Acronyms and Abbreviations

[johnholmes]

hi

This will be for anyone to enter as the thread heading indicates.

The intention is to have an easily accessible link for any of the scores we use, listed a-z.

So please input and I'll add to the forecasters list.

Don't expect it to appear overnight though!

many thanks

John on behalf of Paul and the forecast team.

[shuggee]

I'll start for ten.

NAO - North Atlantic Ossicilation

Exciting.

[johnholmes]

good boy

any more?

[Andy Bown]

I usually post whole cloud names. However this one is best abbreviated...

CB = Cumulonimbus

[Theresnoway]

Well, I will add a few!

LRF = Long Range Forecast (Forecast for a season, or a shorter long range period)

PV = Polar Vortex (Apparently one of the reasons this winter has not started!)

FI = Fantasy Island (Weather shown on the models, but unlikely to happen). (Not to be confused with F1, this is a type of motor racing.)

GFS = Global Forecasting System (One of the main model outputs)

HP = High Pressure (Self explanatory in my view, please feel free to expand on my limited knowledge base!)

There is a few more to keep you moving, please ignore the exlainations, just my way of livining things up!

Happy new year all!

Dave

[johnholmes]

yes pse, and tks for those so far folks

John

[Cloud 10]

AO= Arctic Oscillation

SSTA's=sea surface temperature anomilies

ppn=precipitation

[johnholmes]

If I am doing wrong by posting these then please tell me.

More clouds:

Cumulus family has 3 members

Cumulus fractus (Cu fra) irregular shreds, often resembling cotton wool or fibre that have ragged edges and ragged bases.

Cumulus humilis (Cu hum) rather more regular in shape and appearance than fractus above, but mostly distinguished by flat bases, and are called "fair weather cumulus" since they do not grow much in size.

Cumulus mediocris (Cu med) ragged cumulus of moderate development with a "cauliflower" like appearance, often producing showers of rain (but not hail or other precipitation), and may develop further into Cumulonimbus.

These are all "out of my head", but as Manuel said "I read it in a booooook" http://nwstatic.co.uk/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blush.gif

I have more if needed - pictures too if wanted.

only the 9 basic types are need, much as my pm

John

[Anti-Mild]

ECMWF: European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting

PFJ: Polar Frontal Jet

MJO: Madden-Julien Oscillation

[johnholmes]

many tks to all who have contributed so far.

pse keep them coming

John

[surfersparks]

Well, I will add a few!

LRF = Long Range Forecast (Forecast for a season, or a shorter long range period)

PV = Polar Vortex (Apparently one of the reasons this winter has not started!)

FI = Fantasy Island (Weather shown on the models, but unlikely to happen). (Not to be confused with F1, this is a type of motor racing.)

GFS = Global Forecasting System (One of the main model outputs)

HP = High Pressure (Self explanatory in my view, please feel free to expand on my limited knowledge base!)

There is a few more to keep you moving, please ignore the exlainations, just my way of livining things up!

Happy new year all!

Dave

Thanks for including FI.... I always believed it was F1 as in the grand prix and thought it must be some special weather expert jargon;it makes total sense now in the context I have been reading it.....what a fool

[Lenticular]

LR = Lapse Rate

DALR = Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate

SALR = Saturated Adiabatic Lapse Rate

ELR = Environmental Lapse Rate

ACSL = Altocumulus Standing Lenticular Clouds Sorry couldn't resist

[Stratos Ferric]

Airstreams:

aM = arctic maritime (mostly northerly winds)

pM = polar maritime (mostly north westerly winds)

pC = polar continental (mostly north-east or easterly winds)

tM = tropical maritime (mostly south-westerly winds)

rtM or tMr = tropical maritime RETURNING (west to north-west winds that have started south or south-westerly)

tC = tropical continental (mostly south-easterly winds)

Will post more as time permits.

Have to say I've never seen mT® referenced in any standard texts. mP®, however, IS a standard type - this being mP air which, instead of a straight(ish) trajectory somewhere between NNW (Iceland) and NNE-ish (off N Norway), the air is pulled around beyond either a trailing trough, or a small secondary depression. It can approach the UK from as far around the compass as W, and, exceptionally, even south by west or WSW.

UHI - Urban Heat Island: the microclimatic warmth that attaches to large man-made environments. It is most pronounced in winter, and in still air, and on clear nights, when the measured differential between the urban core and the surrounding countryside can, exceptionally, be as high as 10C. Typically the value will be 3-4C. In fast flowing air turbulence causes vertical mixing and the effect can virtually disappear.

ZDL - Zero Degree Level: the altitude above msl at which freezing point is reached.

msl - mean sea level: nb pressure in the UK is usually quoted as being at mean sea level, this prevents distortion consequent to the effect of altitude when pressure diagrams are drawn.

