AG3 RTM Glossary

8/14/2019 AG3 RTM Glossary

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xxi

GlossaryofTerms

AbsoluteInstabilityTheconditionthatexistswhenthetemperatureoftheairabovealeveliscolder

thanboththesaturationanddryadiabaticlapserates.(297)

AbsoluteStabilityTheconditionthatexistswhenthetemperatureoftheairabovealeveliswarmer

thanthesaturationadiabaticlapserate.(297)

AbsorptionbandsTheareasoftheelectromagneticspectrumthatareabsorbedbytheatmosphere

(43).

AccretionProcessoffusingtogetherofsmalldropletsthatcollide(141).

ActiniformcloudsTheskeletalremainsofclosedcellstratocumulus(429).

ActiveSonar

A

type

of

sonar

that

employs

atransmitter

to

send

out

sound

pulses

and

areceiver

to

recordreturningechoes.(330)

AircraftCondensationTrailsElongatedcloudscomposedofwaterdropletsoricecrystalsthatform

behindtheaircraftwhenthewakebecomessupersaturatedwithrespecttowater.(291)

AlbedoTheamountofreflectivityofanobject(45).

AlgorithmLogicalfunctions(ifthennot)toidentifyfeatures(411).

AltimeterSettingAsimplifiedsealevelpressureininchesthatmaybedialedintoanaircrafts

altimeter(147).

AltoTheprefixthatidentifiesmostmidetagecloudgenera(18).

Altocumulus(AC)Cloudsarecomposedofsupercooledwaterdropletsandicecrystalswhenlocated

abovethefreezinglevel(119)..

AltocumulusCastellanusThetopsandedgesofthebuildupmayappearraggedandlackthesmoother

roundedappearanceorcauliflowerliketops(120).

AltocumulusLenticularisClouds(ACSL)Cloudsthataretypicallydescribedaslens,almond,orcateye

shaped,andhaveawindsweptappearance(122).

Altostratus(AS)Amidetagecloudwithfeaturessimilartostratusclouds(117).

AltostratusandnimbostratusExtensivesheetsofstratiformcloudinessfoundinthemidlayersthat

arefoundintheeasternportionofsurfacecyclonesandontheleadingedgeoffrontalsystem(431).


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xxii

AmbientnoiseThepartofthebackgroundnoisecreatedbysurfaceshiptraffic,waveaction,

precipitation,ice,andcertainformsofmarinelife.(337)

AntarcticCircumpolar(SubAntarctic)WaterAcombinationofmixingandverticalcirculationinthe

regionbetweenthesubtropicalandAntarcticconvergence. (318)

AntarcticIntermediateWaterEncirclestheAntarcticcontinentandisthemostwidespreadofallthe

intermediatewatermasses;formsduringwinterattheconvergenceformedbytheOyashiocurrentand

theKuroshioExtension.(317)

AnvilCirrusAcloudformationthatisexhaustedfromthetopofathunderstormthatformsasharp

upwindedgewithafuzzy,diffusedownstreamedge(436).

ArcCloudsAcurvedlineofcumuluscloudsformedduetoathunderstormdowndraftofcoldair(4

31).

ArcticIntermediateWaterSimilartosubArcticwaterbutformsonlyinsmallquantitiesandin

relativelysmallareaeastoftheGrandBanksofNewfoundland.(318)

AshHeaviervolcanicashparticlesorsolidparticlesprecipitatingandfallingfrom industrialsmoke

plume,forestfire,ordebrisfromnuclearmushroomcloud(132).

AtmosphericPressureThepressureexertedbythecolumnofaironanypointoftheearthssurface

(145).

AtmosphericwindowsTheareasontheelectromagneticspectrumwheretheatmosphereis

transparenttospecificwavelengths(43).

AtollsAreseamountsorguyotsthathavebrokenthesurface,andcoraldepositshaveupbuiltup

aroundtherim. Thecoralformsareefaroundashallowbodyofwater. (33)

AttenuationTheenergylossthatoccursinpropagatedsoundwavesduetoscatteringandabsorption.

(330)

Attenuation

The

loss

of

energy

due

to

absorption

and

scattering

of

terrestrial

radiation

by

atmosphericelements(412).

AurorasLuminousphenomenathatappearinthehighatmosphereintheformofarcs,bands,

draperies,orcurtains(144).


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AzimuthBearingWinddirectionisalwaysreportedusinga360azimuthcirclewith000/360

representingTrueNorth(154).

BaroclinicleafAmid andupperlevelcloudpatternassociatedwithasystemthatisjustbeginningto

develop(441).

BarocliniczonecloudsystemAlarge,extensiveareaofmultilayeredcloudswhichareassociatedwith

abarocliniczone(frontalzone).(441).

BarometricPressureThepressurereaddirectlyfromaprecisionaneroidbarometeroratactical

aneroidbarometer(146).

BathythermographTemperatureMethodforrecordingtemperatureofseasurface(151).

BillowCloudsAreregularlyspacedcloudsthatadvectwiththewindandusuallyonlylastforafew

minutesat

atime

(4

36).

BottomBounceAtypeofdeepwatertransmissionthatusesangledraypathstoovercomevelocity

gradientchangesfromthedownwarddirectedsoundenergy. (334)

BottomTopographyConsistsoffivemajorbottomprovinces:continentalshelf,continentalslopeand

rise,oceanbasin,andmidoceanridges. (31)

BreakerAngleTheanglethebreakermakeswiththebeachandisacriticalfactorinthecreationofa

littoralcurrent. (386)

BrightnesstemperatureEnergyoutputwhenreferringtometeorology(48).

BucketTemperatureThetemperaturerecordedbyusingthebucketdropmethod(151).

CentralWaterNormallyfoundinrelativelylowlatitudesalthoughitssourceregionisintheregionof

thesubtropicalconvergence. (316)

ChannelsInstrumentsthatmeasureradiationinspecific,narrowwavelengthbands(43).

