Glossary |
Select a letter from the index given below,
to be shown those glossary items which begin with the same letter.
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G |
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Gale Warning |
A Gale Warning is a statement which warns of winds averaging from 34 knots and up to 47 knots in coastal waters and high seas areas. |
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Geostrophic wind |
When the wind is steady, horizontal, and flowing parallel to straight isobars it is
called the geostophic wind. Where the Pressure Gradient force is exactly balanced by the
Coriolis force. |
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Gradient wind |
A steady, horizontal wind flowing along curved isobars is called gradient wind. Where
there is imbalance between the pressure gradient and Coriolis forces.
When the pressure gradient force is greater than the Coriolis force,
the flow takes on a curved path around low pressure.
When Coriolis is the larger force, the curved flow is around high pressure. |
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Greenhouse effect |
A natural warming process of the earth. When the sun's energy reaches
the earth some of it is reflected back to space and the rest is absorbed.
The absorbed energy warms the earth's surface which then emits heat energy
back toward space as longwave radiation. This outgoing longwave radiation
is partially trapped by greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane
and water vapor which then radiate the energy in all directions, warming
the earth's surface and atmosphere.
Without these greenhouse gases the earth's average surface temperature
would be about 33 degrees Celsius cooler. Click here
for more information. |
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Global radiation |
Global (short wave) radiation includes both that radiation energy reaching the
ground directly from the sun, and that received indirectly from the sky,
scattered downwards by clouds, dust particles etc. |
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Gust |
A gust is any sudden increase of wind of short duration, usually a few seconds. |
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