FLVS Meteorology V21- Module 2

Temperature

A measure of how hot or cold something is.

model

A representation of an object or event

Symbol

A thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract.

cumulus congestus

A towering cloud that has not fully developed into a thunderstorm

barometer

An instrument that measures atmospheric pressure

rain gauge

An instrument used to measure precipitation.

thermometer

An instrument used to measure temperature

anemometer

An instrument used to measure wind speed

satalite

Any object that orbits around another object in space

Altostratus

Clouds at mid-level that form a light sheet that lets the sun or moon show as a bright spot.

Nimbostratus

Clouds that are low-level, uniform layer, usually very dark, that bring strong precipitation

Polar Operational Environmental Satellite

Collect global data on a daily basis for a variety of land, ocean and atmoshperic applications via AVHRR

Stratocumulus

Low elevation layered clouds with tops and bottoms rounded

Altocumulus

Medium level cumulus cloud that is higher than regular cumulus clouds. Lead to precipitation.

atmospheric models

Simulation of the atmosphere's behavior by mathematical equations or by physical models.

Velocity

Speed in a given direction

National Weather Service

The federal agency that provides weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States.

Surface weather station model

The set of symbols that summarize the various data produced by a particular weather station.

cirrostratus clouds

Translucent, whiteish veil or fibrous or smooth appearance that partially or totally covers the sky. Capable of producing halos around sun or moon while not entirely hiding the light. If merged with altostratus, precipitation can form. abbr: Cs

cirrus clouds

Wispy, feathery clouds made of ice crystals that form at high levels.

Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite

a NOAA satellite that acquires visible and thermal IR images for meteorologic purposes.

Cirrocumulus

a cloud at a high altitude consisting of a series of regularly arranged small clouds resembling ripples

weather station

a place where instruments gather information about the weather

RADAR

a system that uses reflected radio waves to detect objects and measure their distance and speed

unstable air

air that does not resist verticle displacement; if it is lifted, its temperature will not cool as rapidly as the surrounding environment, and so it will continue to rise on its own

stable air

air that resists vertical displacement; if it is lifted, adiabatic cooling will cause its temperature to be lower than the surrounding environment; if it is allowed, it will sink to its original position

cumulonimbus clouds

are thunderstorm clouds. High winds can flatten the top of the cloud into an anvil-like shape. Cumulonimbus clouds are associated with heavy rain, snow, hail, lightning and even tornadoes. The anvil usually points in the direction the storm is moving.

Upper air

consists of all anatomic airway structures above the level of the vocal cords, nose mouth jaw oral cavity pharynx and larynx

Base Reflectivity

energy reflected back to the radar

Storm Total Precipitation

estimate of heavy rains and/or total rainfall within a set period

trend forecasting

forecasting based on the speed and direction of features such as fronts, cyclones, clouds and precipitation - known as nowcasting

Persistence Forecasting

forecasting based on the tendency of weather to remain unchanged for several hours or days

stratus clouds

look like flat blankets and are usually the lowest clouds in the sky

Radiosondes

measure atmospheric characteristics like temperature, pressure and humidity as they move through the air

Sounders

measure infrared radiation and provide vertical profiles of temperature, pressure, and water vapor in the atmosphere

hygrometer

measures humidity

wind vane

measures wind direction

Forecasting

method for predicting how variables will change the future

Climatology

study of climate

Imagers

take high resolution pictures of either the reflected short wave radiation (visible images) or the emitted infrared radiation (infrared images)

buoyant

(adj.) able to float easily; able to hold things up; cheerful, hopeful

Analogue Forecasting

Find a date in the past where the weather map looks exactly as it does now. Also known as pattern matching. This is an okay method, because patterns are repeatable, but the outcome may not be the same. Works best with severe and winter weather! Forecaster must be experienced.

cumulus clouds

Fluffy, white clouds, usually with flat bottoms, that look like rounded piles of cotton.

Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP)

Forecasting the weather based upon the solutions of mathematical equations by high-speed computers.