Weather terms starting with S

436 terms

  1. Shore ice An ice sheet in the form of a long border attached to the bank or shore; border ice.
  2. Short Term Forecast A product used to convey information regarding weather or hydrologic events in the next few hours.
  3. Short Ton 2000 pounds. A ton, as commonly used in the U.S. and Canada.
  4. Short Wave Fade (SWF) In solar-terrestrial terms, a particular ionospheric solar flare effect under the broad category of sudden ionospheric disturbances (SIDs) whereby…
  5. Short-Fuse Warning A warning issued by the NWS for a local weather hazard of relatively short duration.
  6. Shortwave Also known as Shortwave Trough; a disturbance in the mid or upper part of the atmosphere which induces upward motion ahead of it.
  7. shortwave irradiance The rate at which radiant energy, at wavelengths between 0.4 and 4 µm, is being transferred across an area of a surface (real or imaginary) in a…
  8. shortwave net radiation The difference between upwelling and downwelling broadband shortwave radiation.
  9. shortwave radiance A measure of the intrinsic radiant energy flux intensity, at wavelengths between 0.
  10. Shortwave Radiation In solar-terrestrial terms, shortwave radiation is a term used to describe the radiant energy emitted by the sun in the visible and near-ultraviolet…
  11. shortwave spectral irradiance The rate at which radiant energy, at specrally-resolved wavelengths between 0.4 and 4 µm, is being emitted upwards and downwards into a radiation field…
  12. Shortwave Trough Also called Shortwave; A disturbance in the mid or upper part of the atmosphere which induces upward motion ahead of it.
  13. Showalter Index (Abbrev. SWI) - a stability index used to determine thunderstorm potential. The SWI is calculated by lifting an air parcel adiabatically from 850 mb to…
  14. Shower A descriptor, SH, used to qualify precipitation characterized by the suddenness with which they start and stop, by the rapid changes of intensity, and…
  15. SHRA Rain showers
  16. SHRAS showers
  17. SHRT Short
  18. SHRTWV Shortwave - a disturbance in the mid or upper part of the atmosphere which induces upward motion ahead of it.
  19. SHSN Snow showers
  20. SHWR Shower
  21. Siberian High Siberian High An area of high pressure which forms over Siberia in winter, and which is particularly apparent on mean charts of sea-level pressure.
  22. Sidelobe A secondary energy maximum located outside the main radar beam. Typically, it contains a small percentage of energy compared to the main lobe, but it may…
  23. SIGMET Significant Meteorological Advisory
  24. Signal-to-Noise Ratio A specifically produced response (signal) compared to the response level (noise) when no specific stimulus (activity) is present.
  25. Significant Wave Height The average height of the one-third highest waves of a given wave group.
  26. Significant Weather Outlook A narrative statement produced by the National Weather Service, frequently issued on a routine basis, to provide information regarding the potential of…
  27. SIGWX Significant Weather
  28. Single Cell Thunderstorm This type of thunderstorm develops in weak vertical wind shear environments. On a hodograph, this would appear as a closely grouped set of random dots…
  29. single-column modeling (SCM) An approach to the development and testing of cloud formation and parameterizations.
  30. Sink Any process, activity, or mechanism which removes a greenhouse gas, an aerosol, or a precursor of a greenhouse gas or aerosol from the atmosphere.
  31. SITOR (SImplex Teletype Over Radio) - a means of transmitting text broadcasts over radio. The U.S.
  32. sky brightness temperature A descriptive measure of radiation in terms of the temperature of a hypothetical black body emitting an identical amount of radiation at the same…
  33. Sky Condition Used in a forecast to describes the predominant/average sky condition based upon octants (eighths) of the sky covered by opaque (not transparent) clouds.
  34. SKYWARN A nationwide network of volunteer weather spotters who report to and are trained by the National Weather Service.
  35. SL Sea Level
  36. SLD Solid
  37. Sleet Precipitation that consists of clear pellets of ice; sleet is formed when raindrops fall through a layer of cold air and freeze.
  38. Sleet Warning Issued when accumulation of sleet in excess of 1/2" is expected; this is a relatively rare scenario.
  39. SLGT Slight
  40. Slight Chance In probability of precipitation statements, usually equivalent to a 20 percent chance.
  41. Slight Risk (of severe thunderstorms)- Severe thunderstorms are expected to affect between 2 and 5 percent of the area.
  42. Sling Psychrometer An instrument used to measure the water vapor content of the atmosphere in which wet and dry bulb thermometers are mounted on a frame connected to a…
  43. SLO Slow
  44. SLOSH (Sea, Lake and Overland Surges from Hurricanes) - A computer model run by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) to estimate storm surge heights resulting…
  45. SLP Sea Level Pressure
  46. SLT 1. Slight (as in "slight chance") 2. Sleet
  47. Sludge The mixture of organic and inorganic substances separated from sewage.
  48. SLY Southerly
  49. SM service mark
  50. SMA The Soil Moisture Accounting Model.
  51. Small Craft There is no precise definition for small craft. Any vessel that may be adversely affected by Small Craft Advisory criteria should be considered a small…
  52. Small Craft Advisory (SCA) - An advisory issued by coastal and Great Lakes Weather Forecast Offices (WFO) for areas included in the Coastal Waters Forecast or Nearshore Marine…
  53. Small Craft Advisory for Hazardous Seas (SCAHS) - An advisory issued by coastal and Great Lakes Weather Forecast Offices (WFO).
