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Environment Canada - Weather and Meteorology - Weather and Meteorology - Glossary

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WeatherandMeteorologyGlossary
Includedinthisglossaryyou'llfindtermsrelatedtoourpublicforecastingprogram,weatherobservationsandunique terminologythatisofEnvironmentCanada'shurricanecentreandiceserviceproducts. HideGlossaryDefinitions A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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A
Ablation

Reductionofthewaterequivalentofasnowcoverbymelting,evaporation,windandavalanches. AcidRain Agenerictermusedforprecipitationthatcontainsanabnormallyhighconcentrationofsulphuricandnitricacid. Theseacidsformintheatmospherewhenindustrialgasemissionscombinewithwater,andhavenegative impactsontheenvironmentandhumanhealth. AdvectionFog Fogwhichformswhenarelativelymoistandwarmairmassmovesoveracolderwaterorlandsurface. Advisory AtypeofalertfromEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC),whereacertainweatheror environmentalhazard(forexampleairquality,humidex,andtsunami)iseitheroccurring,imminentorisexpected tooccur. AgedRidge Seaiceterminologythatdescribesaridgewhichhasundergoneconsiderableweathering.Theseridgesarebest describedasundulationsorwaves. AgglomeratedBrash CanadianseaiceterminologythatisnotpartoftheWorldMeteorologicalOrganizations(WMO)terminology.An areaofbrashicesthatisnotcompacted. AirMass Anextensivebodyoftheatmospherewithcomparabletemperatureandhumidity.Itmayextendoveranareaof severalmillionsquarekilometresandoveradepthofseveralkilometres. Alert Atransmittedsignalthatisusedtoheightenawarenessand/orinitiatepreparationforaction.Alertsareissuedby EnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)forweatherorenvironmentalhazardeventsthatareeither occurring,imminent,orforecasttodevelop.Alertsarecurrentlyissuedasspecialweatherstatements,advisories, watchesandwarnings.

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AnchorIce Seaiceterminologythatdescribessubmergedicethatisattachedoranchoredtothebottomofthesea, irrespectiveofthenatureofitsformation. Anticyclone Ahighpressuresystemwithananticycloniccirculation.Itisgenerallyassociatedwithfairweather. Anticyclonic RotationofanairmassthatisclockwiseintheNorthernHemisphereandcounterclockwiseintheSouthern Hemisphere.Itistheoppositeofcyclonic. Apogee(lunar) ThepointinthemoonsorbitthatisfarthestfromtheEarth.Itistheoppositeofperigee. ArcticSeaSmoke(alsocalledSteamFog) AtypeoffogthatformswhenanoutbreakofcoldArcticairsettlesoveranexpanseofopen,relativelywarmer water. ArrangementoftheIce Seaiceterminology,thatincludestheterms: 1)DriftIce/PackIce 2)IceCover 3)Concentration 4)IceDistribution 5)OpeningsintheIce 6)IceEdge 7)IceBoundary 8)IcebergLimit Atmosphere Themassofairheldclosetotheearthbygravity.Theatmosphereisdividedintofoursections:thetroposphere reachesanaltitudeofabout10kmfromtheearth'ssurfacethestratospherewhichisat10kmto50kmfromthe earthssurfacethemesospherewhichisat50kmto80kmfromtheearthssurfaceandlastlythethermosphere whichisanythingbeyond80kmfromtheearthssurface. AtmosphericPressure Thepressureexertedbytheweightofairaboveagivenpoint,sometimesexpressedinmillibars(mb)orinchesof mercury(Hg).Theinternationallyrecognizedunitformeasuringatmosphericpressureisthekilopascal(kPa). AuroraBorealis Theluminous,radiantemissionfromtheupperatmospherethatappearsovermiddleandhighlatitudes,andis centeredontheearth'smagneticpoles.Thesesilentfireworksareoftenseenonclearwinternightsinavarietyof shapesandcolours,andarealsoreferredtoastheNorthernLights.

B
BackingWind

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Acounterclockwisechangeinwinddirection.Forexample,fromsouthwesttosoutheast,throughsouth.Itisthe oppositeofveeringwind. BareIce

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Seaiceterminologythatdescribesicewithoutsnowcover. BattureFloes CanadianseaiceterminologythatisnotapartoftheWorldMeteorologicalOrganizations(WMO)terminology.It defineslarge,thick,unevenanddiscolouredicefloesthatformontheupstreamsideofshoalsandisletsinrivers, whencoldweatherprecedesoraccompaniesneaptides.Itiscomposedoficeofdifferentthicknessesformed underpressureduringebbtide,thewholemassfreezestogetherandgraduallyincreasinginsize,witheach successivetide.Astherangeincreasesbetweentheneapandspringtides,largesectionsofgroundedicebreak awayanddriftdownrivercausingthefloes. BeaufortWindForceScale Ascalenumberedfrom0to12whichisusedtoestimatetheforceofmarinewind,basedontheobservedeffects ofthewindonseastate. Belt Seaiceterminologymeaningalargeareaofpack/drifticethatislongerthanitiswide.Itcanbefrom1kmto morethan100kminwidth. BergyBit Seaiceterminologythatdescribesapieceofglacierice,generallyshowingat1mtolessthan5mabovesea levelwithalengthof5mtolessthan15m.Theynormallyhaveanareaof100300sq.m. Bergywater Seaiceterminologythatdescribesanareaoffreelynavigablewater,inwhichiceoflandoriginispresent.Other icetypesmaybepresent,althoughthetotalconcentrationofallothericeislessthan1/10. Beset Seaiceterminologymeaningasituationinwhichavesselissurroundedbyiceandunabletomove. Bight Seaiceterminologythatdescribesanextensivecrescentshapedindentationintheiceedge,formedbyeither windorcurrent. Blizzard Asevereweatherconditioncharacterizedbyreducedvisibilityfromfallingand/orblowingsnowandstrongwinds thatmaybeaccompaniedbylowtemperatures. BlizzardWarning AwarningissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)forhazardousweatherconditions characterizedbyhighwinds,andawidespreadreductioninvisibilityduetofallingand/orblowingsnow.Blizzard conditionsmaypersistforaperiodoftimeontheirownorbepartofanintensewinterstorm.Inthelattercase,a blizzardwarningisissuedinsteadofawinterstormorsnowfallwarning.Blizzardconditionsmaybeaccompanied byaseverewindchillmakingitevenmoredangerous. BlockyIceberg Seaiceterminologythatdescribesaflattoppedicebergwithsteepverticalsides. BlowingDust Dust,raisedbythewindtomoderatedheightsabovetheground.Thevisibilityateyelevelissensiblyreduced. BlowingSnow

