Appendix C • Notation

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Roman Symbols, Acronyms & Contractions

A
A	advection of TKE albedo ampere (a unit of electrical current) amplitude area Ball ratio = 0.2 initial analysis north-south amplitude of a wave parameter or constant (varies by context)
AAM	absolute angular momentum
AB	Alberta, Canada postal code
ABL	Atmospheric Boundary Layer
ACARS	aircraft communication and reporting system
A_D	albedo of dark-colored daisies
A_G	albedo of bare ground
AGL	above ground level
AIREP	aviation report
AK	Alaska, USA postal code
AL	Alabama, USA postal code
A_L	albedo of light-colored daisies
AMDAR	aircraft meteorological data relay
AO	Arctic Oscillation
AR	Arkansas, USA postal code
Ar	argon
ARPEGE	Action de Recherche Petite Echelle Grande Echelle (weather-forecast model)
ASDAR	aircraft to satellite data relay
ASOS	automatic surface observing system
AT	apparent temperature (heat index)
AVCS	arbitrary vertical cross-section
A_w	global albedo corresponding to an atmospheric window
AWOS	automatic weather observing system
AZ	Arizona, USA postal code acceleration attenuation coefficient length of semi-major axis of earth’s orbit = 149.457 Gm parameter or constant (varies by context) spillage distance of front (= external Rossby radius of deformation) surface albedo
\(\ \vec{a}\)	vector acceleration
a_H	mixed-layer transport coefficient = 0.0063
arccos	inverse of cosine function (cos^–1)
arcsin	inverse of sine function (sin^–1)
arctan	inverse of tangent function (tan^–1)
asin	inverse of sine function (sin^–1)
atm	atmospheres (a pressure unit)
a_λ	absorptivity
B
B	Beaufort wind scale bias score bowen ratio breakdown potential for dry air = 3x10⁹ V km^–1 buoyant production or consumption of TKE
BC	boundary conditions British Columbia, Canada postal code
BLG	boundary-layer gradient (wind)
BRN	bulk richardson number
BSS	Brier Skill Score
B_λ	black-body radiation of a certain wavelength parameter or constant (varies by context)
b	absorption cross section damping factor extinction cross section length of semi-minor axis = 149.090 Gm parameter or constant (varies by context)
b₁	parameter or constant (varies by context)
b_D	dimensionless coefficient
b_H	convective transport coefficient
C
C	angular rotation in a full circle (360° or 2π radians) circle circumference (360° or 2π radians) circulation climatological condition cost dimensionless concentration fractional area covered parameter or constant (varies by context) specific heat capacity
CA	air discharge California, USA postal code
C_a	absolute circulation
CAN	Canada
CAPE	Convective Available Potential Energy
CAPPI	constant altitude plan position indicator
CAT	clear-air turbulence
C_B	Bernoulli’s constant
CC	cell circulation cloud-to-cloud
CCD	charge-coupled devices
CCL	convective condensation level
CCN	cloud condensation nuclei
C_D	drag coefficient fraction of the globe covered by dark daisies
CF	coriolis force
CFL	Courant-Friedrichs-Lewy (condition for numerical stability)
CG	cloud-to-ground
C_G	fractional area covered by bare ground
C_H	bulk heat-transfer coefficient
CH₄	methane
CI	capping inversion
CIN	convective inhibition
CL	classic
C_L	fraction of the globe covered by light daisies
CMC	Canadian Meteorological Center
CO	carbon monoxide Colorado, USA postal code
CO₂	carbon dioxide
CP	cumulative probability
C_p	specific heat of air at constant pressure
C_pd	specific heat of dry air at constant pressure = 1004.67 J·kg^–2·K^–1
C_pv	specific heat for water vapor at constant pressure = 1875 J·kg^–1·K^–1
C_r	relative circulation
CRT	video screen. Literally: Cathode Ray Tube
C_s	seed coverage
CSI	critical sucess index
CT	Connecticut, USA postal code
Cu	cumulus cloud
Curv	curvature
C_v	specific heat at constant volume
C_vd_air	specific heat of dry air at constant volume
C_w	vertical drag coefficient
C_y	dimensionless cross-wind integrated concentration
°C	degrees Celsius or centigrade, a unit of temperature
c	concentration of a pollutant density correction factor half the distance between two foci of an ellipse maximum concentration parameter or constant (varies by context) phase speed or shallow-water wave speeds speed of light through air at sea level pressure = 299,710,000 m·s^–1 speed of sound
c₀	speed of light in a vacuum = 299,792,258 m·s^–1
c₁	parameter or constant (varies by context)
c₂	parameter or constant (varies by context)
c₃	parameter or constant (varies by context)
c₄	parameter or constant (varies by context)
cd	“candela, a unit of luminous intensity”
c_g	group speed or group velocity
