A
ABSOLUTE HUMIDITY
A type of humiditythat considers the mass of water vaporpresent per unit volume of
space. Also considered as the density of the water vapor. It is usually expressed in grams
per cubic meter.
ABSOLUTE INSTABILITY
When thelapse rate of a column of airis greater than the dry adiabaticlapse rate. The
term absolute is used because this applies whether or not the air is dry orsaturated.Related term:instability
ABSOLUTE TEMPERATURE
SCALEAtemperaturescale with a freezing point of +273°K (Kelvin) and a boiling point of +373°K.
Related term:Kelvin Temperature Scale
ABSOLUTE ZERO
Considered to be the point at which theoretically no molecular activity exists or thetemperature at which the volume of a perfect gas vanishes. The value is 0° Kelvin,
-273.15° Celsiusand -459.67°Fahrenheit.
ABSORPTION
The process in which incidentradiantenergy is retained by a substance. The absorbedradiation is then transformed into molecular energy.
ABYSSAL PLAIN
ADIABATIC PROCESS
Athermodynamicchange of state in a system in which there is no transfer of heator mass
across the boundaries of the system. In this process, compression will result in warmingand expansion will result in cooling.
ADVECTION
The horizontal transfer of any property in theatmosphereby the movement of air(wind).
Examples includeheatandmoisture advection.
ADVECTION FOG
Fog that develops when warm moist airmoves over a colder surface, cooling that air to
below itsdew point.Related terms:Arctic Sea Smokeandsea fog
ADVISORY
Statements that are issued by theNational Weather Servicefor probable weather situationsof inconvenience that do not carry the danger of warningcriteria, but, if not observed,
could lead to hazardous situations. Some examples includesnowadvisories stating possibleslick streets, orfogadvisories for patchy fog condition causing temporary restrictions tovisibility.
AFOS
Acronym for
A
utomation of
F
ield
O
perations and
S
ervices. It is the computer system thatlinks National Weather Serviceoffices together for weatherdata transmission.
AIR
This is considered the mixture of gases that make up the earth'satmosphere. The principalgases that compose dry air areNitrogen(N
2
2
2
) at 0.033%. One of the most importantconstituents of air and most important gases inmeteorologyiswater vapor(H
2
O).
AIR MASS
An extensive body of airthroughout which the horizontaltemperatureandmoisture
characteristics are similar.
AIR MASS THUNDERSTORM
Athunderstormthat is produced byconvectionwithin an unstableair mass through an
instability mechanism. Such thunderstorms normally occur within atropical or warm, moist
air mass during the summer afternoon as the result of afternoon heating and dissipate soonaftersunset.Such thunderstorms are not generally associated with frontsand are less
likely to becomesevere than other types of thunderstorms. However, that does not
preclude them from having brief heavydownpours.
AIR POLLUTION
The soiling of theatmosphereby contaminants to the point that may cause injury to health,property, plant, or animal life, or prevent the use and enjoyment of the outdoors.
AIR QUALITY STANDARDS
Themaximum level which will be permitted for a given pollutant. Primary standards are to
be sufficiently stringent to protect the public health. Secondary standards must protect thepublic welfare, including property and aesthetics.
ALASKAN WINDS
Thedownslopeair flow that blows through the Alaskan valleys. It is usually given localnames, such as Knik, Matanuska, Pruga, Stikine, Taku, Take, Turnagain, or Williwaw.
ALBEDO
The ratio of the amount of radiationreflected from an object's surface compared to theamount that strikes it. This varies according to the texture, color, and expanse of theobject's surface and is reported in percentage. Surfaces with high albedo includesand and
snow, while low albedo rates include forests and freshly turned earth.Related term:Dave's Dictionary
ALBERTA CLIPPER
A fast moving,snow-producingweathersystem that originates in theleeof the Canadian
Rockies. It moves quickly across the northern United States, often bring gustywindsandcoldArcticair.
ALEUTIAN LOW
Asemi-permanent, subpolararea of low pressurelocated in the Gulf of Alaska near the
Aleutian Islands. It is a generating area forstormsand migratory lows often reachmaximum intensity in this area. It is most active during the late fall to latespring. During
thesummer, it is weaker, retreating towards the North Pole and becoming almostnonexistent. During this time, theNorth Pacific Highpressure system dominates.Related term:Icelandic Low
ALTIMETER
An instrument used to determine the altitudeof an object with respect to a fixed level. The
type normally used by meteorologistsmeasures the altitude with respect to sea level
pressure.
ALTIMETER SETTING
Thepressurevalue to which an aircraft altimeterscale is set so that it will indicate the
altitude abovemean sea levelof an aircraft on the ground at the location for which the
value was determined.