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Snowliftedfromtheearth'ssurfacebythewindtoaheightof2metresormore. BlowingSnowWarning AwarningissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)forwinddrivensnowthatreduces visibilitytonearwhiteoutconditions.Ablowingsnoweventislessextremethanablizzardindurationand/or visibility. BrashIce Seaiceterminologythatdescribestheaccumulationoffloatingicethatismadeupoffragmentsnotmorethan2 metresacross.Itistheresultofthewreckageofotherformsofice. BuildingCodes Standardsandguidelinesfortheconstructionofbuildings,toensureaminimumlevelofsafetyfortheoccupants. Bummock Seaiceterminologythatdescribesadownwardprojectionfromtheundersideofseaicethesubmariner's counterpartofahummock

C
Calving

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Seaiceterminologythatdescribesthebreakingawayofamassoficefromanicewall,icefrontoriceberg. CapeVerdetypeHurricanes Atlanticbasintropicalcyclonesfairlyclose(lessthen1000kilometres)totheCapeVerdeIslands,offthewest coastofAfrica,developingintohurricanesbeforereachingtheCaribbean.Typically,theseoccurinAugustand September. ChanceofPrecipitation(COP) Thechancethatmeasurableprecipitation(0.2mmofrainor0.2cmofsnow)willfallonanyrandompointofthe forecastregionduringtheforecastperiod. Chinook Chinooksoccurwhenmountainrangesareexposedtostrongprevailingcrosswinds.Moistairisforcedupthe mountainsbringingbothcloudandprecipitationtothewindwardside.Thedescendingairbecomeswarmerand drierasitisforceddowntheleeward(sheltered)sideofthemountains.Therelativelywarm,dry,gustywindsthat occasionallyoccurtotheleewardsideofmountainrangesaroundtheworldareknownbymanynames.In CanadaandthenorthernUnitedStates,theyarereferredtoasChinooks.Inthesouthernstates,theyareknown asSantaAnaandinpartsofEurope,foehnwinds. Cirrus Whitepatchesofcloudcomposedoficecrystals,foundataltitudesof6,000metresorhigher.Fineanddelicate inappearance,theirshapeandtextureoftenresembleamarestail. Climate Theprevalentorcharacteristicweatherconditionsofaplaceorregionoveraperiodofyears. ClosePack/Drift Seaiceterminologythatdescribesfloatingicethathasaconcentrationof7/10to8/10.Itiscomposedmostlyof icefloesthatareincontactwithoneanother.

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Cloud Avisibleclusterofwaterdropletsand/oriceparticlesintheatmosphere. CloudtocloudLightning Alightningdischargethatoccursbetweenareasofthesamecloud(intracloud)orfromonecloudtoanother cloud(intercloud).Cloudtocloudflashesaremuchmorecommonthancloudtogroundflashes(onaveragethere arethreetofivecloudtocloudflashes,foreveryonecloudtogroundflash). CloudtogroundLightning Alightningdischargethatoccursbetweenacumulonimbuscloud(thunderstorm)andtheground. ColdFront Atransitionzonewhereacoldairmassadvancesandreplacesawarmairmass. CompactIce Seaiceterminologythatdescribesfloatingicethathasaconcentrationof10/10,andnowaterisvisible. CompactedIceEdge Seaiceterminologythatdescribesaclearcuticeedgethatiscompactedbywindorcurrent,usuallyonthe windwardsideofanareaofice. Compacting Seaiceterminologythatdescribesanincreaseiniceconcentrationand/orastresswhichmayresultinice deformation(i.e.theicebecomingwarped). Concentration Seaiceterminology,foraratio(expressedintenths)whichdescribestheareaofthewatersurfacecoveredby ice,asafractionofthewholearea.Totalconcentrationincludesallstagesofdevelopmentthatarepresent. Partialconcentrationreferstotheamountofaparticularstageorofaparticularformofice,andrepresentsonlya partofthetotal. ConcentrationBoundary Seaiceterminology,describingalinethatmarksthetransitionbetweentwoareasoffloatingicewithdifferent concentrations. Condensation Thephysicalprocessthroughwhichwatervapourbecomesaliquid ConsolidatedIce Seaiceterminology,meaningfloatingiceinwhichtheconcentrationis10/10,andthefloesarefrozentogether. ConsolidatedRidge Seaiceterminology,describingaridgeinwhichthebasehasfrozentogether. CoriolisForce Aneffectoftheearthsrotationthatdeflectsthedirectionofanylargemovingobject(includingthewind)tothe rightintheNorthernHemisphere,andtotheleftintheSouthernHemisphere.TheCoriolisForceisresponsiblefor givingacycloneitsspin. Crack

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Seaiceterminologythatdescribesanyfractureoffastice,consolidatediceorasinglefloewhichmayhavebeen followedbyseparationrangingfromafewcentimetresto1metre. Criteriathreshold(s) Asetofvaluesassociatedtoweatherorenvironmentalfactorsthatareusedtoissueanalert. CumulonimbusClouds Large,densecloudthatfrequentlyhasananvilshapedtop.Thesecloudsproduceheavyrainshowers,lightning, thunderandsometimeshailortornadoes.Theentirecloudcanonlybeseenfromadistance.(Seethunderstorm) CumulusClouds Brightcloudsthatappearinfairweather,thathavebroad,horizontalbases,producingnoprecipitationandrarely coveringmorethanonehalfofthesky. Cyclone Alowpressuresystemwithacycloniccirculation.Itisalsocalledadepression,andisgenerallyassociatedwith poororstormyweather.Thepointoflowestatmosphericpressuremarksthecentreofthecyclone. Cyclonic RotationthatiscounterclockwiseintheNorthernHemisphere,andclockwiseintheSouthernHemisphere.Itis theoppositeofanticyclonic.

D
DarkNilas

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Seaiceterminologywhichdescribesanilasofupto5cminthickness,whichisverydarkincolour. DeformedIce Seaiceterminology.Itisageneraltermforicewhichhasbeensqueezedtogether,andinplaces,forcedupwards anddownwards.Thesubdivisionsofdeformediceareknownasraftedice,ridgedice,andhummockedice. DewPoint(alsoknowasDewpoint) Thetemperaturetowhichairmustbecooled,inordertobecomesaturatedbythewatervapouralreadypresentin theair. DifficultArea Seaiceterminology.Ageneralqualitativeexpressionthatindicatesthattherelativeseverityofprevailingice conditionsinaparticularareaaresuchthatnavigationwillbedifficult. DiffuseIceEdge Seaiceterminology,meaningapoorlydefinediceedgewhichlimitsanareaofdispersedice,usuallyonthe leewardsideofanareaofice. Diverging Seaiceterminologythatdescribesicefieldsorfloesinanarea,thatmoveinoppositedirections,reducingice concentrationand/orrelievingstressesintheice. DomedIceberg Seaiceterminology,meaninganicebergwhichissmoothandroundedontop.

