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Definitions of Meteorological Terms |
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DEW
POINT:
(wiki link below for full, calculus-laced
definition) For our very simplistic discussion
here, dew point levels are helpful in a 'ballpark'
determination of how LOW temps can go at night at
the surface. For example, if air is cold, dry and
dew point is, say, -15C in the model run, then
surface temps can approach +5 degrees F, in a
wind-sheltered area, with no cloud cover. If temps
drop much below the dew pt FOG or HOAR FROST can
form, depending on relative humidity and general
temp of air mass.
Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dew_point |
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Great picture
of an amazing phenomenon known
as a "HABOOB"
Credit: "Daily Mail" from the
United Kingdom |
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HABOOB: We have all heard of
'downbursts' from large
thunderstorms - the sudden rush
of air out and away from a
thunderstorm cell when it
collapses. These downbursts
(drafts) have accounted for jet
crashes, because the rapid
change in airflow takes away the
'lift' of wings during
landing/takeoff. Anyway, a
HABOOB is a dust storm created
during a downburst. (WIKI for
full definition:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haboob
Please see the excellent story
on a HABOOB that occured in
Sudan, Tuesday May 1, 2007 -
Story Link |
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HOAR FROST
vs POGONIP - What interesting terms and
intriguing phenomena. Some patrons have been discussing these terms after
the hoar frost event that occurred in many places across the Willamette
Valley Dec 17 - 19, 2006. The image displayed to the right was taken out the
window of your
WxCafé® in Silverton. You can wiki the terms:
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Click to
see larger image |
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MM5 - What is an MM5
forecast?
It is a regional,
high-resolution forecast model
presented by the Univiversity of
Washington Department of
Atmospheric Sciences. It is a
MESO-SCALE model, meaning one
that provides more detail for a
specific region rather than
large, continental/oceanic
sections. A consortium of
support is provided by various
governmental agencies. The
WxCafé®
finds the model useful
for CLOSE analysis of model
solutions for the PNW.
For more info on PNW MM5
Forecasts:
http://www.atmos.washington.edu/mm5rt/info.html |
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NCEP -
National Centers for Environmental Prediction.
It is an extensive center for various climate,
meterological, and marine models, info, etc. The
NCEP is a part of NOAA and the Nat'l Weather
Service. The
WxCafé® uses the Global Forecast System
(GFS) portion of the NCEP site as a tool in
preparing forecasts for the PNW.
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