c_i	speed of light through medium i
cm	centimeter, a length unit
cos	cosine
covar	covariance
c_P	continental polar air mass
c_y	crosswind-integrated concentration
c_αβ	intermediate calculation parameter for atmospheric optical ray paths
D
D	daylight duration hours death rate of daisies diffusivity = 2.11x10^–5 m²·s^–1 for water vapor in air under standard conditions distance drop diameter duration of positive heat flux fractal dimension modern description parameter or constant (varies by context) precipitation duration (h) size of particle width of flow
DA	data assimilation
DC	District of Columbia, USA postal code
DE	Delaware, USA postal code
DIAL	differential absorption lidars
DJF	“December, January, and February”
DMSP	defense meterological satellite program
DT	Daylight Savings Time
DW	diabatic warming rate
D_φ	differential heating
D_ϕ	net radiative flux, or differential heating, at latitude ϕ
d	days, a time unit depth diagonal length distance between crest and trough of a wave distance between earth and sun = 149.6 Gm Julian day plume spread thickness
d_max.rain	total accumulated depth in a rain gauge
d_w	precipitable water
d_y	number of days in a year
dBZ	decibels of Z - units of radar reflectivity
∆d	phase shift
E
E	collision efficiency East efficiency electric field energy incoming or outgoing radiative flux irradiance turbine efficiency
E₀	theoretical efficiency
E₁	parameter or constant (varies by context)
E_c	collection efficiency
ECMWF	European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts
EHI	Energy helicity index
E_in	incoming flux zonally and annually averaged incoming radiative flux
E_insol	annual average insolation
EL	equilibrium level
E_max	maximum efficiency
E_net	differential heating due to radiation net radiative flux zonally and annually averaged net radiative flux
EOF	Empirical Orthogonal Function
E_out	outgoing flux zonally and annually averaged outgoing flux
EPA	U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EQ	equator
ETS	equitable threat score
EU	European Union
Evap	evaporation rate
EZ	entrainment zone
E_ϕ	incoming or outgoing radiative flux at latitude ϕ
(\ \bar{E}\)	average daily insolation
E’	coalescence efficiency
E*	total irradiance
E*_λ	emittance/radiant existence/irradiance irradiance at wavelength λ
e	base of natural logarithms = 2.7182818285 current or voltage eccentricity eccentricity of earth’s orbit = 0.0167 vapor pressure
e₀	saturation vapor pressure = 0.611 kPa at 0 °C
e_IR	IR surface emissivity
e_s	saturation vapor pressure over flat pure water saturation vapor pressure
e_s*	actual saturation vapor pressure
e_w	equilibrium emissivity corresponding to an atmospheric window
exp	base of natural logarithms = 2.7182818285
e_λ	emissivity at wavelength λ
F
F	flux density kinematic flux false-alarm rate force forecast Fujita tornado damage scale
\(\ \vec{F}\)	vector force
FA	free atmosphere
FAR	false-alarm ratio
FAS	Federation of American Scientists
F_c	tracer flux
F_CF	Coriolis force
F_CN	centrifugal force
F_E	latent heat flux from earth’s surface up into the air (in kinematic units of K·m·s^–1)
FFD	Forward flank downdraft
FG	flux gradient
F_G	molecular heat conduction heat flux conducted from the ground up to the earth’s surface (in kinematic units of K·m·s–1)
F_H	sensible heat flux from earth’s surface up into the air (in kinematic units of K·m·s^–1)
F_Hsfc	surface kinematic heat flux
FL	Florida, USA postal code
\(\ \vec{F}_{n e t}\)	net vector force
FNMOC	Fleet Numerical Meteorological and Oceanographic Center
F_PG	Pressure gradient force
F_PGm	mesoscale pressure-gradient force
F_PGs	synoptic pressure-gradient force
Fr	Froude number
F_rad	radiative flux at a surface
FS	Frontal strength
F_TD	turbulent drag force
FV3	Finite Volume - version 3
F_x	kinematic heat flux component in x direction component of net vector force toward the east
F_y	kinematic heat flux component in y direction meridional heat transport
F_z	kinematic heat flux component in z direction
F*	net radiative flux at earth’s surace (in kinematic units of K·m·s^–1)
°F	Fahrenheit, a unit of temperautre
\(\ \mathbb{F}\)	flux (dynamic)
\(\ \mathbb{F}*\)	net radiative flux at earth’s surace (in dynamic units of W·m^–2)
\(\ \mathbb{F}_{diff}\)	diffusive moisture flux
\(\ \mathbb{F}_{E}\)	latent heat flux from earth’s surface up into the air (in dynamic units W·m^–2)
\(\ \mathbb{F}_{G}\)	heat flux conducted from the ground up to the earth’s surface (in dynamic units of W·m^–2)
\(\ \mathbb{F}_{H}\)	sensible heat flux from earth’s surface up into the air (in dynamic units W·m^–2)
\(\ \mathbb{F}_{rad^*}\)	net radiative flux
