Meteorology

Meteorology

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

Contributors in Meteorology

Meteorology

The series of electrical processes taking place within 1 s by which charge is transferred along a discharge channel between electric charge centers of opposite sign within a thundercloud (intracloud ...

leeward

Weather; Meteorology

The side of a mountain, ridge, or other flow obstacle away from the large-scale or ridge- top flow direction; the downwind side; opposite of windward.

land sky

Weather; Meteorology

The relatively dark appearance of the underside of a cloud layer when it is over land that is not snow covered. This term is used largely in polar regions with reference to the sky map; land sky is ...

lidar ratio

Weather; Meteorology

The ratio of the volume backscattering coefficient to the volume extinction coefficient of a scattering medium. If this ratio is known or can be assumed, it facilitates inverting the lidar equation ...

luminous efficiency

Weather; Meteorology

The ratio of the radiant energy sensed by the average human eye at a particular wavelength to that received. This ratio reaches a maximum inside the visible portion of the spectrum and falls to zero ...

liquid water mixing ratio

Weather; Meteorology

The ratio of the mass of liquid water to the mass of dry air in a unit volume of air. Units are mass of liquid water per mass of dry air, such as g kg−1. Compare mixing ratio, total water mixing ...

lidar constant

Weather; Meteorology

The proportionality factor in the lidar equation, usually represented by C, relating the power returned from a given range to the properties of the scattering medium. The lidar constant depends on ...