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Draft Asmall,gustycurrentassociatedwiththeabruptverticalmovementofair. DriedIce Seaiceterminologythatdescribesanicesurfacefromwhichwaterhasdisappearedaftertheformationofcracks andthawholesduringtheperiodofdryingthesurfacewhitens. DriftIce/PackIce Seaiceterminology.Thistermisusedinawidesensetoincludeanyareaofice,otherthanfastice,nomatter whatformittakesorhowitgetsthere.Whenconcentrationsarehigh(7/10ormore)thetermpackiceisnormally used.Whenconcentrationsare6/10orlessthetermdrifticeisnormallyused. DriftingSnow Snowthatisraisedfromtheearth'ssurfacebythewindtoaheightoflessthan2metres. Drizzle Precipitationfromstratusclouds,consistingofminute,finewaterdropletswhichappeartofloat. DryLightning Cloudtogroundlightningthatcomesfromathunderstormandthatproduceslittle,ifany,rain. DrydockedIceberg Seaiceterminology,whichdescribesanicebergthathaserodedinsuchawaythataUshapedslotisformed nearoratwaterlevel,withtwincolumnsorpinnacles. DustStormWarning AwarningissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)whenaprolongedperiodofreduced visibilitycausedbyblowingdust(ofonehourormore)isexpectedtooccur,isimminent,orisoccurring.

E
EasterlyWave

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AlsoknownastropicalwaveorAfricanEasterlyWaves,theyareatypeofatmosphericlowpressuretrough, orientednorthtosouth,whichmovesfromeasttowestacrossthetropics,causingareasofcloudinessand thunderstorms.Aneasterlywaveortropicalwavecandevelopintoatropicalcyclone. EasyArea Seaiceterminology,meaningageneralqualitativeexpressionthatindicatesthatprevailingiceconditionsinan areaaresuchthatnavigationisnotdifficult. ElNio AwarmingofPacificOceanwatersneartheequatorthattypicallyoccurseverythreetosevenyears.Suchan eventdictatesashiftinnormalweatherpatterns.ElNioinhibitstheproductionoftropicalcyclonesintheNorth Atlantic.(SeeLaNia) Event Anindividualoccurrenceofaweatherorenvironmentalhazardthatmeetshazardcriteriavalues. EventTime Thetimeatwhichthecriteriavalueisfirstmetforanevent.

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ExtratropicalCyclone Agenerictermfortheclassoffrontal,lowpressuresystemscomingfrommidtolowlevellatitudes(tropics). ExtratropicalTransition(ET) Thetransformationofatropicalcycloneintoanextratropicalcyclone.Morethan40percentofAtlantictropical cyclonesundergosuchatransformationattheendoftheirtropicalexistence. EyeoftheStorm Theroughlycircularareaoffairlylightwindsfoundatthecentreofahurricaneandsurroundedbytheeyewall. Withintheeye,theskiesareoftenclear,despitethefactthatwindsandcloudscontinuetoragearoundtheedge oftheeyeintheeyewall.Thediameterofahurricaneeyecanrangefrom10kmtomorethan100km. Eyewall Theringofthunderstormsthatsurroundsastorm'seye.Theheaviestrain,strongestwinds,andworstturbulence isfoundintheeyewall.

F
FastIce

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Seaiceterminology,describingicewhichformsandremainsfastalongthecoast.Itmaybeattachedtothe shore,toanicewall,toanicefront,orbetweenshoalsorgroundedicebergs.Itcanextendbetweenafewmetres toseveralhundredkilometresfromthecoast.Itmaybemorethanoneyearold,inwhichcaseitmaybeattached totheappropriateagecategory(old,secondyearormultiyear).Ifhigherthan2mabovesealevel,itiscalledan iceshelf. FastIceBoundary Seaiceterminology.Theiceboundary,whichatanygiventimeisfoundbetweenfasticeandthepack/driftice. FastIceEdge Seaiceterminology,describingthedifferentiation(atanygiventime)betweenfasticeandopenwater. Fetch Thedistancewind,usuallyofuniformspeedanddirection,whichblowsoverthewatersurface.Fetchlengthis relatedtotheheightofthewindgeneratedwaveheights.Thelongerthefetchlength,thehigherthewind generatedwaveheights. FingerRaftedIce Seaiceterminology,meaningatypeofraftediceinwhichfloesoverlapeachotherinfingers.Thisiscommonin nilas. Firn Seaiceterminologythatdescribesoldsnowwhichhasrecrystallizedintoadensematerial.Unlikeordinary snow,particlesare(tosomeextent)joinedtogetherbut,unlikeice,theairspacesinitstillconnectwitheach other. FirstyearIce Seaiceterminology,meaningseaicethathasgrownfornotmorethanonewinter,developingfromyoungice.It mustalsobe30cmorgreater.Firstyearicemaybesubdividedintothinfirstyearice(sometimesreferredtoas whiteice),mediumfirstyearice,andthickfirstyearice.