\(\ \mathbb{F}_{x}\)	dynamic heat flux in x direction
\(\ \mathbb{F}_{y}\)	dynamic heat flux in y direction
\(\ \mathbb{F}_{z}\)	dynamic heat flux in z direction
f	oscillation frequency feedback factor
f_c	Coriolis parameter centrifugal force
f_G f₀	pull (force) by earth’s gravity reference Coriolis parameter at the center of the beta plane
ft	feet, a length unit
ft H2O	feet of water, a pressure unit
f_x	fraction of cloud sizes
F_{z eff sfc}	effective surface heat flux
G
G	cyclone graveyard gain geostrophic wind speed gravitational constant = 6.67x10^–11 m³·s^–2·kg^–1 intermediate circulation parameter theoretical geostrophic value
GA	Georgia, USA postal code
GB	gigabyte
GCM	global climate model
GCM	general circulation model
GEM	Global Environmental Multiscale (Canadian numerical model)
GFS	Global Forecast System
GHG	greenhouse gas
Gm	gigameter, a length unit
G_m	gap-geostrophic wind
GMT	Greenwich Mean Time
GPS	global positioning system (via satellite)
GPU	Graphics Processing Unit
GSM	global spectral model
GSS	Gilbert’s skill score
GTS	global telecommunication system
g	grams, a unit of mass gravitational acceleration = –9.8 m·s^–2 (negative means downward)
g’	reduced gravity
H
H	geopotential height high pressure center high hit rate heating rate helicity unperturbed ocean depth
H₂	hydrogen
H₂O	water
H₂O₂	hydrogen peroxide
H₂SO₄	sulfuric acid
HC	hurricane category
He	helium
H_e	e-folding depth
HI	heat index apparent temperature Hawaii, USA postal code
HNO₃	nitric acid
H_p	scale height for pressure
HP	High precipitation
H_RR	rate of energy release over unit area of earth’s surface
HSS	Heidke skill score
Hz	“hertz, a unit of frequency”
H_ρ	scale height for density
h	depth depth of cold air depth of stable boundary layer enthalpy height hours, a unit of time wave height
h₀	hour angle
h₂	parameter or constant (varies by context)
h_gust	gust front depth
h_w	depth of air containing waves
I
[I]	identity matrix
I	precipitation intensity current
I*	net longwave radiation
I↑	upwelling longwave
I↓	downwelling longwave
I₀	intensity of incident radiation parameter or constant (varies by context)
I₁	parameter or constant (varies by context)
IA	Iowa, USA postal code
Ic	cubic ice
IC	initial conditions intracloud
ICSI	International Classification for Seasonal Snow on the Ground
ID	internal dynamics Idaho, USA postal code
IDF	intensity-duration-frequency
IFS	Integrated Forecast System
Ih	hexagonal ice
IL	Illinois, USA postal code
IN	Indiana, USA postal code
IPCC	Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
IPV	isentropic potential vorticity
IR	infrared
I_scat	intensity of scattered radiation
ITCZ	intertropical convergence zone
i	grid index index number of ions per molecule time index van’t Hoff factor
in	inch, a unit of length
in Hg	“inches of mercury, a pressure unit”
J
J	cost function Joule, a unit of energy
JJA	June, July, and August
JNWPU	Joint Numerical Weather Prediction Unit
j	grid index
K
K	eddy diffusivity eddy viscosity Kelvins, a unit of absolute temperature refractive- index magnitude total number of height levels or layers
K_DP	specific differential phase
K_E	eddy diffusivity for moisture
KE	kinetic energy
KF	Kalman Filter
K-H	Kelvin Helmholtz (waves)
K↑	upwelling solar
K↓	downwelling solar
k	absorption coefficient grid index height index molecular conductivity = 0.0253 W·m^–1·K^–1 parameter or constant (varies by context) vertical data point index Von Kármán constant = 0.4
k₁	parameter or constant (varies by context)
k₂	parameter or constant (varies by context)
k_B	Boltzmann’s constant = 1.3806x10^–23 J·K^–1·molecule^–1
kg	kilograms, a mass unit
kg_f	kilograms of force = \|g\|·mass
kg_m	kilograms of mass
KH	eddy diffusivity for heat
km	kilometers, a unit of length
kPa	kiloPascal, a unit of pressure
KS	Kansas, USA postal code
kt	knot (unit of speed = 1 nautical mile per hour)
KY	Kentucky, USA postal code
L
L	horizontal distribution of temperature latent heat factor length low pressure perturbation low-pressure center Obukhov length radiation out solar luminosity
L_a	attenuation factor
LA	Louisiana, USA postal code
LCL	lifting condensation level
L_d	latent heat of deposition or sublimation = (+/-) 2.83x10⁶ J·kg^–1
LDR	linear depolarization ratio
L_f	latent heat of fusion or melting = (+/-) 3.34x10⁵ J·kg^–1
LFC	level of free convection
LFM	limited-area fine-mesh
LFS	level of free sink
LHS	left hand side
LOC	limit of convection
LP	low precipitation
L_v	latent heat of vaporization latent heat of condensation or vaporization = (+/-) 2.5x10⁶ J·kg^–1
LWC	liquid-water content
L_x	location parameter