DP - Dew Point: the temperature of the standard dry bulb on a mercury thermometer when moistened. This bulb will tend to be cooled by the process of evaporation, and this temperature represents the dew point, i.e. the temperature at which the air, if cooled, would become saturated and at which condensation would start to form. This is why, on cold evenings, cars can become dew covered whilst the ground may stay dry; metal surfaces cool fastest under clear skies.

Lapse Rate - the rate at which a parcel of air cools as it ascends. There are three lapse rates. The E(nvironmental)LR, which is the standard lapse rate, assumed to be 6.5C/1000m. The D(ry)LR, the lapse rate for unsaturated air, which is 10C/1000m, and the S(aturated)A(diabatic)LR, which varies according to temperature, between around 5C-7C/1000m (the cooler it is, the higher the rate). The SALR is reached at the point that a parcel of air reaches its dew point, typically the cloud base. The rate changes because the process of evaporation releases latent heat (effectively the energy that keeps water in gaseous form is now released), hence the airmass cools less quickly now. Adiabatic refers to the fact that the temperature change is occurring without external energy flow.

[johnholmes]

being old fashioned I will continue to use what the main references have always used that is

Pm=Polar Maritime

Tm=Tropical maritime

rPm=returning Polar maritime

and no I have never seen returning Tropical maritime ever used in any book I have seen or used for teaching.

John

[Stratos Ferric]

Sorry guys, my mistake. Funny how the mind becomes bedfuddled. Think I'd better stop posting.

Don't do that: just treat it like a Wiki and be prepared to be corrected. I often remind my clients that it is easier to criticise than to build. Hats off to the builders!

[SMU]

http://www.netweather.tv/forum/index.php?showtopic=13418

S

[osmposm]

NAO - North Atlantic Ossicilation

The right abbreviation, but the wrong spelling, Shuggee - Oscillation!! (I normally try and stop myself being too pedantic, but this is a pinned "educative" thread.)

Perhaps this isn't the right place, but there's a number that come up all the time in Environmental discussions:

GW - Global Warming - the current temperature rise of the planet, whatever its cause.

AGW - Anthropogenic Global Warming - that element of GW disputedly caused by mankind's activities.

THC - Thermohaline Circulation - the global density-driven circulation of the world's oceans.

MOC - Meridional Overturning Circulation - alternative name for above. Also known as ocean or global conveyor belt.

GS - Gulf Stream - largely wind-driven fast, warm ocean surface current that flows from Gulf of Mexico northeastwards, then splits mid-Atlantic into a part that recirculates at the surface past S Europe & W Africa, and the.....

NAD (easily mis-read as NAO!) - North Atlantic Drift - largely THC-driven northern extension of the Gulf Stream towards NW Europe. The density changes eventually cause this surface current to sink (NE of Iceland), where the cold water circulates back south as part of the.....

NADW - North Atlantic Deep Water - a mass of cold water, originating mainly in the Labrador & Greenland Seas, that forms a complex, slow-moving, deep (2-4 KM) ocean current flowing south, part of the MOC that pulls the NAD northwards.

[johnholmes]

again tks for all the contributions, keep 'em coming.

I will collate them all in alphabetical order, already made a start but probably sometime in february before I put up the PROVISIONAL list

John

note for self

= collated to last post, 04/01/07

jh

[Lenticular]

Have found a second abbreviation definition for Lenticular.

Ac Lent = Alto-Cumulus Lenticularis

Which is correct?

[johnholmes]

certainly not the first one you posted!

[Verglas]

just amazed that Hector Pascal managed to get his figures to exactly match Milly Bar's numbers !

and how about SNAFU when you get the report of a hurricane wrong

[PersianPaladin]

Who first started using the term F.I?

[Chris Knight]

again tks for all the contributions, keep 'em coming.

I will collate them all in alphabetical order, already made a start but probably sometime in february before I put up the PROVISIONAL list

John

note for self

= collated to last post, 04/01/07

jh

FMOB = for my own benefit, I have just cut and pasted the definitions so far in order. Apologies for any I have missed. Hope no one minds me reproducing the list here, albeit uncollated:

NAO - North Atlantic Oscillation

CB = Cumulonimbus

LRF = Long Range Forecast (Forecast for a season, or a shorter long range period)

PV = Polar Vortex (Apparently one of the reasons this winter has not started!)

FI = Fantasy Island (Weather shown on the models, but unlikely to happen). (Not to be confused with F1, this is a type of motor racing.)

GFS = Global Forecasting System (One of the main model outputs)

HP = High Pressure (Self explanatory in my view, please feel free to expand on my limited knowledge base!)

Clouds:

Ci = Cirrus

Cs = Cirrostratus

Cc = Cirrocumulus

Ac = Altocumulus

As = Altostratus

Cu = Cumulus

Ns = Nimbostratus

St = Stratus

Sc = Stratocumulus

cas (or cast) = Altocumulus castellanus

flo = Altocumulus floccus

Airstreams:

aM = arctic maritime (mostly northerly winds)

pM = polar maritime (mostly north westerly winds)

pC = polar continental (mostly north-east or easterly winds)

tM = tropical maritime (mostly south-westerly winds)

rtM or tMr = tropical maritime RETURNING (west to north-west winds that have started south or south-westerly)

tC = tropical continental (mostly south-easterly winds)

More clouds:

Cumulus family has 3 members:

(Cu fra) = Cumulus fractus -irregular shreds, often resembling cotton wool or fibre that have ragged edges and ragged bases.