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FlashFreezeWarning AwarningissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)forwhenarapiddropintemperatureto belowfreezing,resultsinsignificanticeonroadsurfaces.Thisiceisproducedbythefreezingofresidualwater fromeithermeltedsnoworfalling/fallenrain. Flaw Seaiceterminology,describinganarrowseparationzonebetweenfloatingiceandfastice,wherethepiecesof iceareinachaoticstate.Flawsformwheniceshears,duetoastrongwindorcurrentalongthefastice boundary. FlawLead Seaiceterminology,describingapassagewaybetweeniceandfastice,whichisnavigablebysurfacevessels. FlawPolynya Seaiceterminology,whichdescribesapolynyabetweeniceandfastice. FloatingIce Seaiceterminology,meaninganyformoficefoundfloatinginwater.Theprincipalkindsoffloatingicearelake ice,rivericeandseaice,whichformbythefreezingofwateratthesurface,andglaciericewhichisformedon landorinaniceshelf. Floe Seaiceterminology.Describesanyrelativelyflatpieceoficethatis20mormoreacross.Floesaresubdivided accordingtotheirhorizontalextent,asfollows: Small:20m100macross Medium:101m500macross Big:501m2000macross Vast:2001m10kmacross Giant:Greaterthan10kmacross Floeberg Seaiceterminology,describingamassivepieceoficecomposedofahummockoragroupofhummocks,frozen togetherandseparatedfromanysurroundingice.Theymaytypicallyprotrudeupto5mabovewaterlevel. FloodedIce Seaiceterminology.Describesicewhichhasbeenfloodedandisheavilyloadedbywater,orwaterandwet snow. Flurries Precipitationintheformofsnowfromaconvectivecumulustypecloud,areknownasflurries.Theyare characterizedbythesuddennesswithwhichtheystartandstop,bytheirrapidchangesinintensity,andusually byrapidchangesintheappearanceofthesky. Fog Acloudbasedattheearth'ssurface,consistingoftinywaterdroplets,orunderverycoldconditions,icecrystals oricefog.Itisgenerallyfoundincalmorlowwindconditions.Underfoggyconditions,visibilityisreducedtoless than1kilometre. FogBank Foggenerallycausedbylocalconditions,whichextendsoverasmallareaofsomehundredsofmetresacross, andwhichreducesvisibilitytolessthanonehalf(1/2)nauticalmiles(orfiveeighths(5/8)ofakilometre).Multiple

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fogbanksaresometimesreferredtoaspatchyfogorfogpatches. Forecast Astatementofexpectedmeteorologicalandenvironmentalconditionsforaspecifiedtimeorperiod,andfora specifiedareaorportionofairspace. FormsofIce Seaiceterminology: 1)PancakeIce 2)IceCake 3)Floe 4)Floeberg 5)IceBreccia 6)BattureFloes 7)BrashIce 8)FastIce 9)Icefoot 10)AnchorIce 11)GroundedIce Fracture Seaiceterminology.Describesanybreakorrupturethroughveryclosepackice,compactice,consolidatedice, fasticeorasinglefloe,resultingfromthedeformationprocesses.Fracturesmaycontainbrashiceand/orbe coveredwithnilasand/oryoungice.Theirlengthsmayvaryfromafewmetrestomanykilometreslong. FractureZone Seaiceterminology.Describesanareawhichhasagreatnumberoffractures.Fracturesaresubdividedas follows: VerySmallFracture:1mto50mwide SmallFracture:51mto200mwide MediumFracture:201mto500mwide LargeFracture:Greaterthan500mwide Fracturing Seaiceterminologythatdescribesthepressureprocesswherebyiceispermanentlydeformed,andrupture occurs.Thistermismostcommonlyusedtodescribethebreakingacrossofverycloseice,compacticeand consolidatedice. FrazilIce Seaiceterminology,meaningfinespiculesorplatesoficesuspendedinwater. FreezingDrizzle Drizzlethatfreezesonimpacttoformacoatingofclearice(glaze)onthegroundandonexposedobjects. FreezingDrizzleWarning AwarningissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)forpersistentfreezingdrizzle. FreezingRain Rainthatfreezesonimpacttoformacoatingofclearice(glaze)onthegroundandonexposedobjects. FreezingRainWarning AwarningissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)forfreezingrain.

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FreezingSpray Freezingsprayoccurswhenacombinationofbelowfreezingtemperaturesandstrongwinds,causesawind generatedspraytofreezeandaccumulate(orbuildup)onanymarineinfrastructurelocatedinornearthevicinity ofthewater. FreezingSprayWarning AwarningissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)iffreezingsprayisforecastorobserved tobemoderateorsevere.Freezingsprayistermedmoderateiftheiceaccumulationorbuilduprateonmarine infrastructureisbetween0.7and2cmperhour.Itistermedsevereiftheiceaccumulationorbuilduprateon marineinfrastructureisgreaterthan2cmperhour. FriendlyIce Seaiceterminologythatdescribesanicecanopycontainingmanylargeskylightsorotherfeatures,which permitsasubmarinetosurface.Theremustbemorethan10suchfeaturesper30nauticalmiles(56km)along thesubmarinestrack. Front Theboundarybetweentwodifferentairmasses.Acoldfrontistheleadingedgeofanadvancingcoldairmass, whileawarmfrontisthetrailingedgeofaretreatingcoldairmass. FrontalCyclone Anycycloneassociatedwithafront.Itisoftenassociatedwithextratropicalcyclone(asopposedtotropical cyclone,whichisnonfrontal). Frost Adepositoficecrystalsthatformsthroughaprocesscalledsublimation. FrostSmoke Seaiceterminologythatdescribesfoglikecloudsthatareformedwhencoldairandrelativelywarmwatercome incontactwitheachother.Frostsmokecanappearoveropeningsintheiceorleewardoftheiceedge,andmay persistwhileiceisforming.

G
GaleForceWind Windspeedof34to47knotsinclusivehasaBeaufortwindforceof8to9. GaleWarning

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AwarningissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)ifwindspeedof34to47knots inclusive(galeforcewind)isforecastorobservedoveramarinearea. GeostationarySatellite Asatellitethatorbitstheearthatthesameratethattheearthrotates,andasaresultremainsoverafixedplace abovetheequator. Glacier Seaiceterminology.Describesamassofsnowandicethatiscontinuouslymovingfromhighertolowerground or,ifafloat,continuouslyspreading.Theprincipalformsofglaciersare:inlandicesheets,iceshelves,ice streams,icecaps,icepiedmonts,cirqueglaciers,andvarioustypesofmountain(valley)glaciers.