L_ε	dissipation length scale
L_λ	radiance that exists the atmosphere at a certain wavelength
l	liter, a unit of volume
l_b	buoyancy length scale
lb	“pound, a unit of mass. Also used as a unit of weight (pounds-force), which is the force experienced by a pound-mass under the influence of gravity”
liter	a unit of volume
l_m	momentum length scale
ln	natural logarithm (base e)
log	common logarithm (base 10)
M
M	actual wind mass of earth mean anomaly number of tiles per side vertical distribution of temperature wind speed
M₀	location parameter wind speed in residual layer
M₁	walking speed = 2 m·s^–1
M₂	parameter or constant (varies by context)
M_a	steady-state antitriptic wind
Ma	Mach number
MA	Massachusetts, USA postal code
MAE	mean absolute error
MB	megabyte Manitoba, Canada postal code
M_BL	boundary layer wind speed
M_c	speed of movement of a column of air
MCC	Mesoscale cellular convection Mesoscale convective complex
M_cs	cyclostrophic wind
MCS	Mesoscale convective systems
MCV	Mesoscale convective vortex
MD	Maryland, USA postal code
ME	mean error mechanical energy Maine, USA postal code
METAR	meteorological observation code
MG	meridional gradient of zonal momentum
M_gust	gust front advancement speed
MI	Michigan, USA postal code
M_in	incoming wind speed
MIPS	millions of (computer) instructions per second
MJO	Madden-Julian Oscillation
MKS	metric system (SI) of units. Literally: M= meters, K= kilograms, S = seconds
ML	mixed layer
Mmax	maximum tangential wind
MN	Minnesota, USA postal code
MO	Missouri, USA postal code
MOS	Model Output Statistics
M_out	exit speed of wind
M_r	radial velocity total gradient wind speed
M_rad	radial (inflow component of velocity
MRF	medium-range forecast
M_s	molecular weight of solute
MS	Mississippi, USA postal code
MSE	mean squared error
MSESS	mean squared error skill store
MSL	mean sea level
MT	monsoon trough Montana, USA postal code
M_t	translation speed
M_tan	tangential component of velocity
M_TH	magnitude of thermal wind
MUR	maximum unambiguous range
MW	mega Watts
m	mass dimensionless diffraction parameter mass of earth = 5.9742x10²⁴ kg mass of satellite meters, a length unit
mH₂O	meters of water, a pressure unit
m_air	mass of air
mb	millibars, a pressure unit
m_condensing	mass of water vapor that condensed
mm Hg	millimeters of mercury, a pressure unit
min	minutes, a unit of time
mole	amount of substance
mph	miles per hour
m_planet	mass of a planet
m_s	mass of solute
mT	maritime Tropical air mass
m_v	mass of a water molecule
m_w	molecular weight
m_water	mass of water
N
N	energy Newtons, a unit of force north number of data points number of drops greater than a given radius number of tiles through which the perimeter passes refractivity
N₀	parameter or constant (varies by context)
N₁	abundance parameter
N₂	nitrogen molecule
N₂O	nitrous oxide
NAAQS	National Ambient Air Quality Standards
NaC	salt
NAM	Northern Annular Mode
NAO	North Atlantic Oscillation
NB	New Brunswick, Canada postal code
N_BV	Brunt-Va_isälä frequencyon
NC	North Carolina, USA postal code
NCEP	National Centers for Environmental Prediction
ND	North Dakota, USA postal code
NE	Nebraska, USA postal code
Ne	neon
NGM	nested grid model
NH	New Hampshire, USA postal code
(NH₄)₂SO₄	ammonium sulfate
NJ	New Jersey, USA postal code
NL	number of layers Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada postal code
NM	New Mexico, USA postal code
NO2	nitrogen dioxide
NOAA	National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
NP	North Pole
NS	Nova Scotia, Canada postal code
NSSL	National Severe Storms Laboratory
NT	Northwest Territories, Canada postal code
NU	Nunavut, Canada postal code
NV	Nevada, USA postal code
NVA	negative vorticity advection
NWP	numerical weather prediction
NWS	National Weather Service
NY	New York, USA postal code
n	direction pointing toward the center of curvature index of refraction number density number of grid points being averaged total number
n_i	refractive index
O
OFM	operational numerical weather forecast model
OH	Ohio, USA postal code
OK	Oklahoma, USA postal code
ON	Ontario, Canada postal code
OR	Oregon, USA postal code
OSSE	Observing System Simulation Experiment
O₂	oxygen molecule
O₃	ozone molecule
P
P	ambient pressure perimeter period power pressure probability sidereal orbital period=365.256363 days
P₀	sea level pressure = 101.325 kPa reference pressure = 100 kPa
P₁	mean background pressure
P_a	Pascal, a unit of pressure
PA	Pennsylvania, USA postal code
P_B	ambient pressure at bottom of column
Pb	chemical abbreviation for lead
P_BV	period oscillation at the Brunt-Väisälä frequency
