Weather terms starting with T

164 terms

T Abbreviation for thymine.
T Rolls Transverse Rolls - elongated low-level clouds, arranged in parallel bands and aligned parallel to the low-level winds but perpendicular to the mid-level…
TAF Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
TAFB Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch (of the TPC)
Tail Cloud A horizontal, tail-shaped cloud (not a funnel cloud) at low levels extending from the precipitation cascade region of a supercell toward the wall cloud (i.
Tail-End Charlie Slang for the thunderstorm at the southernmost end of a squall line or other line or band of thunderstorms.
Tailings Second grade or waste material separated from pay material during screening or processing.
Tailwater Height Height of water immediately downstream of the dam. (Various datums may be used.)
Tar sand Swamp-like deposit of a mixture of fine clay, sand, water, and variable amounts of tar-like heavy oil known as bitumen.
Target In diagnostic tests, the molecule or nucleic acid sequence assayed in a sample.
TCU Towering cumulus clouds
TD -- see terminal disclaimer
TDA Today
TDWR Terminal Doppler Weather Radar
TEA transverse-excited atmospheric pressure
Teleconnection Linkage between changes in atmospheric circulation occurring in widely separated parts of the globe.
TEMP Temperature- A measure of the internal energy that a substance contains. This is the most measured quantity in the atmosphere.
Temperature (Abbrev. TEMP)- The temperature is a measure of the internal energy that a substance contains. This is the most measured quantity in the atmosphere.
Temperature Inversion (surface-based or elevated) : a layer of the atmosphere in which air temperature increases with height.
Temperature Recovery The change in temperature over a given period of time. Generally, the period between late evening and sunrise.
TEMPS temperatures
Tephra A general term for fragments of volcanic rock and lava, regardless of size, that are blasted into the air by explosions or carried upward by hot gases in…
Terminal Aerodrome Forecast This NWS aviation product is a concise statement of the expected meteorological conditions at an airport during a specified period (usually 24 hours).
terminal velocity The constant speed obtained by a falling object when the upward drag on the object balances the downward force of gravity.
Terrain Forced Flow An airflow that is modified or channeled as it passes over or around mountains or through gaps in a mountain barrier.
Terrestrial Things of the land.
Terrestrial radiation The total infrared radiation emitted by the Earth and its atmosphere in the temperature range of approximately 200 to 300 Kelvin.
terrigenous derived from land areas. For example, wind-blown dust from desert areas can settle into oceans and form terrigenous sediment on the sea floor.
Texas Hooker Same as Panhandle Hook - low pressure systems that originate in the panhandle region of Texas and Oklahoma which initially move east and then "hook" or…
Thalweg Deepest part of a river channel in a cross section of a river profile. The path of deepest flow. Line connecting the deepest points along a riverbed.
Theodolite An instrument used in surveying to measure horizontal and vertical angles with a small telescope that can move in the horizontal and vertical planes.
Thermal A relatively small-scale, rising air current produced when the Earth's surface is heated.
Thermal Belt A zone of high nighttime temperatures (and relatively low humidities) that is often experienced within a narrow altitude range on valley sidewalls…
Thermal High Area of high pressure that is shallow in vertical extent and produced primarily by cold surface temperatures.
Thermal Low Area of low pressure that is shallow in vertical extent and produced primarily by warm surface temperatures.
Thermal Wind It is a theoretical wind that blows parallel to the thickness lines, for the layer considered, analogous to how the geostrophic wind blows parallel to the…
Thermally Driven Circulation A diurnally reversing closed cellular wind current resulting from horizontal temperature contrasts caused by different rates of heating or cooling over…
Thermistor A resistor whose resistance changes with temperature. Because of the known dependence of resistance on temperature, the resistor can be used as a…
Thermocline A distinct layer of water where rising warm and sinking cold water meet but do not mix.
Thermodynamic Chart A chart containing contours of pressure, temperature, moisture, and potential temperature, all drawn relative to each other such that basic thermodynamic…
Thermodynamic Diagram Used interchangably with Thermodynamic Chart; a chart containing contours of pressure, temperature, moisture, and potential temperature, all drawn…
Thermodynamics A study of the transformation of energy from one form to another, and its practical application. (see Law(s) of Thermodynamics above).
Thermograph An instrument that measures and records air temperature.
Thermohaline Circulation Large-scale density-driven circulation in the ocean, caused by differences in temperature and salinity.
thermohaline circulation (THC) density-driven circulation system in the world's oceans. In the Atlantic, warm water flows northward in the surface ocean, loses heat to the overlying…
Thermometer An instrument for measuring air temperature.