CirriformCloudsthatarethin,wispyandhairlike(19).

CirroTheprefixthatidentifieshighetagecloudgenera(18).

Cirrocumulus(CC)CloudsthatareverysimilarinappearancetothehighACcloudsandcoverlessthat

1%ofthesky(121).

Cirrostratus(CS)Cloudsthatusuallyappearasathinwhiteveiloverthesky(121).


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Cirrus(CI)Highetagecloudtypethatarecomposedoficecrystals(120).

CirrusStreaksAcloudformationthatconsistsofsmallisolatedpatchesofcirrusgenerallyoccurring

awayfromotherclouds(434).

CloudCeiling

The

height

above

ground

level

of

the

lowest

broken

or

overcast

layer

(1

26).

CloudElementIsthesmallestcloudthatcanbeseenbyasatelliteimage(determinedbythe

resolutionofthesatellitesensor(422).

CloudEtageThethreelayersoftheatmosphereinreferencetoclouds:Low,Mid,High(18).

CloudFingersNarrowcloudbands,lessthanonedegreelatitudeinwidth,whichdevelopasaresultof

lowlevelconvergence(422).

CloudGeneraAnotherwaytorefertocloudtype(18).

CloudLayerCloudsand/orobscuringphenomenaaloft,eithercontinuousorcomposedofdetached

elements,withbasesatapproximatelythesamelevel(124).

CloudLinesCloudformationthatprimarilydevelopsofftheeastcoastsofcontinentswherea

continentalpolarairmassmovesoverwarmerwatersduringthewintertime(422).

CloudShieldLargeextensiveareasofcloudsmostcommonlyassociatedwithlargescalesynoptic

commacloudsystems(423).

CloudStreets

Random

cumuliform

cloud

formations

where

the

cloud

development

is

less

than

one

degreeoflatitudeinwidth(422).

CloudTypeAformofcloudseeninthesky(421).

CloudsThevisibleformofwatervapor,andconsistofminutesuspendeddropletsofliquid,water,or

iceparticles(133).

CoastalSystemArelativelyuniformdriftthatflowsroughlyparalleltoshorethatiscomposedoftidal,

winddriven,orlocaldensitydrivencurrents.

ColdAirFunnelsAturbulentactionalongthecoldairoutflowboundarythatmayproducesmallscale

vorticesontheraggedbaseoftherollcloud(113).

CombinedWavesThecombinationofwindwavesaresuperimposedonswellwaves;thisinteraction

produceslargerwaves. (359)


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xxv

CommaheadThenorthwestportionofthecloudsystem(440).

CommatailThelongandrelativelynarrowbandofcloudsthatextendssouthwardfromthemain

comma(440).

ConditionallyUnstable

The

condition

that

exists

when

the

temperature

of

the

air

above

alevel

lies

betweenthesaturationanddryadiabaticlapserate.(298)

ConductionThetransferofheatenergythroughcontact(17).

ContaminationAnoccurrenceinsatelliteimagerywhenenergyreachesthesatellitesensorfromtwo

ormoresources(413).

ContinentalRiseIsfoundseawardofthecontinentalslopeinapproximately500fathomsofwater. (3

2)

ContinentalShelfThefirstprovinceoffshorewithanaveragewidthof40miles. (31)

ContinentalSlopeResemblesasteepcliffthathasbeenerodedbyheavyrainsandisroughly20times

greaterthanthatofthecontinentalshelf.(32)

ContinuousPrecipitationPrecipitationthatfallsforalongperiodoftimeoveraspecificarea(140).

ConvectionCondensationLevel(HeatedMethod)(CCLp)Theheighttowhichaparcelofair,heated

frombelow,willriseadiabaticallyuntilsaturationoccurs.(294)

ConvectionCondensation

Level

(Moist

Layer

Method)

(CCLml)

The

height

used

when

there

is

highly

variablemoisturecontentinthelowerlayersofthetroposphere.(294)

ConvectiveLiftAprocessthatoccurswhencoolairisheatedatthesurfaceandrises(16).

ConvectiveMixingThisprocessisslowerthanmechanicalmixingandoccursasaresultofchangesin

waterstability. (313)

ConvectiveTemperature(HeatedMethod)(Tcp)Thetemperaturethesurfacemustreachfor

convectiontobegin.(293)

ConvectiveTemperature(MoistLayerMethod)(Tcml)Thetemperatureatwhichconvectionwould

beginwhenusingthemoistlayermethod.(293)

ConvergenceAnoccurrencewhenwindflowataparticularlevelforcesairtopileupinageneral

area,whichcreatesaliftingaction(17).


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ConvergenceZoneThezonethatreceivestherefractedraysofsoundabout30milesfromthesound

source. (333)

CoordinatedUniversalTime(UTC) Auseoftimetopreventconfusionbetweenthedifferentzonesand

typesoftime(14).

CoronaAbrightringoflightthatmayappeartorestonthemoonifseenthroughaveilofclouds

composedofsphericalwaterdroplets(118).

CumuliformPuffycloudsthathavedistinctelementsorcells(19).

Cumulonimbus(CB)Generatedbylargecumuluscongestuscloudsandhavemassiveappearancesand

extensiveverticaldevelopment(110).

Cumulus(CU)TranslatedfromLatin,meansheap. Formfromconvectionactionandtheheightof

thebase

is

directly

related

to

the

amount

of

moisture

(1

9).

CumulusFractusSmaller,raggedorfragmentedelementsthatarefrequentunderthebaseofthe

dissipatingcumulonimbus(111).

CuspThepointedregiononthesouthernedgeofthedeformationzonecloudsystem(440).

CutofflowsSmall,deeppoolsofcoldairlocatedequatorwardofthemainpolarfrontjet(447).

