QFF—A signal used to indicate the value provided; the
sea-level pressure.
QNH—A signal used to indicate the value provided;
the minimum altimeter setting for the period of time
discussed.
R
RABAL—A method using radar to track a balloon
carrying a radar-reflector, and is used to determine
upper-level winds.
RAD—A unit of measurement of an absorbed dose of
radiation equal to 100 ergs of ionization per gram of
absorbing material or tissue.
RADFO—An acronym for radiological fallout.
RADIOSONDE—A device carried aloft by a balloon
to measure pressure, temperature, and humidity
content of the atmosphere.
RAOB—Acronym for radiosonde observation or
rawinsonde observation.
RATT—Radio teletype.
RAWINSONDE —Radiosonde-wind
sounding.
A
device carried aloft by balloon that measures
pressure, temperature. humidity of the air, and the
slant-range from the release point. Calculations on
the change in pressure (height) and change in slant-
range (distance) yield wind speed and direction.
REFRACTIVITY —The
study
of
how
electromagnetic energy is bent (refracted) as it
moves through different density layers within the
atmosphere.
RH—Usual abbreviation for relative humidity.
RIA—Radiosonde initial analysis, a GFMPL program
used to analyze upper-air soundings.
ROCKETSONDE —A device carried aloft by a rocket
which measures pressure, temperature. and
humidity as it drifts on a parachute to the ground.
ROCOB—Acronym for rocketsonde observation.
S
SALINITY—A measurement of the amount of salts
dissolved in sea water.
SAR—Search and rescue.
SMOOS—Shipboard meteorological and oceano-
graphic observing system.
SSI—Showalter stability index.
SURFCAST—(or SURFCST) Acronym for surf
forecast.
SUROB—Acronym for surf observation.
SYNOPTIC —In general, pertaining to or affording an
overall view. In meteorology, this term has become
specialized in referring to the use of meteorological
data obtained simultaneously over a wide area for
presenting a comprehensive picture of the state of
the atmosphere.
T
TACAN—Tactical air navigation, a radio aircraft
navigation aid used originally by the military to
provide a pilot with direction and distance to a
TACAN transmitter.
U
UHF—Ultra-high frequency radio transmission.
UNREP—Underway replenishment.
USW—Undersea Warfare.
UTC—Universal
time
coordinated
(Coordinated
Universal Time), usually suffixed with a "Z".
UTM—Universal transverse mercator coordinates, a
military coordinate system based on a series of
grids used to locate positions between 84°N and
80°S.
V
VALID—Effective, good.
VEERING—A change in the wind direction in a
clockwise manner in the Northern Hemisphere, or a
counter-clockwise manner in the Southern
Hemisphere.
VELOCIMETER —In general, a device used to
measure velocity (speed). In oceanography, the
sound velocimeter measures the speed of sound in
water.
VERTREP —Vertical
replenishment
by
use
of
helicopters.
AI-4
