APPENDIX I
A
ACCRETION —Growth or increase in size by gradual
addition.
ADVECTION—Horizontal
transport
of
an
atmospheric property solely by the motion of the
atmosphere.
AEROSOLS—Small droplets of liquid suspended in a
gas, such as water in the air.
AFWA—Air Force weather agency.
AGL—Above ground level. Measurements suffixed by
the abbreviation AGL refer to height.
ALIDADE —A device frequently used by shipboard
navigation personnel to sight objects and read either
relative azimuth bearing or true azimuth bearing.
AMBIENT—A
representative
reading
or
measurement for a substance under surrounding
conditions.
ANALOG—Proportional and continuous. An analog
recorder draws continuous lines proportional to the
electronic signal input. In an analog signal, the
sound pitch varies proportionately with the
intensity of the signal, and the signal is continuous.
ANEMOMETER —A device used to measure wind
speed and/or wind direction. From the Greek word
anemo, meaning wind, and modem word meter,
meaning measurement device.
ANEROID—Without fluid or without water. An
aneroid barometer uses no fluid (mercury).
ANOMALOUS—Irregular or abnormal.
ANTICYCLONIC—Any rotational motion in a
clockwise manner in the Northern Hemisphere, or a
counter—clockwise manner in the Southern
Hemisphere.
APPARENT—The way something appears or is
perceived, although it may not be true.
ARQ—Automatic response to query. A method of
obtaining data by using AFMEDS or CMW.
ASCENSION—Rising or increasing in elevation.
ASOS—Automated surface observing system.
AWSP—Air weather service pamphlet, now AFP or
Air Force pamphlet.
AZIMUTH—The horizontal angular measurement
from a fixed reference to a point. The Navy uses
angular measurements in clockwise degrees from 0
to 360. When 0 is referenced to true north, the result
is a true azimuth bearing. When referenced to an
arbitrary direction, such as the bow of a ship, the
result is a relative azimuth bearing.
B
BACKING—A change in wind direction in a
counterclockwise manner in the Northern
Hemisphere, or a clockwise direction in the
Southern Hemisphere.
BATHYMETRY—The
features
and
depths
underwater.
BATHYTHERMOGRAPH—Any device used to
measure and record temperatures through a column
of water.
C
CALVE—The process of splitting ice from a glacier to
form icebergs.
CCTV—Closed circuit television.
CEILOMETER—A
more
sophisticated
and
automated clinometer used to measure cloud or
ceiling heights.
CIC—Combat information center aboard ship.
CLIMATIC—Any element associated with the
climate of an area.
CLIMATOLOGY —The study of the statistical
means, frequencies, deviations, and trends of
weather elements for an area over a period of time.
CLINOMETER—A device used to obtain an angular
elevation measurement of a light spot on a cloud
base to determine the cloud or ceiling height. The
distance between the meter and the light source
must be known.
AI-1
GLOSSARY