(Cu hum) = Cumulus humilis - rather more regular in shape and appearance than fractus above, but mostly distinguished by flat bases, and are called "fair weather cumulus" since they do not grow much in size.

(Cu med) = Cumulus mediocris - ragged cumulus of moderate development with a "cauliflower" like appearance, often producing showers of rain (but not hail or other precipitation), and may develop further into Cumulonimbus.

AO= Arctic Oscillation

SSTA's=sea surface temperature anomilies

ppn=precipitation

Pressure:

mbs = millibars. 1000 millibars = 1bar or 29.53 inches of mercury

(len) = Lenticularis - generally another species of Altocumulus.

ECMWF: European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting

PFJ: Polar Frontal Jet

MJO: Madden-Julien Oscillation

LR = Lapse Rate

DALR = Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate

SALR = Saturated Adiabatic Lapse Rate

ELR = Environmental Lapse Rate

ACSL = Altocumulus Standing Lenticular Clouds

UHI - Urban Heat Island: the microclimatic warmth that attaches to large man-made environments. It is most pronounced in winter, and in still air, and on clear nights, when the measured differential between the urban core and the surrounding countryside can, exceptionally, be as high as 10C. Typically the value will be 3-4C. In fast flowing air turbulence causes vertical mixing and the effect can virtually disappear.

ZDL - Zero Degree Level: the altitude above msl at which freezing point is reached.

msl - mean sea level: nb pressure in the UK is usually quoted as being at mean sea level, this prevents distortion consequent to the effect of altitude when pressure diagrams are drawn.

DP - Dew Point: the temperature of the standard dry bulb on a mercury thermometer when moistened. This bulb will tend to be cooled by the process of evaporation, and this temperature represents the dew point, i.e. the temperature at which the air, if cooled, would become saturated and at which condensation would start to form. This is why, on cold evenings, cars can become dew covered whilst the ground may stay dry; metal surfaces cool fastest under clear skies.

Lapse Rate - the rate at which a parcel of air cools as it ascends. There are three lapse rates. The E(nvironmental)LR, which is the standard lapse rate, assumed to be 6.5C/1000m. The D(ry)LR, the lapse rate for unsaturated air, which is 10C/1000m, and the S(aturated)A(diabatic)LR, which varies according to temperature, between around 5C-7C/1000m (the cooler it is, the higher the rate). The SALR is reached at the point that a parcel of air reaches its dew point, typically the cloud base. The rate changes because the process of evaporation releases latent heat (effectively the energy that keeps water in gaseous form is now released), hence the airmass cools less quickly now. Adiabatic refers to the fact that the temperature change is occurring without external energy flow.

GW - Global Warming - the current temperature rise of the planet, whatever its cause.

AGW - Anthropogenic Global Warming - that element of GW disputedly caused by mankind's activities.

THC - Thermohaline Circulation - the global density-driven circulation of the world's oceans.

MOC - Meridional Overturning Circulation - alternative name for above. Also known as ocean or global conveyor belt.

GS - Gulf Stream - largely wind-driven fast, warm ocean surface current that flows from Gulf of Mexico northeastwards, then splits mid-Atlantic into a part that recirculates at the surface past S Europe & W Africa, and the.....

NAD (easily mis-read as NAO!) - North Atlantic Drift - largely THC-driven northern extension of the Gulf Stream towards NW Europe. The density changes eventually cause this surface current to sink (NE of Iceland), where the cold water circulates back south as part of the.....

NADW - North Atlantic Deep Water - a mass of cold water, originating mainly in the Labrador & Greenland Seas, that forms a complex, slow-moving, deep (2-4 KM) ocean current flowing south, part of the MOC that pulls the NAD northwards.

Ac Lent = Alto-Cumulus Lenticularis - a second abbreviation definition for Lenticular.

Notable omissions so far IMHO = in my haughty humble opinion, are for starters:

CET = Central England Temperature

ENSO = El Nino Southern Oscillation

PM = ( on this forum, Private Message)

SST = Sea Surface Temperature

IPCC = Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

CO2 = Carbon Dioxide

TTFN =Ta Ta for now!

[Stoxs]

Hi folks

Just my thoughts on these lists

I know it would be difficult and time consuming but often it is not just the abreviation anyone learning wants i.e

P.V = Polar Voretx ,but what is the polar vortex?

there is several others down the line that really are not self explanetary

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this and it is very informative

thanks

[johnholmes]

this web site should help

http://booty.org.uk/booty.weather/metindex.htm