Thermosphere The atmospheric shell extending from the top of the mesosphere to outer space. It is a region of more or less steadily increasing temperature with height…
Theta-e (or Equivalent Potential Temperature) - The temperature a parcel of air would have if a) it was lifted until it became saturated, b) all water vapor was…
Theta-e Ridge An axis of relatively high values of theta-e. Severe weather and excessive rainfall often occur near or just upstream from a theta-e ridge.
THETAE Abbreviation for Theta-e; the temperature a parcel of air would have if a) it was lifted until it became saturated, b) all water vapor was condensed out…
Thin Line Echo A narrow, elongated, non-precipitating echo. It is usually associated with thunderstorm outflows, fronts, or other density discontinuities.
THK Thick/Thickness
THN Thin
Three-Hour Rainfall Rate This WSR-88D Radar product displays precipitation total (in inches) of the current and past two clock hours as a graphical image.
Threshold the point a system must cross to enter a new state or condition.
Threshold Runoff The runoff in inches from a rain of specified duration that causes a small stream to slightly exceed bankfull.
THRFTR Thereafter
THRU Through
THRUT Throughout
THSD Thousand
Thunder The sound caused by rapidly expanding gases in a lightning discharge.
Thunderstorm A local storm produced by a cumulonimbus cloud and accompanied by lightning and thunder.
Tidal Cycle The periodic changes in the intensity of tides caused primarily by the varying relations between the earth, moon, and sun.
Tidal Piling Occurs when unusually high water levels occur as the result of an accumulation of successive incoming tides that do not completely drain due to opposing…
Tidal Wave See TSUNAMI
TIDE The periodic, rhythmic rise and fall of the sea surface that results from the gravity of the moon and sun acting on the rotating Earth.
Tide Anomaly Actual water level minus the prediction.
Tide Prediction The computation of tidal highs and lows at a given location resulting from the gravitational interactions between the earth and primarily the moon and sun.
Tides The periodic (occurring at regular intervals) variations in the surface water level of the oceans, bays, gulfs, and inlets.
TIL Until
Tilt To play wildly or recklessly. A player is said to be "on tilt" if he is not playing his best, playing too many hands, trying wild bluffs, raising with bad…
Tilt Sequence Radar term indicating that the radar antenna is scanning through a series of antenna elevations in order to obtain a volume scan.
Tilted Storm A thunderstorm or cloud tower which is not purely vertical but instead exhibits a slanted or tilted character.
Tilted Updraft A thunderstorm updraft which is not purely vertical but instead exhibits a slanted or tilted character.
Tipping-Bucket Rain Gage A precipitation gage where collected water is funneled into a two compartment bucket; 0.01, 0.
TKE Turbulent Kinetic Energy
TMW Tomorrow
TNDCY Tendency
TNGT Tonight
Toe of Dam The junction of the downstream face with the ground surface. See also, "Heel of Dam".
TOP Cloud Top
Topography The shape of the Earth's surface; the relative position and elevations of natural and human-made features of an area.
TOR Tornado (or) Tornado Warning
Tornado A violently rotating column of air, usually pendant to a cumulonimbus, with circulation reaching the ground.
Tornado Family A series of tornadoes produced by a single supercell, resulting in damage path segments along the same general line.
Tornado Vortex Signature An image of a tornado on the Doppler radar screen that shows up as a small region of rapidly changing wind speeds inside a mesocyclone.
Tornado Warning This is issued when a tornado is indicated by the WSR-88D radar or sighted by spotters; therefore, people in the affected area should seek safe shelter…
Tornado Watch This is issued by the National Weather Service when conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes in and close to the watch area.
total carbon The total concentration of carbon in all its organic and non-organic forms.
total cloud water The total concentration (mass/vol) of ice and liquid water particles in a cloud.
Total-Totals Index A stability index and severe weather forecast tool, equal to the temperature at 850 mb plus the dew point at 850 mb, minus twice the temperature at 500 mb.
Towering Cumulus A large cumulus cloud with great vertical development, usually with a cauliflower-like appearance, but lacking the characteristic anvil of a Cb.
TPC (Tropical Prediction Center) - An NCEP center which produces marine offshore and high seas forecasts south of 30N in the Eastern Pacific, Gulf of Mexico…
Trace A hydrograph or similar plot for an extended-range time horizon showing one of many scenarios generated through an ensemble forecast process.
Trace Gas Any one of the less common gases found in the Earth's atmosphere. Nitrogen, oxygen, and argon make up more than 99 percent of the Earth's atmosphere.
Track Each of the series of concentric rings contained on a hard drive platter.
Trade Winds Persistent tropical winds that blow from the subtropical high pressure centers towards the equatorial low.
Training Repeated areas of rain, typically associated with thunderstorms, that move over the same region in a relatively short period of time and are capable of…
Transmitter Sends the electronic return data directly to the IRS.
Transpiration The process by which water in plants is transferred into water vapor in the atmosphere. Evaporation of water through the leaves of plants.