Cycle Onecompletewavelength. (323)

Decibel

Unit

used

to

express

relative

intensity

differences

between

acoustic

sounds.

(3

23)

DeepandBottomWaterExistinthedeepoceanbasinsbelowintermediatewaterandthesewaters

formatthesurface,sink,andspreadouttofillthedeepoceanbasins. (319)

DeepOceanCirculationIsreferredtoasathermohalinecirculationbecausethecirculationis

controlledbydifferencesintemperatureandsalinity.(319)

DeepWaterLayerThebottomlayerofwater,whichinthemiddlelatitudesexistsbelow1,200meters.

(323)

DeformationzonecloudsystemAnelongatedareaofmultilayeredcloudsthatarebeing"stretched"

and"sheared"byanupperleveldeformationzone(442).

DensityAltitudeThealtitudeatwhichagivenairdensityisfoundinthestandardatmosphere.(250)


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DensityofSeawaterDependentofsalinity,temperature,andpressureandisdefinedasmassperunit

volume,andisexpressedingramspercubiccentimeter.(310)

DetectorActsasareceiverofsoundandallowsustotellwhetherthesoundhasbeenproduced.(3

22)

DewpointTemperatureThetemperatureaparcelofairmustbecooledtoinordertoreach

saturation(150).

DewMoisturethatcondensesdirectlyonsurfaces(136).

DewPointTemperature(Td)Thetemperaturetowhichaparcelofairmustbecooledatconstant

pressureandmoisturecontent,inorderforsaturationtooccur.(290)

DifferingLevelVisibilityAnyprevailingvisibilityobservedfromanelevationorlocationotherthanthe

officialobservation

site

(1

30).

DirectPathDirectpathsoundpropagationoccurswherethereisanapproximatestraightlinepath

betweenthesoundsourceandreceiver,withnoreflectionfromanyothersourceandonlyonechange

ofdirectionduetorefraction.(330)

DirectivityIndexAfunctionofthedimensionsofsonarshydrophonearray,thenumberandspacing

ofthehydrophones,andthefrequencyofthereceivedacousticenergy.(336)

DopplerEffectTheapparentchangeinasoundduetomotion.(324)

DriftAnymovementoficefloes.(365)

DrizzleLiquidprecipitationthatconsistsofverysmallanduniformlydisperseddropletsofliquidwater

thatappeartofloatwhilefollowingaircurrents(137).

DrybulbTemperatureTheamountofheatpresentintheair(149).

DryAdiabatsLinesofconstantpotentialtemperaturethatareslightlycurved,solidbrownlinessloping

fromthelowerrighttoupperleftofthechart.(287)

DustComposedoffinesolidmatteruniformlydistributedintheair(131).

EarlyTransmissionMessagesBriefreportsofcertainobservedupperairdata,whicharesentassoonas

possibleaftertheradiosondemeasuresthe500hPalevel.(280)

EddiesIndependentcirculationsorringsofcoldorwarmwater.(354)


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ElectromagneticspectrumAcontinuumofallthetypesofelectromagneticradiation(43).

EnergyLossEnergyislostasthewavesmoveawayfromtheirsourceandspreadout.(323)

EnhancementcurvesThisimageryisoftencolorenhancedtomakesubtledifferencesingrayshades

morenoticeable

to

the

human

eye

(4

3).

EquatorialWaterIsfoundinthePacificandintheIndianOceananditssalinityvaluesarehigherthan

thoseofthewatermassesfoundintheNorthPacific.(317)

EquilibriumLevel(EL)Theheightatwhichthetemperatureofapositivelybuoyantparcelbecomes

equaltothatoftheenvironment.(296)

EquivalentTemperature(TE)Thetemperatureaparcelofairwouldhaveifallitsmoisturewas

condensedoutbythepseudoadiabaticprocess,andthenreturneddryadiabaticallybacktotheoriginal

pressurelevel.

(2

93)

ErrorofparallaxWhennotdirectlylookingdownatthetopofanobject,thereadingorpositionofthe

objectwillbeofffromitsactualreadingorposition(414).

Foehnwall(capcloud)Formedonthetopofmountainranges,resemblingacaponthemountain

(122).

FogAsuspensionofsmallvisiblewaterdroplets(oricecrystals)intheairthatreduceshorizontal

and/orverticalvisibilityattheearthssurface(134).

ForeshorteningThelossofresolutioncausedbyanobliqueviewingangle(413).

FractureAnybreakorcrackthroughtheicesheet.(364)

FreezingPrecipitationAnyprecipitationthatfallsasaliquidandfreezesuponcontactwithanobject

(137).

FrequencyThenumberofcyclespersecond;thehigherthefrequency,theshorterthewavelengths,

andviceversa.(323)

FrequencyThenumberofwavespassingagivenpointperunitoftime,expressedincyclespersecond,

orHertz(Hz).(42).

FrontalInversionThetransitionzonebetweenacoldairmassandthewarmerairmassaboveit.(2

102)

FrontalLiftAtypeofmechanicalliftthatiscausedbyfrontalbarriers(16).


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xxix

FrostpointTemperatureThetemperature,belowfreezing,thataparcelofairmustbecooledtoin

ordertoreachsaturation(150).

FrostAlayerofmilkywhiteicecrystalsthatsublimedirectlyonthegroundoronothersurfaces(136).

Frostbite

The

freezing

of

the

skin,

which

damages

the

skin

and

underlying

flesh

(1

61).

Funnelclouds(tuba)Cloudsthatusuallyformontheedgeofthewallcloudornearthewallcloudat

therearofthestorm(114).

GeneralHeatStressIndex(GHSI)ameasureofhowhottheairfeelsbasedontemperatureand

humidity(160).

GeosynchronousorbitSatellitethatorbitsdirectlyovertheequator(415).