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GlacierIce Seaiceterminologythatdescribesiceinororiginatingfromaglacier,whetheronlandorfloatingontheseaas icebergs,bergybits,growlersoriceislands. GlacierTongue Seaiceterminologythatdescribestheseawardextensionofaglacier,usuallyafloat.IntheAntarctic,glacier tonguesmayextendovermanytensofkilometres. GreaseIce Seaiceterminologywhichdescribesalaterstageoffreezingthanfrazilicewherethecrystalshavecoagulatedto formasoupylayeronthesurface.Greaseicereflectslittlelight,givingthewateramatteappearance. GreyIce Seaiceterminology,describingyoungicethatis10cmto15cmthick,lesselasticthannilas,andwhichbreaks onswell.Itusuallyraftsunderpressure. GreyWhiteIce Seaiceterminology,describingyoungicethatis15cmto30cmthick.Underpressureitismorelikelytoridge thantoraft. GroundedHummock Seaiceterminology.Definesahummocked,groundediceformation.Therearesinglegroundedhummocksand lines(orchains)ofgroundedhummocks. GroundedIce Seaiceterminologythatdescribesfloatingicewhichisstrandedinshoalwater. Growler Seaiceterminologythatdescribesapieceoficesmallerthanabergybitandfloatinglessthan1mabovethe seasurface.Agrowlergenerallyappearswhitebutsometimestransparentorbluegreenincolour.Extendingless than1mabovetheseasurface,andnormallyoccupyinganareaofabout20sq.m.,Growlersaredifficultto distinguishwhensurroundedbyseaiceorinhighseastate. GulfStream Awarm,swift,narrowoceancurrentflowingparalleltotheeastcoastofNorthAmerica.Thecurrentthenturns andflowssouthofNovaScotiaandNewfoundlandandcontinuesontowardsEurope. Gusts Gustsaresudden,rapid,andbriefchangesinthewindspeed.Theyarecharacterizedbythemoreorless continualfluctuationsbetweenthehigh(peak)andlow(lull)speed.

H
Hail

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Precipitationintheformoflumpsoficemainlyassociatedwiththunderstorms.Hailrangesinsizefromthatofa smallpeatothesizeofcherries,buthasbeenobservedaslargeasgrapefruit.HailinCanadaoccursmost frequentlyduringthesummerwhenthunderstormactivityisatitspeak. Hazard Atypeofcondition(weatherorenvironmental)thathasanegativeimpactonthesafetyandsecurityofthepublic.

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Haze Consistsoffineparticlesofdustandpollutionsuspendedintheatmosphere,andisdistinguishedfromfogbyits bluishoryellowishtinge. High Regionoftheatmospherewherethepressuresarehigh,relativetothoseinthesurroundingregionatthesame level.IntheNorthernHemisphere,windsaroundahighmoveinaclockwisefashion. HighWaterLevel Abnormallyhighwaterlevelsorwavesalongcoastalorshorelineareas. HighWaterLevelWarning AwarningissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)towarnmarinersandcoastal populationsofpotentialimpactscausedbyabnormallyhighwaterlevels,orwavesalongcoastalorshoreline areas. Hillock Asmallhillormound. HostileIce Seaiceterminologythatdescribesanicecanopycontainingnolargeskylightsorotherfeatures,andasaresult submarinesareunabletosurface. Humidex Thescaledescribinghowhot,humidweatherfeelstotheaverageperson.Thehumidexcombinesthetemperature andhumidityintoonenumbertoreflecttheperceivedtemperature. Humidity(alsocalledRelativeHumidity) Humidityisthemeasureofwatervapourcontentintheair.Usually,relativehumidityisexpressedasa percentageoftotalpossiblemoisturecontent. Hummock Seaiceterminology,meaningahillockofbrokenicewhichhasbeenforcedupwardsbypressureitmaybefresh orweathered. HummockedIce Seaiceterminology,whichdescribesicethatispiledchaotically,onepieceoveranother,toformanuneven surface.Whenweathered,hummockedicehastheappearanceofsmoothhillocks. Hummocking Seaiceterminology.Describesthepressureprocessbywhichiceisforcedintohummocks.Whenthefloes rotateintheprocess,itistermedscrewing. Hurricane Hurricanesaretropicalcycloneswithmaximumsustainedsurfacewindsofatleast64knots(118km/h). HurricanesareknownastyphoonsinthewesternPacific,veryseverecyclonicstormsintheNorthIndianOcean, andseveretropicalcyclonesinAustralia.TherearefiveclassesofhurricaneintensityasoutlinedbytheSaffir SimpsonScale. HurricaneForceWind

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Windspeedof64knots(118km/h)orgreater,notnecessarilyinassociationwithatropicalcyclone,witha Beaufortwindforceof12. HurricaneForceWindWarning AwarningissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)forawindspeedof64knots(118km/h) orgreaterisforecastorobservedoveramarinearea. HurricaneSeason HurricaneseasonintheNorthAtlanticrunsofficiallyfromJune1toNovember30whenalmost95percentofall tropicalcyclonesoccur.About85percentoflandfallingtropicalcyclonesinCanadaoccurfromAugustthrough October. HurricaneWarning AwarningissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)thatmeansoneorbothofthefollowing dangerouseffectsofahurricaneareexpectedinaspecifiedareain24hoursorless: (a)Averagesustainedwindsof64knots(118km/h)orhigher (b)Dangerouslyhighwateroracombinationofdangerouslyhighwaterandexceptionallyhighwaves,eventhough windsexpectedmaybelessthanhurricaneforce.Bynatureahurricanealsoimpliesthethreatoflocalflooding fromheavyrainfall.

HurricaneWatch AwatchissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)foraspecificareathatahurricaneora developinghurricaneconditionposesapossiblethreatwithin36hours.Thiswatchdoesnotmeanthatahurricane isdefinitelygoingtostrikeitsimplymeansthateveryoneinthewatchareashouldbemoreawareofthepotential forahurricane,andbepreparedtoactquicklyifdefinitewarningsareissuedthatahurricanewillstrike.

I
IceBlink

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Seaiceterminology,describingawhitishglareonlowcloudsaboveanaccumulationofdistantice. IceBoundary Seaiceterminologythatdescribesthedifferentiationatanygiventimebetweenfasticeandfloatingice,or betweenareasoficeofdifferentconcentrations,typesand/orfloesizes. IceBreccia Seaiceterminology,describingicepiecesindifferentstagesofdevelopmentthatarefrozentogether. IceCake Seaiceterminologythatdescribesanyrelativelyflatpieceoficelessthan20macross. IceCanopy Seaiceterminology,meaningiceasitisseenfromthepointofviewofthesubmariner.(i.e.Underwaterlooking upattheice) IceCover Seaiceterminology.Describestheratioofanareaoficetothetotalareaofwatersurfacewithinalarge geographicarea.Thisareamaybeglobal,hemispheric,ordefinedbyaspecificoceanographicentitysuchas

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BaffinBayortheBarentsSea. IceDeformationProcesses Seaiceterminology. Includestheterms: 1)Fracturing 2)Hummocking 3)Ridging 4)Rafting 5)FingerRafting 6)Weathering IceDistribution Seaiceterminology. Includestheterms: 1)IceField 2)LargeIceField 3)MediumIceField 4)SmallIceField 5)IcePatch 6)IceMassif 7)Belt 8)Tongue 9)Strip 10)Bight 11)IceJam