PC	portion correct
P_c	reference pressure at the center of an anticyclone
PCA	Principal Component Analysis
P_dyn	dynamic pressure
P_e	environmental pressure
PE	primitive equation Prince Edward Island, Canada postal code
P_earth	earth orbital period = 365.25463 days
PG	Pasquill-Gifford
PG_m	mesoscale pressure gradient
PG_s	synoptic-scale pressure gradient
PIBAL	pilot balloon
PIREPS	pilot reports (of the weather in flight)
P_moon	lunar orbital period = 27.32 days
P_MSL	mean sea level pressure
POD	probabilty of detection
PPI	plan position indicator
PPM	Perfect Prog Method
Pr	precipitation rate probability probability of having a given wind speed
P_rain	storm period
PRF	pulse repetition frequencies
P_s	pressure at sea level static pressure
P_sidereal	sidereal day = 23.94 h
P_STP	standard sea-level pressure = 101.325 kPa
P_T	ambient pressure at top of column
PVA	positive vorticity advection
PVU	potential vorticity unit = 10^–6 K·m²·s^–1·kg^–1
ppb	parts per billion
ppm	parts per million
psf	“pounds-force per square foot, a pressure unit”
psi	“pounds-force per square inch, a pressure unit”
p’	pressure perturbation (deviation from hydrostatic)
Q
Q₁	total amount of pollutant emitted
Q	amount Q-vector source emission rate of pollutant
Q_A	cumulative heating or cooling
Q_AK	cumulative heating or cooling in kinematic units
Q_C	Quebec, Canada postal code
Q_E	latent heat
Q_H	heat added
q	specific humidity solar forcing ratio
q_s	saturation specific humidity
R
ℜ	gas constant in ideal gas law
ℜ_d	gas constant for dry air = 0.287053 kPa·K^–1·m³·kg^–1= 287.053 J·K^–1·kg^–1
ℜ_v	gas constant for pure water vapor = 0.4615 kPa·K^–1·m³·kg^–1 = 461.5 J·K^–1·kg^–1
R	radius range radius from centre of sphere cyclone radius distance
R₀	average radius of the earth = 6356.766 km smoke-stack top-radius net solar input critical radius or distance
R₁	parameter or constant (varies by context)
RAOB	radiosonde observation
RASS	radio acoustic sounding system
R_c	radius of curvature
R_earth	average earth radius = 6356.766 km, or earth radius at equator = 6378 km
ref	reference height
R_f	flux Richardson number
RFD	Rear-flank downdraft
RH	relative humidity
RHI	range-height indicator
RHS	right hand side
RI	Rhode Island, USA postal code
Ri	bulk Richardson number Richardson number
Ri_c	critical Richardson number = 0.25
RL	residual layer
RMS	root mean square (error)
Ro	Rossby number
ROC	Relative Operating Characteristic
Ro_c	curvature Rossby number
RP	return period
RR	rainfall rate
RxL	radix layer
R*	critical radius
r	water mixing ratio, a form of humidity correlation coefficient system response reflectivity
r₀	tornado radius
r₁	parameter or constant (varies by context)
rad	radians
r_c	critical radus (for escape)
r_CL	cost/loss ratio
r_E	excess-water mixing ratio average radius of the earth = 6356.766 km
r_i	ice mixing ratio
r_inf	background mixing ratio
r_L	liquid-water mixing ratio
r_s	saturation mixing ratio
r_T	total water mixing ratio
r_w	wet-bulb mixing ratio
r_λ	reflectivity at one wavelength
r	ratio of e-folding height to inversion strength in the stable boundary layer impact parameter radius of curvature distance of gust from downburst center distance from center of earth distance from axis of rotation of earth distance from center of a hurricane mesocyclone radius parameter or constant (varies by context) radius of earth (see R_earth) distance of hurricane eye-wall wind maximum from the center of the eye average drop radius constant = 0.02 earth radius = 6356.766 km radius reflectivity radius of downburst parameter or constant (varies by context)
S
S	supersaturation solar radiative forcing shear generation of TKE swirl ratio South solar constant = 1361 ±7 W·m^–2 Snell’s Law for components storm surge height of ocean surface above normal sea level
S*	critical supersaturation
S**	Lagrangian net source/sink of water
S₀	Average total solar irradiance/solar constant internal source of heat per unit mass or internal latent heating rate
S₁	parameter or constant (varies by context)
S_A	available supersaturation
SBH	sea-breeze head
SBL	stable boundary layer
SC	South Carolina, USA postal code
SD	South Dakota, USA postal code
SI	International System of Units (metric units)
S_inf	background supersaturation at a large distance from droplet
SK	Saskatchewan, Canada postal code
SL	surface layer
SO₂	sulfur dioxide
SOI	Southern Oscillation Index
SP	South Pole
S_R	equilibrium supersaturation adjacent to droplet
SRH	storm relative helicity
SSM/I	Special Sensor Microwave Imagers
SS_ROC	ROC skill score
SST	stably-stratified turbulence sea surface temperature
