Meteopedia — Weather glossary
Weather encyclopedia with 342 terms
Browse detailed definitions of atmospheric phenomena, cloud types, measurement instruments, regional winds, meteorological scales, climatology and more.
A
Anemometer
Instrument that measures wind speed, typically using spinning cups or ultrasonic sensors.
InstrumentsAROME model
High-resolution (1.3 km) numerical prediction model from Météo-France, specialised in convection and mesoscale phenomena over western Europe.
InstrumentsAtmospheric sounding
A vertical profile of the atmosphere obtained by radiosonde, showing temperature, humidity, and wind at different altitudes.
InstrumentsAutomatic weather station
Facility that measures and transmits meteorological data autonomously, without human intervention, forming the core observation network.
InstrumentsE
ECMWF model
Global numerical prediction model from the European Centre (ECMWF), considered the world's most accurate, with 9 km resolution and forecasts up to 15 days.
InstrumentsEnsemble forecast
A forecasting technique that runs multiple weather model simulations with slightly different initial conditions to estimate uncertainty.
InstrumentsM
METAR
Coded aeronautical weather report describing current conditions at an aerodrome: wind, visibility, clouds, temperature, pressure, and significant phenomena.
InstrumentsMeteorological lidar
Instrument using laser pulses to measure vertical profiles of aerosols, clouds, water vapour, and wind in the atmosphere.
InstrumentsP
Pluviograph
Self-recording rain gauge measuring precipitation intensity over time, generating a chart (pluviogram) of hourly accumulation.
InstrumentsPyranometer
Instrument measuring total (direct plus diffuse) solar radiation reaching a horizontal surface, expressed in watts per square metre.
InstrumentsR
Radiosonde
Instrument lifted by a balloon that measures temperature, humidity, and pressure as it ascends to 30 km.
InstrumentsRain gauge
Instrument that collects and measures the amount of precipitation fallen on a surface.
InstrumentsReanalysis
Retrospective reconstruction of atmospheric state by combining historical observations with a modern numerical model, creating a coherent climate record.
InstrumentsS
Sun photometer
Instrument measuring atmospheric transparency at different wavelengths to determine the amount of aerosols, water vapour, and ozone in the atmospheric column.
InstrumentsSunshine recorder
Instrument that records hours of effective sunshine by burning a mark on a cardboard strip through a glass sphere that focuses sunlight.
InstrumentsSynoptic chart
A weather map showing simultaneous atmospheric conditions over a wide region at a specific time.
InstrumentsT
W
Weather buoy
Instrumented floating platform measuring meteorological and oceanographic variables at sea: wind, waves, water temperature, pressure, and humidity.
InstrumentsWeather model
A computer program that simulates the atmosphere using physical equations to predict future weather.
InstrumentsWeather radar
Instrument that emits microwave pulses to detect, locate, and measure precipitation in real time.
InstrumentsWeather satellite
Artificial satellite that observes the atmosphere and Earth's surface for weather forecasting and monitoring.
InstrumentsWind profiler
Vertical radar that continuously measures wind speed and direction at multiple altitudes, providing a real-time vertical wind profile.
InstrumentsWind vane
Instrument indicating wind direction by rotating freely on a vertical axis, with an arrow or pointer showing where the wind blows from.
Instruments