Meteorology

Meteorology

A database of terms pertaining to the scientific study of the atmosphere.

Contributors in Meteorology

Meteorology

After U. S. Weather observing practice, the ceiling classification that is applied when the ceiling value has been determined by means of 1) a ceiling light or ceilometer, provided that penetration ...

mean-square error (MSE)

Weather; Meteorology

The mean square of any residual. In case the mean residual is zero, the mean-square error is the same as the residual variance. See regression.

meander

Weather; Meteorology

Dispersion of smoke plumes in the horizontal by means of the crosswind component (fluctuations) of the horizontal wind speed. The result is a plume that wanders from side to side. When averaged over ...

mean wind velocity

Weather; Meteorology

1. The vector average wind velocity at a point relative to the earth. 2. For the purpose of upper air reports from aircraft, mean wind is derived from the drift of the aircraft when flying from one ...

mean tide level

Weather; Meteorology

The arithmetic mean of mean high water and mean low water. This level is not identical with mean sea level because of higher harmonics in the tidal constituents.

mean temperature

Weather; Meteorology

The average temperature of the air as indicated by a properly exposed thermometer during a given time period, usually a day, a month, or a year. For climatological tables, the mean temperature is ...

mean sphere depth

Weather; Meteorology

The uniform depth to which the water would cover the earth if the solid surface were smoothed off and were parallel to the surface of the geoid. This depth would be about 2440 m.