GFMPL(GeophysicsFleetMissionProgramLibrary) AsoftwarelibraryestablishedbyCommander,

NavalMeteorologyandOceanographyCommandthatprovidesenvironmental,meteorological,

electromagnetic,oceanographic,hazardavoidance,acousticandweaponsystemsupportsoftwarefor

fleet,air,surface,amphibiousandantisubmarinewarfareoperations,andplanningpurposes.(343)

GlacialMarineSedimentsSedimentsthatwereoncedepositedwhentheglaciersoftheiceage

melted.(35)

GroundFogFogthathaslittleverticalextent:620feet(135).

Growler

A

small

fragment

of

ice

about

the

size

of

atrunk

that

is

usually

of

glacial

origin

and

greenish

color(361).

GuyotsAresubmerged,isolated,flattoppedmountainsthatrise3,000feetormoreabovethesea

floor.(33)

HailAcleartoopaqueballofhardice,rangingindiameterfrom1/8inchorsoto5inches(139).

HaloAringlightencirclingandextendingoutwardfromthesunandmoon(118).

HazardousPhenomenaDefinedasreportedtornadoes,funnelclouds,waterspouts,hail,severeicing,

severeorextremeturbulence(includingCAT),lowlevelwindshear,volcaniceruptionsoranycondition

thatinthejudgmentofthepersonenteringthePIREPSwouldpresentahazardtoflight.

HazeComposedofsuspendeddust,plantpollen,orsaltparticlesthataresosmalltheycannotbeseen

bytheunaidedeye(131).


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HeatStressTheeffectofexcessiveheatonthebody,andtheinabilityofthebodytogetridofexcess

heatfastenoughtomaintainaninternaltemperaturebalance(158).

HydroacousitcsThestudyofsoundinwaterorthestudyofsoundenergyinseawater(321).

Hydrometers

Liquid

or

solid

water

particles

falling

through,

suspended

in,

or

condensing/subliming

fromtheatmosphere,aswellassolidorliquidwaterblownfromthesurfacebywind(133).

HypothermiaTheloweringofinternalbodytemperatureduetoprolongedexposuretocoldairor

immersionincoldwater(161).

IceCrystalsTinyunbranchedcrystalsoficeintheformofneedles,hexagonalcolumns,orplates(1

39).

IcePelletsTransparentortranslucentparticlesoficethatareeitherroundorirregularandhavea

diameterof

.2

inch

or

less

(1

38).

InstrumentCorrectionDeterminedbythebarometercalibrationfacilityduringtherequired

semiannualcalibration(146).

Intensity isameasureofasoundsenergy(323).

IntermediateWaterFoundbelowcentralwaterinalloceans(317).

IntermittentPrecipitationPrecipitationthatoccursforbriefperiodsoftimelastinglessthanonehour

(140).

InversionsAlayerintheatmospherewherethetemperatureiseitherisothermalorincreaseswithan

increaseinheight(altitude).(2101)

IsobarsLinesofconstantpressureandarerepresentedbyhorizontal,solidbrownlineslogarithmically

spacedin10mbintervals.(286)

IsothermalGradientNochangeinwatertemperaturewithdepth(365).

IsothermsLinesofequaltemperaturearerepresentedbystraight,solidbrownlinesslopingfromthe

lowerlefttoupperrightofthechart.(286)

LeadAlong,narrowbreakorpassagethroughtheseaicesheetorbetweenfloes;anavigablefracture

(358).

LeeoftheMountainCirrusAcloudformationthatisamultilayeredcirruscloudshieldthatoccurson

theleesideofamountainrange(435).


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LevelofFreeConvection(HeatedMethod)(LFCheated)Theheightatwhichaliftedparcelofairfirst

becomeswarmer,orlessdense,thantheenvironmentbutthesurfaceheatingprovidestheneededlift.

(295)

LevelofFreeConvection(LiftedMethod)(LFClifted)Theheightatwhichaliftedparcelofairfirst

becomeswarmer,orlessdense,thantheenvironment.(295)

LiftingCondensationLevel(LCL)Theheightatwhichaparcelofairwouldbecomesaturatediflifted

dryadiabatically.(294)

LiquidPrecipitationAnyprecipitationthatfallsasaliquidandremainsliquidafterstrikinganobject

(137).

LithometeorAnydryparticlesuspendedin,orfallingfrom,theatmosphere(131).

Lithometeors

Also

referred

to

as

sand

and

dust

and

are

suspended

surface

particles

carried

aloft

by

strongsynopticscalesurfacewinds,oftenforlongdistances(438).

LongshoreCurrentsAlsoknownaslittoralcurrents;Currentsthatoccurinthesurfzoneandare

causedbywavesapproachingthebeachatanangle(340).

LoudnessTheeffectthatsoundhasonthedetector(323).

MagneticWindDirectionadirectionbasedonthe360azimuthcirclewiththe0/360azimuthradial

alignedwithmagneticnorth(155).

MainThermoclineThecentrallayeroftheoceanthatisfoundatthebaseofthemixedlayerandis

markedbyarapiddecreaseofwatertemperaturewithdepth(315).

MechanicalLiftAprocessbywhichaphysicalbarrierforcesairaloft(16).

MechanicalMixingCausedbywaveaction,surfacestormsstirringupthewater(313).

MediterraneanWaterFormedbytheinteractionofdenseMediterraneanSeawaterwithwatersof

theadjacentNorthAtlanticOcean(318).

MediumTheelementthatcarriesthesound(321).

MicronsMillionthsofameter(43).

MistAfogconditionthatreducesprevailingvisibilitytobetween5/8mileand6miles(135).


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xxxii

MixedLayerIstheupperlevelofthethreelayeredoceanmodel;getsthenamefromthemixing

processesthatbringaboutitsconstantwarmtemperatures;hastwomixingprocesses:Mechanicaland

Convective(313).