IceEdge Seaiceterminology,whichdescribesthedifferentiationatanygiventimebetweenopenwater,andsea,lakeor rivericewhetherfastordrifting. IceField Seaiceterminologythatdescribesanareaoffloatingice,consistingoffloesgreaterthan10kmacross. IceFree Seaiceterminology,meaningnoicepresent.Ificeofanykindispresent,thistermwillnotbeused. IceFront Seaiceterminology.Describestheverticalcliffthatformstheseawardfaceofaniceshelforotherfloatingglacier. Itvariesinheightfrom2mto50mormoreabovesealevel. IceIsland Seaiceterminology.Describesalargepieceoffloatingiceprotrudingabout5metresabovesealevel,whichhas brokenawayfromanArcticiceshelf.Iceislandshaveathicknessof30mto50m,andanareaofafewthousand squaremetresupto500sq.kmormore.Theyareusuallycharacterizedbyaregularlyrollingsurfacegivinga ribbedappearancefromtheair. IceIslandFragment

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Seaiceterminology,describingapieceofaniceislandthathasbrokenawayfromthemainmass. IceJam Seaiceterminologythatdescribesanaccumulationofbrokenrivericeorseaicewhichisnotmoving,duetoa physicalrestrictionanditsresistancetopressure. IceKeel Seaiceterminologywhichdescribesadownwardprojectingridgeontheundersideoftheicecanopythe submergedcounterpartofaridge.Icekeelsmayextendtoasmuchas50metresbelowthesurface. IceLimit Seaiceterminology.Aclimatologytermthatreferstotheextrememinimumorextrememaximumextentofthe iceedgeinanygivenmonthorperiod,basedonobservationsoveranumberofyears.Thistermshouldalwaysbe precededbyminimumormaximum. IceMassif Seaiceterminologythatdescribesavariableaccumulationofpackorveryclosepack,coveringhundredsof squarekilometresandfoundinthesameregioneverysummer. IceMotionProcesses Seaiceterminology. Includestheterms: 1)Diverging 2)Compacting 3)Shearing IcePatch Seaiceterminology,meaninganareaoficewhichislessthan10kmacross. IcePellets Tinyparticlesoficethatareformedwhensupercooledraindropsfreezebeforereachingtheground. IceRind Seaiceterminology.Describesabrittle,shinycrustoficeformedonaquietsurfacebydirectfreezing,orfrom greaseice,usuallyinwateroflowsalinitywithathicknessofabout5centimetres.Easilybrokenbywindor swell,itcommonlybreaksintorectangularpieces. IceShelf Seaiceterminology.Describesafloatingicesheetofconsiderablethicknessthatisvisible2metresormore abovesealevel,andisattachedtothecoast.Theyusuallyhavegreathorizontalextension,andalevelorgently rollingsurface.Iceshelfgrowthoccurswithannualsnowaccumulation,andalsobytheextensionoflandglaciers oversee.Limitedareasoftheiceshelfmaybeattachedtoland.Theedgefacingtheseaistermedasicefront. IceStream Seaiceterminology.Describesthepartofaninlandicesheetinwhichtheiceflowsmorerapidlyandnot necessarilyinthesamedirectionasthesurroundingice. IceSurfaceFeatures

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Seaiceterminology. Includestheterms: 1)LevelIce 2)DeformedIce 3)IceDeformationProcesses 4)IceMotionProcesses IceUnderPressure Seaiceterminologydescribingiceinwhichthedeformationprocessesareactivelyoccurring.Thisformoficeis alsoapotentialimpedimentordangertoshipping. IceWall Seaiceterminologythatdescribesanicecliffformingattheseawardmarginofaglacierwhichisaground. Iceberg Seaiceterminology.Alarge,massivepieceoffloatingorstrandedglaciericeofanyshapedetached(calved)from thefrontofaglacierintoabodyofwater.Anicebergextendsmorethan5mabovesealevelandhasthegreater partofitsmass(4/5to8/9)belowsealevel. IcebergLimit Seaiceterminology,meaningthelimitatanygiventimebetweeniceoflandoriginandtheopenseaorseaice. IcebergTongue Seaiceterminologydescribingamajoraccumulationoficebergsthatareprojectingtowardthecoast,heldin placebygroundingandjoinedtogetherbyfastice. IceBound Seaiceterminology.Aharbour,inlet,etc.issaidtobeiceboundwhenshipscannotnavigatewithinitduetothe ice.Insomecases,navigationispossiblewiththeassistanceofanicebreaker. Icefoot Seaiceterminologydescribinganarrowfringeoficeattachedtothecoast,unmovedbytidesandremainingafter thefasticehasmovedaway. Iceport Seaiceterminologydescribingabayofice,oftenofatemporarynature,whereshipscanmooralongsideand unloaddirectlyontotheiceitself. IntermittentRain Rainthatstartsandstopsrepeatedly,althoughnotasabruptorasfrequentasshowers. Isobar Alineconnectingpointsofequalpressureonamap. IssueTime Thetimeatwhichanalerthasbeentransmittedbyaforecaster.

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JammedBrashBarrier Seaiceterminology.Describesastripornarrowbeltofnew,youngorbrashiceusually100mto5000macross, formedattheedgeofeitherfloatingorfastice,orattheshore.Heavilycompacted,mostlyduetowindaction,a jammedbrashbarriermayextend2mto20mbelowthesurface JetStream Relativelystrongwinds,concentratedwithinanarrowbandintheupperatmosphere.

K
KillingFrost

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Afrostsevereenoughtodestroyannualplantsandnewgrowthontrees(inthespring),ortoendthegrowing season(inthefall). Kilopascal TheinternationallyrecognizedunitusedbytheEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)for measuringatmosphericpressure. Knot Theunitofspeedusedinthemarineenvironment,whichisequalone(1)nauticalmileperhour.One(1)knot equals1.852kilometresperhour.