ALTITUDE
Inmeteorology,the measure of a height of an airborne object in respect to aconstant
pressuresurface or above mean sea level.
ALTOCUMULUS
Composed of flattened, thick, gray, globular masses, this middle cloudgenus is primarily
made of water droplets. In themid-latitudes, cloud bases are usually found between 8,000
and 18,000 feet. A defining characteristic is that it often appears as a wavy billowy layer of cloud, giving it the nickname of "sheep" or "woolpack" clouds. Sometimes confused withcirrocumulusclouds, its elements (individual clouds) have a larger mass and cast a shadowon other elements. It may form several sub-types, such as altocumulus castellanus or
altocumulus lenticularis.Virgamay also fall from these clouds.
ALTOCUMULUS CASTELLANUS
Amiddle cloudwith vertical development that forms fromaltocumulusclouds. It is
composed primarily of ice crystalsin its higher portions and characterized by its turrets,protuberances, or crenelated tops. Its formation indicatesinstabilityand turbulenceat the
altitudesof occurrence.
ALTOSTRATUS
Thismiddle cloudgenus is composed of water droplets, and sometimesice crystals, In the
mid-latitudes, cloud bases are generally found between 15,000 and 20,000 feet. White togray in color, it can create a fibrous veil or sheet, sometimes obscuring the sun or moon. Itis a good indicator of precipitation, as it often precedes a storm system.Virga often falls
from these clouds.
AMERICAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY
An organization whose membership promotes the education and professional advancementof theatmospheric, hydrologic, andoceanographicsciences.
For further information, contact theAMS.Related term:National Weather Association
ANABATIC WIND
Awindthat is created by air flowing uphill. Valley breezes,produced by local daytime
heating, are an example of these winds. The opposite of a katabatic wind.
ANEMOMETER
ANEROID BAROMETER
An instrument for measuring theatmospheric pressure. It registers the change in the shapeof an evacuated metal cell to measure variations on the atmospheric pressure. The aneroidis a thin-walled metal capsule or cell, usually made of phosphor bronze or beryllium copper.The scales on the glass cover measure pressure in both inches andmillibars.
Related term:mercurial barometer
ANOMALOUS PROPAGATION
This refers to the non-standard propagation of a beam of energy, radio orradar,undercertainatmosphericconditions, appearing as false (non-precipitation) echoes. May be
referred to as A.P.
ANTARCTIC
Of or relating to the area around the geographic South Pole, from 90° South to theAntarctic Circle at approximately 66 1/2°Southlatitude, including the continent of
Antarctica. Along the Antarctic Circle, the sun does not set on the day of the summer
solstice(approximately December 21st) and does not rise on the day of thewintersolstice
(approximately June 21st).
ANTARCTIC OCEAN
Although not officially recognized as a separateoceanbody, it is commonly applied to thoseportions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans that reach theAntarcticcontinent ontheir southern extremes.
ANTICYCLONE
A relative pressure maximum. An area of pressurethat has divergingwindsand a rotation
opposite to the earth's rotation. This is clockwise the Northern Hemisphere and counter-clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. It is the opposite of an area of low pressure,or a
cyclone.Related term:high pressure
ANVIL
The upper portion of acumulonimbuscloud that becomes flat and spread-out, sometimesfor hundreds of miles downstream from the parent cloud. It may look smooth or fibrous,but in shape, it resembles a blacksmith's anvil. It indicates the mature or decaying stage of athunderstorm.
APHELION
The point on the earth's orbit that is farthest from the sun. Although the position is part of a 21,000 year cycle, currently it occurs around July, when the earth is about 3 million milesfarther from the sun than atperihelion. This term can be applied to any other celestial bodyin orbit around the sun. It is the opposite of perihelion.
APOGEE
The point farthest from the earth on the moon's orbit. This term can be applied to any otherbody orbiting the earth, such assatellites. It is the opposite of perigee.
ARCTIC
Of or relating to the area around the geographic North Pole, from 90° North to the ArcticCircle at approximately 66 1/2 North latitude.
ARCTIC AIR MASS
Anair massthat develops around theArctic,it is characterized by being cold from surface
to great heights. The boundary of this air mass is often defined by the Arcticfront, a semi-permanent, semi-continuous feature. When this air mass moves from its source region, itmay become more shallow in height as it spreads southward.
ARCTIC JET
The jet streamthat is situated high in thestratospherein and around theArcticorAntarctic
Circles. It marks the boundary of polar andarctic air masses.
ARCTIC SEA SMOKE
A type of advection fog that forms primarily over water when coldair passes across warmer
waters.Related term:steam fog
ARGON (A)
A colorless, odorless inert gas that is the third most abundant constituent of dryair,comprising 0.93% of the total.
ARID
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