MixingCondensationLevel(MCL)Thelowestheightinalayer,mixedbyturbulence,atwhich

saturationoccursaftercompletemixingofthelayer.(294)

MixingRatio(w)Theratioofthemassofwatervapor(ingrams)tothemassofdryair(inkilograms).

(291)

NearshoreSystemAcomplexcirculationthatiscomposedofshorewardmovingwaterintheformof

wavesatthesurface,areturnflowalongthebottominthesurfzone,nearshorecurrentsthatparallel

thebeach,andripcurrents(340).

NegativeEnergy

Area

The

area

of

the

SKEW

Tproportional

to

the

amount

of

kinetic

energy

needed

to

moveaparcelvertically.(297)

NegativeTemperatureGradientTheoppositeofpositivegradient,adecreaseinwatertemperature

withdepth(365).

NetChangeDeterminedbytakingthedifferenceinthestationpressurebetweenthecurrent

observationandthestationpressure3,12,24hoursago(148).

Nimbostratus(NS)CommonlycalledtheraincloudandusuallyformsfromthethickeningofAS

cloudsand

ranges

in

color

from

medium

to

very

dark

gray

(1

18)..

NoiseLevelAmbientnoiseandselfmadenoiseatthelocationofthesonar(333).

OceanBasinAccountsfor76percentoftheoceanfloor(34).

OPARSApreflightplanningaidthatintegratesforecastatmosphericconditionswiththepilots

proposedflightprofiletoprovideanoptimizedflightplanthatminimizesfuelconsumption.(260)

OrographicCloudsSeveralspeciesoflow,mid,andhighetagecloudsareassociatedonlywithmoist

airflowover

mountainous

areas

(1

21).

OrographicLiftAtypeofmechanicalliftthatiscausedbylandbarriers(16).

PannusThelayerofthefragmentedelementsofthecumulusfractus(111).

PartialGroundFogFogthatcoversasubstantialpartofthestationandvisibilityinthefogthatisless

that5/8mile(136).


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xxxiii

PartialObscurationAphenomenonthatallowsthesun,clouds,themoon,orthestarstobeseen

overheadbutnotseennearthehorizon(124).

PassiveSonarAtypeofsonarthatlistensforsoundsgeneratedbyothershipsandsubmarines(328).

PatchyGround

Fog

Fog

that

covers

portions

of

the

station:

620

feet

(1

36).

PCIMAT(PersonalComputerBasedInteractiveMultisensorAnalysisTrainingSystem)Thepremier

oceanacousticanalysisandplanningtoolavailableonallASWplatforms,includingsurfaceships,

aircraft,andsubmarines(339).

PelagicSedimentsSedimentsthatareformedindeepwaterandaremostcommonlycomposedof

shellsandskeletalremainsofmarineplantsandanimals(37).

PhotometeorsConsistofanumberofatmosphericphenomenaattributedtothereflectionor

refractionof

visible

light

in

the

sky

by

liquid

water

droplets,

ice

crystals,

the

air,

or

solid

particles

in

the

air(144).

PhotonsAbeamofelectromagneticradiationresemblesastreamofparticles(48).

PileusAcapshapedfeaturethatoccasionallyoccursabovethecaulifloweroftheCUorCBcelluntil

theCUcellmakescontactwiththebulgingcloudlayer(115).

PILOTCodeAcodethatisprimarilyusedthroughouttheworldtoreportPIBALobservedwind

directionsandspeeds.(281)

PitchIsasubjectivesoundqualitydependentonthereceiveranddependsonthefrequencyofthe

sound(323).

PlungingBreakersAbreakertypethatoccurswithamoderatetosteepbreachslope(379).

PointsoftheCompassExpresswinddirectionsingeneralweatherforecasts(153).

PolynyaAnysizableareaofseawaterenclosedbyseaice(358).

PositiveEnergyAreaTheareaonaSKEWTproportionaltotheamountofkineticenergyaparcel

gainsasitrisesfreelyintheatmosphere.(296)

PositiveTemperatureGradientAnincreaseinwatertemperaturewithdepth(365).

PotentialTemperature()Thetemperaturethatasampleofairwouldhaveifitwerebroughtdryadiabaticallyto1000mb.(292)


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PrecipitationAllformsofmoisturethatfalltotheearthssurfaces,suchasrain,drizzle,snow,andhail

(136).

PrecipitationCharacterAtermtodescribehowprecipitationfalls:continuous,intermittent,and

showery(140).

PrecipitationIntensityAnapproximationoftherateoffallortherateofaccumulationofprecipitation

(139).

PrecipitationTypeThetermusedtoidentifyvariousprecipitations(137).

Pressureimportantweatheranalysisandforecastingitemusedtoanalyzeisobarpatterns,orlinesof

equalpressure(145).

PressureAltitudeThealtitudeofagivenatmosphericpressureinthestandardatmosphere.(246)

PressureTendencyThenetchangeinthebarometricpressureduringaperiodoftimeandthetrendor

characteristicofthechange(148).

PrevailingVisibilityThegreatestdistancethataknownobjectcanbeseenandidentifiedthroughout

halfofmoreofthehorizoncircle(128).

PropagationLossThelossofsignalstrengthbetweenthesonarandthetarget(333).

PropertiesofSeawaterTemperature,pressure,andsalinityarethethreemostimportantproperties

ofseawater,

and

they

determine

the

other

physical

properties

associated

with

seawater

(3

7).

PuddleAdepressioninseaiceusuallyfilledwithmeltedwatercausedbywarmwater(358).

RadiationInversionAsurfacebasedinversionformedbyrapidcoolingofairincontactwiththe

surfaceoftheearth.(2102)

RadiometersSatellitesensorsdesignedtoproduceimagesofEarth,itsoceans,anditsatmosphere

(410).