ST	standard time in the local time zone
STP	Standard Temperature and Pressure
S_x	dimensionless spread parameter
s	distance horizontal distance length of side of square path length seconds, a time unit slope speed of sound streamline total entropy
s₀	parameter or constant (varies by context)
sin	sine
sr	steradian
T
T	temperature TORRO tornado intensity scale
T’	amount temperature deviates from the average value
T_s	surface temperature
T_sfc	surface temperature
T₀	parameter or constant (varies by context) freezing temperature in Kelvins = 273.15 K
T₁	parameter or constant (varies by context)
T₂	parameter or constant (varies by context)
T_A	temperature of atmosphere
T_B	brightness temperature
T_d	dew-point temperature
TD	turbulent drag tropical depression
T_dyn	dynamic temperature
T_e	ambient-air absolute temperature temperature of environment effective radiation emission temperature = 255 K
TE	Tennessee, USA postal code
TH	thickness
TIBL	thermal internal boundary layer
TIROS	Television and InfraRed Operational (satellite) System
TKE	turbulence kinetic energy
TL	thermal low
T_m	absolute temperature
TNT	trinitrotoluene (a high explosive)
Torr	a measure of pressure =133.32 Pa
TOVS	TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder
T_p	temperature of katabatic layer temperature of parcel
Tr	required heat transport transport of TKE by turbulence Total atmospheric and oceanic heat transport needed to compensate radiation
T_r	net sky transmissivity reference temperature
T_RL	residual layer temperature
TROWAL	trough of warm air aloft
TS	Tropical Storm
TSI	total solar irradiance
T_skin	temperature of the top few molecules of the Earth’s Surface
TSM	total shear magnitude
T_SR	sunrise time
TSS	true skill score
T_STP	standard sea-level temperature =15°C = 288 K
T_v	virtual temperature
TV	television
TVS	tornado vortex signature
T_w	wet-bulb temperature
TX	Texas, USA postal code
t	time time step
t₀	time of onset
tan	tangent
tcu	towering cumulus
t_d	length of day/time of day
t_L	Langrangian time scale
t_orbit	orbital time period
t_utc	Coordinated Universal Time
t_utc	Coordinated Universal Time
t_λ	transmissivity at wavelength λ
U
U	tangential velocity of earth velocity in the x-direction wind component toward the east
U_ag	ageostrophic wind component to the east
U_d	destination air velocity zonal wind
U_g	geostrophic wind component toward the east
UHF	ultra-high frequency
UHI	urban heat island
U_jet	jet stream velocity
UK	United Kingdom
UM	Unified Model
U_r	gradient wind component toward the east
URL	universal resource locator (internet web address)
U_s	zonal velocity
US/USA	United States of America
UT	Utah, USA postal code
U.T	Upper Tropospheric
UTC	Coordinated Universal Time
U_TH	component of the thermal wind
U’	velocity relative to earth
u_*	friction velocity
V
V	economic value vector wind velocity velocity in the y-direction verifying analysis visual range/visibility voltage (in volts) volume wind component to the north
VA	Virginia, USA postal code
VAD	Velocity Azimuth Display
V_ag	ageostrophic wind component toward the north
V_g	meridional geostrophic winds geostrophic wind component toward the north
VHF	very high frequency
V_in	inflow velocity
VLF	very low frequency
Vol	volume of water
V_r	gradient wind component toward the North
VT	Vermont, USA postal code
V_TH	component of the thermal wind
VV	vertical visibility
v	average molecular speed molecular speed total velocity along a streamline
v’	deviation in meridional velocity relative to the mean
var	variance
v_e	escape velocity
v_L	velocity of current through the return stroke path in lightning
W
W	velocity in the z-direction work thermal updrafts wave drag width Watt, a power unit West
W₀	stack-top exit velocity
WA	Washington, USA postal code
WBF	Wegener-Bergeron-Findeisen (cold -cloud precipitation formation process)
WD	Wave drag
WER	weak echo region
WI	Wisconsin, USA postal code
W_mid	vertical velocity across 50 kPa surface
WMO	World Meteorological Organization
WRF	Weather Research and Forecasting
W_s	subsidence velocity magnitude
WV	water vapor West Virginia, USA postal code
WX	Weather
WY	Wyoming, USA postal code
w	terminal velocity
w0	parameter or constant (varies by context)
w_B	buoyancy velocity scale
w_d	downburst velocity
w_e	entrainment velocity
w_max	max updraft or downdraft speed
w_s	synoptic-scale mean vertical velocity (negative for subsidence)
w_T	terminal velocity transport velocity
w_*	Deardorff (convective) velocity scale
X
X	cloud diameter/depth dimensionless downwind distance of receptor from source ratio of heat flux into the ground to the net radiative flux at the earth’s surface
