Meteorology

Meteorology

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

Contributors in Meteorology

Meteorology

A radar scanning procedure in which the antenna sweeps through an interval of azimuth less than the full 360° at a fixed elevation angle. Often the azimuth extent of a sector scan may be only a few ...

scatterometer

Weather; Meteorology

A radar system that infers wind speed by measuring the backscattering cross section (or normalized radar cross section).

standard target

Weather; Meteorology

A radar target of known radar cross section used to calibrate a radar or monitor its performance. Metal spheres or corner reflectors of known dimensions are examples.

point target

Weather; Meteorology

A radar target that is small compared with the pulse volume, which is the cross- sectional area of the radar beam multiplied by half the length of the radar pulse. Typically, a point target is an ...

sling psychrometer

Weather; Meteorology

A psychrometer in which the wet- and dry-bulb thermometers are mounted upon a frame connected to a handle at one end by means of a bearing or length of chain. Thus, the psychrometer may be whirled by ...

primary rainbow

Weather; Meteorology

A rainbow that is distinguished from other rainbows by its angular radius, color order, and brightness. This bow is seen between about 40° and 42° from the antisolar point (shadow of the observer's ...

reflection rainbow

Weather; Meteorology

A rainbow formed by a light source reflected by an extended water surface; not to be confused with a rainbow seen reflected in a still body of water. When the water is calm, the center of a ...