RadiometricresolutionSensitivityoftheradiometertosmalldifferencesintheradiationofan

observedobject(412).

Radiosondeaballoonborneinstrumentusedtosimultaneouslymeasureandtransmitmeteorological

datawhileascendingthroughtheatmosphere. (261)

RainLiquidprecipitationthathasawaterdropletdiameterof.02inorlarger(137).


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xxxv

RecognitionDifferentialPertainstotheabilitytodifferentiatetargetnoisefrombackgroundnoise(3

32).

RedSeaWaterLargequantitiesofwarm,salinewaterfromtheRedSeaflowintotheIndianOcean,

whereitmixeswithAntarcticintermediatewatertoformRedSeaWatermass(318).

ReflectionSoundwavesthatstrikesolidsurfaceshavealloraportionoftheirenergyredirectedor

absorbed(327).

RefractionAswavesmovethroughthesea,theybendinthedirectionoftheslowersoundspeeds(3

25).

RelativeHumidityAreadingthatIndicateshowcloseairistosaturationandhowdependentitisupon

bothtemperatureandwatervaporcontent.(291)

RelativeHumidity

The

ratio

of

how

much

vapor

is

in

the

air,

compared

to

the

amount

of

water

vapor,

atthecurrenttemperatureandpressurethataircanpossiblyhold(159).

RelativeHumidity(RH%)Theratio(in%)oftheamountofwatervaporinagivenparcel,tothe

amountofwatervaporthatparcelwouldholdifitweresaturated.(291)

RelativeWindDirectionWinddirectionaboardshipisobservedbyrelativebearing(154).

RemotesensingUsedtodescribethestudyofsomethingwithoutmakingactualcontactwithit(42).

RemovalCorrection

The

pressure

correction

based

on

the

difference

in

height

of

the

barometer

and

therunwayorstationelevation(146).

ResolutionSpatialresolution,thesizeofthefootprints,orpixels,thatformanimage(410).

ReverberationAfunctionofsourcelevel,range,andsurface,volumeandbottomreverberation(332).

ReverberationAnoiseorinterferenceatasonarreceiverthatiscausedbyscatteredsoundenergy

beingreflectedbacktothesonarreceiver(327).

RidgesThelastoftheoceanprovince(36).

RipCurrentsCurrentscausebyreturnflowofwaterfromthebeach;resemblesasmalljetinthe

breakerzone(341).

RogueorFreakWavesArewavesthatareabnormallyhighwhencomparedtotheseaheights

observedpriortotheoccurrenceofthistypeofwave(354).


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xxxvi

RollCloud(arcus)MayformalongtheleadingedgeoftheCBcloudbaseduringadownrush(112).

RopeCloudsAcouldformationthatiscomposedofcumulusortoweringcumuluswhichareorganized

intoaline,mostlyoverwater(431).

RotorCloud

Formed

downwind

from

the

mountain

range

by

strong

winds

moving

across

the

mountainssetupawavelikeactiondownstreamfromthemountain(122).

SalinityTheamountofsaltinthewater(39).

SandParticlesthatcanbepickedupfromdrysurfacesbythewindandcarriedtomoderatedheights

(132).

SandWhirls(DustDevils)Rotatingcolumnsofdustorsandladenair,causedbysolarradiation(132).

SaturationAdiabatsLinesthatrepresenttherateofchangeinthetemperatureofaparcelof

saturatedair,risingorsinking,theyappearasslightlycurved,solidgreenlinesslopingfromthelower

righttoupperleftsideofthechart.(287)

SaturationMixingRatioLinesthatrepresenttheratioofgramsofwatervaporperkilogramofdryair

(partsofwatervapor/1000partsofdryair),theyareslightlycurved,dashedgreenlinesslopingfromthe

lowerlefttotheupperright.(287)

SaturationMixingRatio(ws)Themixingratioaparcelwouldhaveifitweresaturated.(291)

Sealevel

Pressure

A

theoretical

pressure

at

the

station

ifthe

station

were

actually

at

sea

level

(1

47).

SeaSurfaceTemperatureThetemperaturethatreflectstheupperfewinchesoftheseasurface(1

51).

SeaWavesWavesgeneratedbythewindinthelocalarea(352).

SeamountsAresubmerged,isolated,pinnacledmountainsrising3,000feetormoreabovethesea

floor(35).

SeawaterImmersionSurvivabilityThetemperatureandsizeofwavesconsideredwithofones

swimmingability,physicalcondition,andclothingtodeterminelengthofsurvivability(162).

SeawaterInjectionTemperatureTheleastaccuratemethodofrecordingseasurfacetemperature(1

52).

SectorVisibilityThesurroundingvisibilityineachsectorandisonlyreportedwhenitdiffersfromthe

prevailingvisibility(130).


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xxxvii

SelfnoiseThepartofthetotalbackgroundnoiseattributabletothesonarequipment,theplatformon

whichitismounted,orthenoisecausedbythemotionoftheplatform(335).

ShadowZoneThezonethatisbeyondtherangeofthedownwardbendingsoundraysandsound

intensityisnegligible(326).

ShallowGroundFogFogthatcoversthestationandvisibilityateyelevel(135).

ShoweryPrecipitationPrecipitationthatfallsfromcumuliformcloudsandcoversarelativelysmall

area(140).

SignalExcessTheamountofsoundenergyreceivedfromatargetoverandabovetheamount

requiredtodetectit(332).

SillsElevatedpartsoftheoceanfloorthatpartiallyseparateoceanbasins(36).

SkyconditionAllcloudsparametersestimatedormeasuredbyassistantforecasters(15).

SmokeComposedoffineashparticlesandotherbyproductsofcombustion(131).

SnowPrecipitationthatconsistsofwhiteortranslucenticecrystals(138).