Xe	Xenon
x	abscissa value distance distance downwind distance from centreline distance toward east path length travel distance
x’	distance east from arbitrary longitude
Y
Y	dimensionless crosswind distance of the receptor from plume centerline time period of orbit
YT	Yukon Territory, Canada postal code
y	distance toward north ordinate value year
yr	year
y’	north-south displacement from center latitude
Z
Z	dimensionless receptor height radar reflectivity factor Zulu Time (= UTC time)
Z_CL	dimensionless plume centreline height
Z_DR	differential reflectivity
Z_s	dimensionless souce (smoke stack) height
Z_T	tropospheric depth (=11km)
z	depth effective atmospheric thickness height vertical distance
z₀	aerodynamic roughness length
z₁	initial amplitude
z_c	reference height at the centre of an anticyclone
z_CL	plume centerline height
z_i	depth of convective mixed layer depth of the atmospheric boundary layer mixed-layer depth
z_LCL	lifting condensation level (km)
z_s	physical source (smoke stack) height
z_stn	station elevations above sea level
z_T	depth of troposphere =11 km height of topography
z_Trop	depth of troposphere =11 km

GREEK SYMBOLS

Α, α	Alpha
α	angle of ray above horizon angle of tilt of wave crests relative to vertical component angle elevation angle local azimuth angle parameter or constant (varies by context) slope angle specific volume = 1/ρ spread parameter terrain slope wind direction relative to north
α₁	rotation angle about the column axis of an ice crystal
α₃	intermediate calculation parameter
α₅	intermediate calculation parameter
Β, β	Beta
∆β	beamwidth
β	beta parameter (rate of change of Coriolis parameter with latitude) component angle constant or parameter (varies by context) divergence growth rate Kalman gain rotation angle
β₁	intermediate calculation parameter
β₃	intermediate calculation parameter
β₅	intermediate calculation parameter
β_c	wedge angle constant or parameter (varies by context)
Γ, γ	Gamma
Γ	lapse rate ( = –∆T/∆z)
Γ_d	dry adiabatic lapse rate
Γ_ps	pre-storm lapse rate
Γ_s	saturated (moist) lapse rate
Γ_a	standard atmospheric lapse rate = 6.5 K km^–1
γ	crystal orientation with respect to the compass direction of the incoming light ray depth parameter environmental lapse rate potential temperature gradient above the atmospheric boundary layer psychrometric constant = 0.4 (gwater vapor/kgair)·K^–1 volume extinction coefficient
Δ, δ	Delta
∆	change of
∆²	Laplacian operator
δ_ij	Kronecker delta
δ_s	solar declination angle
Ε, ε	Epsilon
ε	dissipation rate of TKE effective emissivity intermediate calculation parameter obliquity (tilt of earth’s axis) = 23.439° ratio of gas constants for dry air and water vapor = 0.633 (gwater vapor/gair)·K^–1 viscous dissipation rate of TKE
ε₀	permittivity of free space (see Appen. B)
Ζ, ζ	Zeta
ζ	zenith angle vertical vorticity
ζ_a	absolute vorticity
ζ_g	relative geostrophic vorticity
ζ_IPV	isentropic potential vorticity
ζ_p	potential vorticity
ζ_r	relative vorticity
ζ*	dimensionless height
Η, η	Eta
η‘	vertical displacement of a wave
Θ, θ, ϑ	Theta
θ	angle of light ray mixed-layer potential temperature potential temperature
θ₁	viewing angle incident angle
θ₂	viewing angle refracted angle
θ₃	reflected angle
θ_a	ambient potential temperature
θ_c	critical angle
θ_e	equivalent potential temperature potential temperature of the environment
θ_H	horizontal angle
θ_h	horizontal viewing angle
θ_L	liquid-water potential temperature
θ_ML	mixed-layer potential temperature
θ_p	initial gas temperature of effluent from a smoke stack potential temperature of an air parcel
θ_sfc	surface potential temperature
θ_v	vertical angle vertical viewing angle virtual potential temperature
θ_w	wet-bulb potential temperature
Ι, ι	Iota
Κ, κ	Kappa
Λ, λ	Lambda
Λ	parameter or constant (varies by context)
λ	wavelength dimensionless wave parameter true longitude angle climate sensitivity factor horizontal scale
λ_d	internal Rossby radius of deformation
λ_r	longitude
λ_R	external Rossby radius of deformation
λ_max	wavelength of peak emission
λ₂	parameter or constant (varies by context)
Μ, μ	Mu
μ_ij	ratio of refractive indicies n_i and n_j
µm	micrometer, a unit of length
Ν, ν	Nu
ν	frequency true anomaly
Ξ, ξ	Xi
Ο, ο	Omicron
Π, π	Pi
π	math constant = 3.141 592 653 589 793 238 462 643 dimensionless group
Ρ, ρ	Rho
ρ	density average sea-level density = 1.225 kg·m^–3
ρ₀	density of air at sea-level density of object
ρ_air	density of air
ρ_d	density of dry air
ρ_f	density of fluid
ρ_HV	co-polar correlation coefficient
