Weather terms starting with P

261 terms

  1. PRIN Principal
  2. Probability The chance that an event occurs. It is usually expressed as a percent. Zero percent denotes impossibility, while 100% denotes certainty.
  3. Probability Forecast A forecast of the probability that one or more of a mutually exclusive set of weather conditions will occur.
  4. Probability of Hail (Abbrev. POH) - a product from the NEXRAD hail detection algorithm that estimates the likelihood that hail is present in a storm.
  5. Probability of Precipitation (Abbrev. PoP)- The probability that precipitation will be reported at a certain location during a specified period of time.
  6. Probability of Thunderstorms The probability based on climatology that a thunderstorm will be reported at that location during a specified period of time.
  7. Probability of Tropical Cyclone Conditio The probability, in percent, that the cyclone center will pass within 50 miles to the right or 75 miles to the left of the listed location within the…
  8. Problem Identification Form (PIF) Used to identify and document problems with ARM systems, physical infrastructure, or instruments.
  9. Product Resolution The smallest spatial increment or data element that is distinguishable in a given Doppler radar product.
  10. Profiler An instrument designed to measure horizontal winds directly above its location, and thus measure the vertical wind profile.
  11. PROG Forecast (prognostication)
  12. PROGGED Forecasted
  13. Prognostic Discussion This Hydrometeorological Prediction Center (HPC) discussion may include analysis of numerical and statistical models, meteorological circulation patterns…
  14. Progressive Derecho Derecho characterized by a short curved squall line oriented nearly perpendicular to the mean wind direction with a bulge in the general direction of the…
  15. Prominence A structure in the corona consisting of cool plasma supported by magnetic fields.
  16. PROPA Propagation (movement)
  17. propagation The duplication of a whole plant from a range of vegetative materials; adapted for in vitro culture as micropropagation.
  18. Property Protection Measures that are undertaken usually by property owners in order to prevent, or reduce flood damage.
  19. Proton A small, positively charged particle of matter found in the atoms of all elements.
  20. Proton Event In solar-terrestrial terms, the measurement of at least 10 protons/cm2/sec/steradian at energies greater than 10 MeV.
  21. Proton Flare In solar-terrestrial terms, any flare producing significant fluxes of greater-than-10 MeV protons in the vicinity of the earth.
  22. Proxy If you own common stock in a US corporation, you have the right to vote on certain company policies and elect the board of directors by casting a proxy…
  23. PRST Persist
  24. PRVD Provide
  25. PSBL Possible
  26. PSBLY possibly
  27. Pseudo-Cold Front A boundary between a supercell's inflow region and the rear-flank downdraft (or RFD).
  28. Pseudo-Warm Front A boundary between a supercell's inflow region and the forward-flank downdraft (or FFD).
  29. PSG Passage
  30. PST Please Send Tell. Indicates that the person speaking wants to receive communication via a /t(ell) or /w(hisper) command.
  31. Psychrometer An instrument for measuring relative humidity by means of wet and dry-bulb temperatures.
  32. Psychrometric tables Psychrometric tables Tables prepared from the psychrometric formula and used to obtain vapor pressure, relative humidity, and dew point from wet- and…
  33. PTCHY Patchy
  34. PTCLDY Partly Cloudy
  35. PTDY On a buoy report, Pressure Tendency is the sign (plus or minus) and the amount of pressure change (hPa) for a three hour period ending at the time of…
  36. PTLY Partly
  37. PTN Portion
  38. PTTN pattern
  39. PTWC (Pacific Tsunami Warning Center) - The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Ewa Beach (pronounced Eva Beach), HI has an international warning responsibility…
  40. PTYPE precipitation type
  41. Public Information Statement A narrative statement issued by a National Weather Service Forecast Office that can be used for: 1) A current or expected nonhazardous event of general…
  42. Public Severe Weather Outlook These are issued when the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in Norman, Oklahoma anticipates an especially significant and/or widespread outbreak of severe…
  43. Puddle To compact loose soil by soaking it and allowing it to dry.
  44. Puget Sound Convergence Zone A situation where wind forced around the Olympic Mountains converges over the Puget Sound.
  45. Pulse A short burst of electromagnetic energy that a radar sends out in a straight line to detect a precipitation target.
  46. Pulse Duration The time over which a radar pulse lasts. The pulse duration can be multiplied by the speed of light to determine the pulse length or pulse width.
  47. Pulse Length The linear distance in range occupied by an individual pulse from a radar. h = c * t , where t is the duration of the transmitted pulse, c is the speed of…
  48. Pulse Radar A type of radar, designed to facilitate range (distance) measurements, in which are transmitted energy emitted in periodic, brief transmission.
  49. Pulse Repetition Frequency (PRF) The amount of time between successive pulses, or bursts, of electromagnetic energy that is transmitted by a radar.
  50. Pulse Repetition Time (PRT) The time elapsed between pulses by the radar. This is also called the pulse interval.
  51. Pulse Resolution Volume A discrete radar sampling volume, of dimensions (horizontal beamwidth * vertical beamwidth * 1 range gate).
  52. Pulse Severe Thunderstorms Single cell thunderstorms which produce brief periods of severe weather (3/4 inch hail, wind gusts in the excess of 58 miles an hour, or a tornado).
  53. Pulse Storm A thunderstorm within which a brief period (pulse) of strong updraft occurs, during and immediately after which the storm produces a short episode of…
  54. Pulse Width Same as Pulse Length; the linear distance in range occupied by an individual pulse from a radar.
  55. Pulse-Pair Processing Nickname for the technique of mean velocity estimation by calculation of the signal complex covariance argument.
  56. PVA The Plant Variety Act. See U.S. Department of Agriculture.
  57. PVL Prevail
  58. pW Precipitable Water - measure of the depth of liquid water at the surface that would result after precipitating all of the water vapor in a vertical column…
  59. PWAT Precipitable Water - measure of the depth of liquid water at the surface that would result after precipitating all of the water vapor in a vertical column…
  60. PWO Public Severe Weather Outlook
  61. Pyranometer A device used to measure total incident solar radiation (direct beam, diffuse, and reflected radiation) per unit time per unit area.