L
LaNia

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AnextensivecoolingofthewatersinthetropicaleasternPacificOcean.ItistheclimaticoppositeoftheElNio. LabradorCurrent Acold,strongoceancurrentflowingparalleltotheeastcoastofLabrador. LakeIce Seaiceterminologydescribingiceformedonalake,regardlessofwhereitendsup. LandBreeze Thiscoastalbreezeblowsfromthelandtothesea,lakeorriver,andusuallyoccursatnightwhenthe temperatureofthewaterisoftenwarmerthanthenearbyland.Thewaterheatstheairabove,whichrisesandis replacedbycoolerairfromtheland.(Seealsoseabreeze) Landfall Whentheeye,orphysicalcentreofthehurricane,reachesacoastlineitissaidtomakelandfall. LargeIceField Seaiceterminologydescribinganicefieldthatisover20kilometresacross. LargeIceberg Seaiceterminologythatdescribesapieceofglaciericeextending46mto75mabovesealevel,andwitha lengthof121mto200m. LatentHeat Heatthatisstoredinwatervapourintheatmosphere.Whenwatervapourrises,coolsandcondensesintoliquid

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water,itreleasesthisheatintothesurroundingatmosphere.Thisisthedrivingmechanismfortropicalcyclones. Lead Seaiceterminologydescribinganyfractureorpassagewaythroughice,whichisnavigablebysurfacevessels. Leadtime Thedifferencebetweenthetimethatanalertisissued,andtheactualeventtime. Leeward Atermthatmeans,issituatedawayfromthewindinotherwords,downwindandoppositeofwindward. LevelIce Seaiceterminologydescribingicethatisunaffectedbydeformation. LightNilas Seaiceterminologydescribinganilaswhichismorethan5cminthicknessandlighterincolourthandarknilas. LightWind Windspeedof11knots(20km/h)orless,withaBeaufortwindforceof0to4. Lightning Generally,anyandallofthevariousformsofvisibleelectricaldischargethatareproducedbythunderstormsoften seenasabrightflashoflightinthesky. LightningFlash Ascientifictermusedtodescribelightning,whichconsistsofmorethanoneindividualstrokeoflightning(andas manyas20singlelightningstrokeswithinasingleflash).Thiscausestheflickeringeffectthatissometimes seeninlightning. LightningFlashDensity Thenumberoflightningflashesdetectedpersquareunitofarea(usuallypersquarekilometreormile)andunitof time. LightningStrike Anothertermforcloudtogroundlightning. LightningStroke Ascientifictermusedtodescribeasingledischargeoflightning.Therecanbemanyindividualstrokesoflightning withinasinglelightningflash. LimitofallknownIce Seaiceterminologythatdescribesthelimitatanygiventimebetweenicebergsand/orseaiceinfestedwaters, andicefreewaters. LineSqualls Squallswhichoccuralongalineorwithinanelongatedarea,suchasanorganizedareaofsquallsinthevicinity ofacoldfront. Low

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Regionoftheatmospherewherethepressuresarelow,relativetothoseinthesurroundingregionatthesame level.IntheNorthernHemisphere,windsaroundalowmoveinacounterclockwisefashion.

M
MaximumIcebergLimit

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Seaiceterminology,describingthemaximumlimitoficebergs,basedonobservationsoveraperiodofyears. MeanIceEdge Seaiceterminologythatdescribestheaveragepositionofaniceedgeinanygivenmonthorperiod,basedon observationsoveranumberofyears.Othertermswhichmaybeusedaremeanmaximumiceedge,andmean minimumiceedge. MeanIcebergLimit Seaiceterminology.Describestheaveragepositionofthelimitoficebergsatanygiventime,basedon observationsoveranumberofyears. MedianIceEdge Seaiceterminologydescribingthepositionoftheiceedge,whereitsfrequencyofoccurrenceis50percent. MedianIcebergLimit Seaiceterminologydescribingthepositionwherethehistoricalorstatisticalfrequencyofoccurrenceofthe iceberglimitis50percent. MediumFirstyearIce Seaiceterminologymeaningicethatis70cmto120cmthick. MediumIceField Seaiceterminologymeaninganicefieldthatis15kmto20kmacross. MediumIceberg Seaiceterminologymeaningapieceofglaciericeextending16mto45mabovesealevel,andwithalengthof 61mto120metres. MediumLakeIce Seaiceterminologymeaningicethatis15to30cmthick. Mesopause Topofthemesospheresituatedatabout8085kmaboveEarthssurface.Itcorrespondstothelevelonminimum temperature. Mesosphere Regionoftheatmosphere,situatedbetweenthestratopauseandthemesopause,inwhichthetemperature generallydecreaseswithheight. Millibar Aunitforexpressingtheatmosphericpressure.Averageglobalsealevelpressureisabout1013millibars(101.3 kilopascals). MinimumIcebergLimit

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Seaiceterminologythatdescribestheminimumlimitoficebergsbasedonobservationsoveraperiodofyears. Mist Verysmalltomicroscopicsizedwaterdropletsthataresuspendedintheatmosphere,usuallyinassociationwith precipitation,andcausingobstructiontovisibilityfromonehalf(1/2)tofive(5)nauticalmiles,inclusive. ModerateWind Windspeedof12to19knotsinclusive,withaBeaufortwindforceof4to5. MultiyearIce Seaiceterminologythatdescribesoldicewhichhassurvivedatleasttwosummersworthofmelt.Hummocks aresmootheronmultiyearicethanonsecondyearice,andtheiceisalmostsaltfree.Wherebare,thisiceis usuallyblueincolour.Themeltpatternconsistsoflarge,interconnecting,irregularpuddlesandawelldeveloped drainagesystem.

N
NauticalMile

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Theunitofdistanceusedinthemarineenvironment.One(1)nauticalmileisequalto1.852kilometres. NewIce Seaiceterminology.Thisisageneraltermforrecentlyformedicewhichincludesfrazilice,greaseice,slush,and shuga.Thesetypesoficearecomposedoficecrystalswhichareonlyweaklyfrozentogether(ifatall)andhavea definiteformonlywhiletheyareafloat. NewLakeIce Seaiceterminologydescribingrecentlyformedice,whichislessthan5cmthick. NewRidge Seaiceterminologythatdescribesaridgewithsharppeaksandsidesthathasaslopeof40degreesormore. Nilas Seaiceterminology.Describesathin,elasticcrustofgraycoloredicethatisformedonacalmsea,andiseasily bentbywavesandthrustintoapatternofinterlockingfingers(knownasfingerrafting).Nilashasamattesurface, isupto10cminthickness,andmaybesubdividedintodarknilasandlightnilas. Nip Seaiceterminology.Iceissaidtonipwhenitforciblypressesagainstaship.Whenavesseliscaughtinthis way,thoughundamaged,itissaidtohavebeennipped. Normal Thelongtermaveragevalueofaclimateelementforacertainarea,averagedovera30yearperiod.Elementscan includetemperature,precipitation,hoursofsunshine,etc. NormalHigh Theclimatologicalaveragehightemperatureforagivenday. NormalLow Theclimatologicalaveragelowtemperatureforagivenday.