ρ_i	ice density
ρ_L	density of liquid water
ρ_m	number density of molecules
ρ_STP	standard sea-level density = 1.225 kg·m^–3
ρ_v	absolute humidity = density of water vapor
ρ_ve	excess water vapor density
ρ_vs	saturation value of absolute humidity
ρ_water	density of water
Σ, σ, ς	Sigma
Σ	summation
σ	backscatter cross-section area parameter of constant (varies by context) standard deviation surface tension wavenumber
σ_o	standard deviation of raw observation
σ₁	standard deviation of drop radii
σ²	variance
σ_f	standard deviation of errors associate with first guess from previous forecast
σ_g	standard deviation of errors associated with first guess
σ_H	cloud-cover fraction of high clouds
σ_L	cloud-cover fraction of low clouds
σ_M	cloud-cover fraction of middle clouds
σ_SB	Stefan-Boltzmann constant (see App. B)
σ_y	lateral standard deviation of smoke-plume spread
σ_y²	lateral variance of smoke-plume spread
σ_yd	dimensionless lateral standard deviation of smoke plume
σ_z	vertical standard deviation of smokeplume spread
σ_z²	vertical variance of smoke-plume spread
σ_zc	vertical standard deviation of crosswind-integrated concentration of pollutant
σ_zdc	dimensionless vertical standard deviation of crosswind-integrated concentration
Τ, \(\ \tau\)	Tau
\(\ \tau\)	optical thickness stress perihelion date time scale e-folding time
\(\ \hat{\tau}\)	transmittance
Υ, υ, ϒ	Upsilon
Φ, ϕ, φ	Phi
Φ	geopotential
Φ_r	tilt of Earth’s axis relative to the ecliptic = 23.44°
ϕ	angle between wind direction and sound-propagation direction direction latitude intermediate calculation parameter
Χ, χ	Chi
Ψ, ψ	Psi
ψ	elevation angle
Ω, ω	Omega
Ω	ohms, a measure of resistance
Ω_d	angular velocity angular rotation rate of the earth
ω	angular frequency
ω_E	Earth’s rotation rate = 0.0043633 radians/ minute
ϖ	Variant Pi
ϖ	equinox precession = angle of the perihelion from the vernal equinox
OPERATORS
d( )	total derivative
∂( )	partial derivative
∆( )	difference, or change of
( )	(overbar) average or mean of
( )’	(prime) deviation from the mean
[ ]	matrix
\|z	at height z
\| \|	absolute value
\(\ \widehat{()}\)	amplitude (of wave)
∫( )	integral of
∑( )	sum of
∏( )	product of
·	multiplication

SUPERSCRIPTS

( )’	(prime) deviation from the mean first guess perturbation turbulent variation

SUBSCRIPTS

1	at height 1
2	at height 2
A	any quantity of parcel A
a	analysis
ABL, abl	atmospheric boundary layer
AD	advection
adv	advection
ai	rays going from air to ice
air	of air
avg	average
B	of parcel B bottom of troposphere black or dark daisies
BL	boundary layer
BLG	boundary layer gradient (wind)
C	of parcel C
°C	in degrees Celsius
CCN	cloud condensation nuclei
CF	Coriolis Force
CN	centrifugal force
cond	conduction
d	destination flow in the most narrow part of a channel or mountain pass
E	latent heat
e	environment earth
earth	of the earth
eff	effective
eq	equilibrium
final	final state
G	ground bare ground
g	geostrophic first guess
H	of heat
ia	rays going from ice to air destination index
init	initial
j	source index
K	in Kelvin
k	data point index
L	liquid
LCL	lifting condensation level
left	at the left side of a volume or box
liq	liquid
max	maximum
mid	mid-level at midpoint of column initial value
ML	mixed layer
mtn	of a mountain
o	mean background value or reference state observation initial condition
p	parcel
PG	pressure gradient
R	reference condition
rad	of radiation
ref	reference condition
right	at the right side of a volume or box
RL	residual layer
RxL	radix layer
s	surface upstream flow
SBF	of the sea-breeze front
sfc	surface
skin	at the top molecules of the earth’s surface
SL	surface layer
SL or sl	sea level
SST	sea surface temperature
STP	strandard temperature and pressure
sun	of the sun
T	top of troposphere
t	at time t
TD	turbulent drag
TH	thickness thermal
turb	turbulent or turbulence
u	u component of wind
v	v component of wind virtual
W	white or light daisies
w	vertical component of wind
water	of water
X	of parcel X
x	variable in the x direction component toward the east
y	variable in the y direction component toward the north
z	variable in the z direction component in upward direction
θ	potential temperature
λ	at one wavelength
ϕ	at latitude _
°C	in degrees celsius
∞	at a far or infinite distance away

SPECIAL SYMBOLS

§	computer spreadsheet should be used to solve this homework exercise
ℑ	dynamic flux
ℜ	gas constant in ideal gas law
ℜ_d	gas constant in ideal gas law for dry air
ℜ_v	gas constant in ideal gas law for pure water vapor
•	key equation or concept
·	multiply operator

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