SnowGrainsVerysmall,whiteopaquegrainsoficesimilarincrystalstructuretosnow(139).

SnowPellets/SmallHailWhite,opaque,roundkernelsofsnow(138).

SonicLayerDepthThedepthofmaximumsoundspeed(324).

SoundChannelAneffectwhenanegativevelocitygradientoverliesanisovelocityorpositivevelocity

gradient(326).

SoundPathAssoundenergyleavesasoundsource,ittravelsinwavesanditisrefracted,reflected,

andscattered(325).

SoundProductionThethreebasicelementsthatmustbepresentforsoundproductionaresound

source,medium,andadetector(321).

SoundPropagation

The

influences

that

the

sea

has

on

sound

as

it

moves

through

the

medium,

which

inthiscasewouldbewater(323).

SoundSpeedIsafunctionofwatertemperature,pressure,andsalinityandhastheprimaryfunction

ofthedirectionorpaththatsoundenergytakesasitmovesthroughthewater(324).

SoundVelocityTheaccountofthespeedanddirectionofsoundrays(312).


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xxxviii

SoundVelocityProfileAgraphicrepresentationofspeedversusdepth(324).

SoundWavesVibrationswithinamediumthatarecausedbythewaveformofsound(322).

SourceAnyobjectthatvibratesordisturbsthemediumarounditandthesoundsourceistheinitial

requirementin

the

production

of

sound

(3

21).

SourceLevelTheintensityoftheradiatedsoundindecibels,relativetoareferencedintensity(331).

SpatialresolutionTheabilityofasensortodetectanddistinguishsmallobjectsandfinedetail(410).

SpecificHeatThenumberofcaloriesneededtoraisethetemperatureof1gramofseawater(311).

SpecificHumidityThemassofwatervaporpresentinaunitofair.(252)

SpectralresolutionThenumberofbandsintheelectromagneticspectruminwhichtheinstrument

can

take

measurements

(4

11).

SpeedofSoundThemeasurementofsoundintheairat0Cis331.5m/sec(322).

SpillingBreakersAbreakertypethatoccurswithgentleandflatbeachslopes(378).

SpiltbeamPatternApatternthatoccurswhenthetemperaturegradientinthenearsurfacelayeris

isothermal,andnegativebelow(325).

SpreadingLossAtypeofenergylossduetothemovingawayfromasource,itspreadsout(323).

Squall

A

sudden

large

increase

in

wind

speed

that

lasts

several

minutes

and

then

suddenly

subsides

(1

57).

StableAirAirtendstoremainatthesamelevelintheatmosphere(17).

StandardAtmosphereLinesusedtocomparetheactualatmosphericconditionstostandard

atmosphereandthelapserateisshownbyaheavybrownlineinthecenterofthechartstartingat

1013mband15C.(288)

StandardHeightsTheheightsofpressuresurfacesinthestandardatmosphereareindicatedbya

verticalscale

along

the

right

side

of

the

chart.

(2

89)

StateoftheskyAspecifictermthatequatestooneofthe27internationallyrecognizedskystates(1

5).

StationElevationTheheightofthehighestpointoftherunwayabovemeansealevel(146).


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xxxix

StationPressureThepressurevaluereadonthebarometercorrectedforthedifferencebetweenthe

heightofthebarometerandthestationelevation(146).

StraightRaysSoundraystravelinstraightlinesonlywherethespeedisconstant;nochangeinvelocity

withdepth(325).

StratiformCloudsthatdevelopintheuniformlayersandpresentasmootherappearance(19).

Stratocumulus(SC)Atypeofcloudsthatappeartobeacombinationofthesmooth,even,stratiform

cloud,andthepuffycellsofcumuliformclouds(115).

Stratus(ST)Cloudsthathaveasmooth,uniformappearancewhichoftenappearsfuzzyorindistinct

(116).

StratusFractusCloudsthataregenerallyindicatorsofbadweatherandusuallyfoundbelowlayersof

NSclouds

(1

17).

SubArcticWaterSimilartosubAntarcticwaterbutaredifferentinlandandseadistribution(319)..

SubpointTheclosestpointontheEarthssurfacedirectlyunderthesatellitesensor(410).

SubsidenceInversionAmechanicallyproducedinversionformedbyadiabaticwarmingofsinking

air.(2102)

SunglintCausedbythereflectionofthesun'sraysdirectlyoffawatersurfaceintothesatellitesensor

(414).

SupplementaryCloudFeaturesVirga,tuba(funnelclouds,tornadoes,waterspouts),incus(anviltops),

arcus(rollclouds),wallclouds,mamma(formerlycalledmammatus),pannus,velum,andpileusareall

supplementaryfeatures(19).

SurfaceDuctSimplyanearsurfacelayerthattrapssoundenergy(329).

SurfaceLayerLayerwithwaterdepthsof100to200metersthatisseparatedfromdeeperwaterbya

transitionallayer(316).

SurfaceReverberationAreverberationthatisaproductofsurfacewaveaction(327).

SurgeregionWheredry,subsidingairflowsintothecommacloud(440).

SurgingBreakersAbreakertypethatisnormallyseenonlywithsteepbeachslope(379).

SwellWavesSeasthathavemovedoutandawayfromtheareainwhichtheywereformed(353).


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xl

TargetStrengthTheamountbywhichtheapparentintensityofsoundscatteredbytheobjects

exceedstheintensityoftheincidentsound(333).

TemperatureTheamountofsensibleheatinasubstanceorasthemeasurementofmolecularmotion

inasubstance(149).

TemporalresolutionThefrequencywithwhichasatellitecanrevisitanareaofinterestandacquirea

newimage(412).

TerminalAerodromeForecast(TAF)ThegoverninginstructionforallU.S.NavyandMarineCorps

weatheractivitiesthatprovidesinformationabouttheexpectedweatherconditionsthatwilloccurat

yourairfieldorstationcontrol.(21)

TerminatorTheactualdividinglinebetweendayandnightontheEarth(414).