  54. Small Craft Advisory for Rough Bar (SCARB): An advisory issued by coastal and Great Lakes Weather Forecast Offices (WFO) for specialized areas near harbor or river entrances known as bars.
  55. Small Craft Advisory for Winds (SCAW): An advisory issued by coastal and Great Lakes Weather Forecast Offices (WFO).
  56. Small Craft Should Exercise Caution Precautionary statement issued to alert mariners with small, weather sensitive boats.
  57. Small Hail Technically used to refer to snow pellets or graupel.
  58. Small Stream Flooding Flooding of small creeks, streams, or runs.
  59. Smog A visible haze caused by particulate matter and ground-level ozone.
  60. Smoke (abbrev. K) Smoke in various concentrations can cause significant problems for people with respiratory ailments.
  61. Smoke Dispersal Describes the ability of the atmosphere to ventilate smoke. Depends on the stability and winds in the lower layers of the atmosphere, i.e.
  62. Smoke Management The use of meteorology, fuel moisture, fuel loading, fire suppression and burn techniques to keep smoke impacts from prescribed fires within acceptable…
  63. Smoothed Sunspot Number An average of 13 monthly RI numbers, centered on the month of concern.
  64. SMW (Special Marine Warning) - A warning product issued for potentially hazardous weather conditions usually of short duration (up to 2 hours) producing…
  65. SN snow
  66. Snotel SNOw TELemetry - An automated network of snowpack data collection sites. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), formerly the Soil Conservation…
  67. Snow Precipitation that consists of frozen flakes formed when water vapor accumulates on ice crystals, going directly to the ice phase.
  68. Snow Accumulation and Ablation Model A model which simulates snow pack accumulation, heat exchange at the air-snow interface, areal extent of snow cover, heat storage within the snow pack…
  69. Snow Advisory This product is issued by the National Weather Service when a low pressure system produces snow that may cause significant inconveniences, but do not meet…
  70. Snow blink Snow blink (snow sky) A bright white glare on the underside of clouds, produced by the reflection of light from snow-covered surface.
  71. Snow Core A sample of either freshly fallen snow, or the combined old and new snow on the ground.
  72. Snow Cornice A mass of snow or ice projecting over a mountain ridge.
  73. Snow cover Snow cover 1) In general, a layer of snow on the ground surface. 2) The areal extent of snow-covered ground, usually expressed as per cent of total area…
  74. Snow Density The mass of snow per unit volume which is equal to the water content of the snow divided by its depth.
  75. Snow Depth The combined total depth of both the old and new snow on the ground.
  76. Snow Flurries Snow flurries are an intermittent light snowfall of short duration (generally light snow showers) with no measurable accumulation (trace category).
  77. Snow Grains Precipitation consisting of white, opaque ice particles usually less than 1 mm in diameter.
  78. Snow Pack Same as Snowcover; the combined layers of snow and ice on the ground at any one time.
  79. Snow Pellets Precipitation, usually of brief duration, consisting of crisp, white, opaque ice particles, round or conical in shape and about 2 to 5 mm in diameter.
  80. Snow Pillow An instrument used to measure snow water equivalents. Snow pillows typically have flat stainless steel surface areas.
  81. Snow Shower A snow shower is a short duration of moderate snowfall. Some accumulation is possible.
  82. Snow Squall A snow squall is an intense, but limited duration, period of moderate to heavy snowfall, accompanied by strong, gusty surface winds and possibly lightning…
  83. Snow Stake A 1-3/4 inch square, semi-permanent stake, marked in inch increments to measure snow depth.
  84. Snow Stick A portable rod used to measure snow depth.
  85. Snow Water Equivalent The water content obtained from melting accumulated snow.
  86. Snowboard A flat, solid, white material, such as painted plywood, approximately two feet square, which is laid on the ground, or snow surface by weather observers…
  87. Snowcover Also known as Snow Pack; the combined layers of snow and ice on the ground at any one time.
  88. Snowflake An agglomeration of snow crystals falling as a unit.
  89. Snowmelt Flooding Flooding caused primarily by the melting of snow.
  90. Snowpack The total snow and ice on the ground, including the new snow, the previous snow and ice which has not melted.
  91. Snowstorm Snowstorm Strong wind with snow.
  92. SNR Signal-to-Noise Ratio
  93. SNW Snowfall
  94. SNWFL Snowfall
  95. SOI The Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) has been developed to monitor the Southern Oscillation using the difference between sea level pressures at Darwin…
  96. Soil Sediments or other unconsolidated accumulations of solid particles produced by the physical and chemical disintegration of rocks, and which may or may not…
  97. Soil Carbon A major component of the terrestrial biosphere pool in the carbon cycle. The amount of carbon in the soil is a function of the historical vegetative cover…
  98. Soil Moisture Water stored in soils.
  99. soil temperature The temperature measured near the surface of the soil.
  100. Solar Coordinates In solar-terrestrial terms, Central Meridian Distance (CMD). The angular distance in solar longitude measured from the central meridian