern (e.g., Rossby waveslongwaveshortwave).


Atmospheric Window

the wavelength range between 8 and 11 micrometers in which little absorption of infrared radiation takes place. These windows allow certain types of radiation to easily pass through the atmosphere to Earth’s surface and from the surface to space.


Attenuation

any decrease in amplitudedensity, or energy as a result of an effect such as scatteringabsorption, or friction. In physical meteorology, a reduction in radiation flow, especially solar radiation by atmospheric gases and aerosols. In radar meteorology, the decrease in the magnitude of current, voltage, power, or intensity of a signal in transmission between points. Attenuation may be caused by interference such as rain or clouds.


ATTM

at this time


Aurora

a luminous phenomenon in the night sky that results from a radiation emission in the upper atmosphere over middle and high latitudes


Aurora Australis

the name for the aurora of the southern latitudes.


Aurora Borealis

the name for the aurora of the northern latitudes.


Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS)

a system designed to provide automated meteorological measurements of several parameters at selected airports and other locations. The system is operated and controlled by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), NWS, and Department of Defense (DOD). In addition to the parameters measured by AWOS, ASOS can also report present weather, icing, lightningsea level pressure, and precipitation accumulation.


Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS)

operated and controlled by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), these weather stations observe temperaturedew pointwind speed and wind direction, visibilitysky cover and ceiling up to twelve thousand feet, and altimeter setting.


Autumn

the season of the year that is the transition period from summer to winter, occurring as the sun approaches the winter solstice.


Autumnal Equinox

the equinox at which the sun approaches the Southern Hemispheres, marking the start of astronomical autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. The time of this occurrence is approximately 22 September. On that day, daylight is 12 hours everywhere. Compare with vernal equinox, offset by six months.


AVA

Anticyclonic Vorticity Advection.  See Negative Vorticity Advection.


AVBL

available


Average (AVG)

the "middle" of a data set. For example, if your test scores are 75, 92, 90, 83, and 89, your average score is 85.8 [(75 + 92 + 90 + 83 + 89) / 5]. An average is also known as a mean.


AVG

see Average


Aviation Model (AVN)

see Global Forecast System (GFS) Model.


Aviation Weather Center (AWC)

one of 9 NCEP centers. Provides aviation warnings and forecasts of hazardous flight conditions for domestic and international air space. It is located in Kansas City, Missouri.


AVN

Aviation Model (now part of the GFS Model)


Avogadro’s Number

the number of molecules in one mole of gas (6.0221415 X 1023 per mole). According to Avogadro’s law, this number is a constant for permanent gases under normal conditions - that is, pressure of one standard atmosphere and temperature of 0°C (32°F) - the volume occupied by one mole of gas is the same for all permanent gases (22,421 cubic centimeters or 22.42 liters). Named for Amedeo Avogadro (1776 -1856), an Italian chemist who identified this relationship.


AZ

Arizona


Azimuth (or Azimuth Angle)

the length of arc measured clockwise along the astronomical horizon (in degrees of arc) from the adopted reference direction, usually true north, to that point on the horizon where the particular object or its projection is located; north is defined as 0° (or 360°), east is 90°, south is 180° and west is 270°.