TerrigenousSediments

are

land

derived

silts

and

clays

that

are

carried

to

sea

by

rivers

(3

7).

TextElementIndicators(TEIs)Slashesthatare followedbyatwoletterabbreviationandareused

inthecodetoindicatewhichelementisbeingreported.(224)

ThawHoleAholeintheicethatiscausedbythemeltingassociatedwithwarmweather(358).

ThicknessThedistancebetweentwopressurelevelsandisafunctionoftemperatureandmoisture

content.(293)

ThreeLayered

Ocean

A

method

of

visualizing

the

sea

divided

into

layers:

the

mixed

layer,

main

thermocline,andthedeepwaterlayer(313).

TotalObscurationAphenomenonthatisdenseenoughtohideeventheportionoftheskydirectly

overhead(124).

TransmissivityTheabilityoftheatmospheretoallowradiationtopassthrough(43).

TransverseBandsAcloudformationthatconsistsofirregularlyspaced,parallelbandsofthincirrus

filamentsandstrandsorientedperpendiculartothewindflow(435).

TrenchesLong,narrow,andrelativelysteepsideddepressionsthatcomprisethedeepestportionsof

theoceans(36).

TropicalcyclonesStormsthatoriginateintropicallatitudes;theyincludetropicalwaves,tropical

disturbances,tropicaldepressions,tropicalstorms,hurricanes,typhoons,andcyclones(457).


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xli

TropicalRainfallMeasuringMission(TRMM)AjointmissionbetweenNASAandtheNationalSpace

DevelopmentAgency(NASDA)ofJapan(420).

TrueWindDirectionAwindmeasuredwithrespecttoTrueNorth(154).

TurbulentLift

Mechanical

lift

caused

by

friction

between

the

earth's

surface

and

the

air

moving

above

itorbetweenadjacentlayerswithintheatmosphereinwhichwindspeed(16).

UnstableAirAirrisesonitsown(17).

UprushZoneTheareaonthebeachwherethewavescausethewatertotemporarilyrushuponthe

sand,andthenrecedeonthewavebackwashtoexposethesand(377).

VariableWindsWindsthatfluctuateby60ormore(157).

Velum

Layers

of

altocumulus

or

altostratus

clouds

that

are

often

seen

developing

from

the

mid

portionoftheCBcolumn(115).

VirgaShowersthatcomefromCUcloudsthatevaporatebeforetheyreachtheground(111).

VirtualTemperature(Tv)Thetemperatureatwhichaparcelofdryair(RH=0%)wouldhavethesame

densityasaparcelofmoistairatagivenpressure.(293)

ViscosityResistancetoflow;liquidsexpandandcontractwhentemperaturechangestakeplace(312).

VolcanicIslands

Islands

that

can

form

individually

or

in

groups.

Approximately

10,000

volcanoes

acrosstheoceanfloor(36).

VolcanicSedimentsPrimarilypumiceandashdepositsfromvolcaniceruptions(37).

VolumeReverberationAreverberationthatiscausedbyscattersorreflectorsinthewatersuchas

fish,marineorganism,suspendedsolids,andbubbles(327).

VorticitycommacloudsystemComposedofanareaoflowormiddlelevelconvectiveclouds

organizedinto

acomma

shape

(4

42).

WallcloudAsometimeshollow,generallycircularpatchofcloudwitharaggedbottomedgethatmay

lowerfromthebaseofaCB(113).

WaterMassTakesintoaccountarangeoftemperaturesandsalinitiesforgivingareading(316).


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xlii

WaterTypeHasasinglevalueofsalinityandasinglevalueoftemperatureassociatedwithit(316).

WaveDirectionThedirectionfromwherethewaveapproaches(351).

WaveHeightTheverticaldistancefromthecrestofawavetothetroughofthewave;usually

measuredinfeet(350).

WaveLengthThehorizontaldistancefromonewavecresttothenextwavecrest,orthedistancefrom

onewavetroughtothenextwavetrough(351).

WavePeriodThetime,usuallymeasuredinseconds,thatittakesforacompletewavecycletopassa

givenfixedpoint(351).

WavelengthThedistancemeasuredinthedirectionofpropagationbetweentwoidenticalpointson

adjacentwaveshavingthesamephase(42).

WetbulbTemperatureThelowesttemperatureanobjectmaybecooledtobytheprocessof

evaporation(149).

WetbulbGlobeTemperatureAheatstressindicatorthatconsiderstheeffectsoftemperature,

humidity,andradiantenergy(161).

WetBulbPotentialTemperature(w)Thewetbulbtemperatureaparcelwouldhaveifbrought

saturation

adiabatically

down

to

1000mb.

(2

92)

WetBulbTemperature(Tw)Thelowesttemperaturetowhichaparcelofaircanbecooledby

evaporatingwaterintoitatconstantpressure.(292)

WindCharacterAdescriptionofhowthewind(speedordirection)changesduringthespecified

period(156).

WindChillEquivalentTemperatureThetemperaturerequiredundernowindconditionsthatwill

equalthecoolingeffectoftheairandthewindonanaveragesized,nudepersonintheshade(162).

WindDirectionTheaveragedirectionfromwhichthewindisblowingduringaspecifiedperiod(153).

WindDirectionConventionsAreexpressedinazimuthbearingsorbythe8pointor16pointcompass

(153).

WindGustArapidfluctuationinwindspeedwithavariationbetweenpeaksandlullsof10knotsor

more(156).


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WindShiftAnychangeinwinddirectionby45ormoreduringa15 minutetimeperiod(157).

WindSpeedTheaveragerateofairmotionorthedistanceairmovesinaspecifiedunitoftime(155).

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AG3 RTM Glossary