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O
OldIce

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Seaiceterminologydescribingseaicewhichhassurvivedatleastonesummersmelt.Thesurfaceofoldiceis generallysmootherthanfirstyearice.Oldicemaybesubdividedintosecondyeariceandmultiyearice. OpenDrift Seaiceterminologywhichdescribesfloatingiceinwhichtheconcentrationis4/10to6/10,withmanyleadsand polynyas.Floesaregenerallynotincontactwithoneanotherinopendrift. OpenWater Seaiceterminologydescribingalargeareaoffreelynavigablewaterinwhichiceispresent,withaconcentration lessthan1/10.Inopenwaternoiceoflandoriginispresent. OpeningsintheIce Seaiceterminology. Includestheterms: 1)MediumFracture 2)LargeFracture 3)Crack 4)TideCrack 5)Flaw 6)Lead 7)ShoreLead 8)FlawLead 9)Polynya 10)ShorePolynya 11)FlawPolynya 12)RecurringPolynya OtherSurfaceFeatureDefinitions Seaiceterminology. Includestheterms: 1)StandingFloe 2)Ram 3)BareIce 4)SnowCoveredIce 5)Sastrugi 6)Snowdrift Outlook Atermusedbymeteorologiststorefertoanticipatedweatherconditionsinthefuture.Usually,anoutlookcovers aperiodoftimethatgoesbeyondanormalforecast.

P
PancakeIce

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Seaiceterminology.Describes(predominantly)circularpiecesoficethatare30cmto3mindiameterandupto 10cminthickness,whichhaveraisedrimsduetothepiecesstrikingagainstoneanother.Pancakeicemayform

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onaslightswellfromgreaseice,shugaorslush,orasaresultofthebreakingoficerind,nilasor,undersevere conditionsofswellorwaves,fromgreyice. Perigee(Lunar) ThepointinthemoonsorbitthatisclosesttotheEarth.Oppositeofapogee. Period Thetimebetweentwosuccessivecrestsortroughsofawave. PinnacledIceberg Seaiceterminologythatdescribesanicebergthathasacentralspireorpyramid.Thispyramidcanhaveoneor morespires. PolarLow Anintensestormsystemthatusuallyformsinpolarregionsduringoutbreaksofverycoldair,overrelatively warmeroceanwaters.Typicallyspanningfrom400to800kilometresacross,andusuallyexistingforonlyoneor twodays,polarlowscanresultinsevereblizzardlikeconditions,withheavysnowandgalesforcewindsover affectedmarineareas. PolarorbitingSatellite Asatellitewhoseorbitcloselyparallelstheearth'smeridianlines,andthuscrossesthepolarregionsoneach orbit. Polynya Seaiceterminology.Describesanynonlinearshapedopeningthatisenclosedbyice.Maycontainbrashice and/orbecoveredwithnewice,nilasoryoungice.Submarinersrefertopolynyasasskylights. PostTropicalStorm Astormsystemthatusedtobetropicalbuthassincelostmostofitstropicalcharacteristics.Sincetheremnant systemmayormaynotbeanextratropicalcyclone(atermsetasideforaspecificbreedofcyclone),theterm posttropicalisagoodwayofcontinuingtheuseofthestormname.Thisisimportantbecausestormswitha tropicalpedigreeseldomlosealloftheirtropicalcharacteristics,suchasintenserainfallsandhighwindgusts. Precipitation Precipitationisaliquidorsolidformofwaterfallingfromtheatmospheretotheearth'ssurface.Examplesinclude rain,freezingrain,hail,andsnow. PredictedAstronomicalTide Theheightoftidesatvariouslocationsandtimes,basedsolelyonastronomicalcalculations.Thesearethe valuesprintedintidetables.Thesevaluesdonotaccountforeffectssuchaswind,atmosphericpressure,or waves. PrevailingWinds Thewinddirectionmostfrequentlyobservedduringagivenperiodoftime. Puddle Seaiceterminologythatdescribesanaccumulationofwateronice,mainlyduetomeltingsnow.However,inthe moreadvancedstagespuddlescanalsobeduetothemeltingofice.

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Radar RadarisanacronymforRadioDetectionAndRanging.Itisusedinthemeteorologicalenvironmenttodetectand locatethepresenceofcloudsandprecipitation. RaftedIce Seaiceterminology,describingatypeofdeformedice,formedbyonepieceoficeoverridinganother. Rafting Seaiceterminologydescribingthepressureprocesswherebyonepieceoficeoverridesanother.Mostcommon innewandyoungice. Rain Moisturecondensedfromatmosphericvapourthatfallstoearthindrops. RainfallWarning AwarningissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)forahazardous,prolongedorintense shortdurationofrainfall.Itmaybeamajorfactorinthecauseofdisasters,suchasfloods,flashfloods,and landslides. Ram Seaiceterminology.Describesanunderwaterprotrudingpieceoficethathascomefromanicewall,icefront, icebergorfloe.Itsformationisusuallyduetoamoreintensivemeltinganderosionoftheunsubmergedpart. RecurringPolynya Seaiceterminologyforapolynyawhichrecursinthesamepositioneveryyear. RelativeHumidity(alsocalledHumidity) Relativehumidityistheratioofwatervapourintheairatagiventemperature,tothemaximumamountwhich couldexistatthattemperature.Itisusuallyexpressedasapercentage. Ridge Anelongatedatmosphericareaofrelativelyhighpressure,extendingfromthecentreofahighpressureregionthe oppositeofatrough. Ridge(Ice) Seaiceterminologydescribingalineorwallofbrokeniceforcedupbypressurethatmaybefreshorweathered. Alsoseeicekeel. RidgedIce Seaiceterminologydescribingicethatispiledhaphazardly,onepieceoveranotherintheformofridgesorwalls. Usuallyfoundinfirstyearice. RidgedIceZone Seaiceterminologythatdescribesanareaofmanyridgeswithsimilarcharacteristics. Ridging Seaiceterminologythatdescribesthepressureprocessbywhichiceisforcedintoridges. RiverIce

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Seaiceterminologythatdescribesicethatisformedonariver,regardlessofwhereitisobserved. RottenIce Seaiceterminologythatdescribesicewhichhasbecomehoneycombedandisinanadvancedstateof disintegration.

S
SaffirSimpsonHurricaneScale

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TheSaffirSimpsonHurricaneScaleisaclassificationsystemusedforWesternHemispheretropicalcyclones thatexceedtheintensitiesoftropicaldepressionsandtropicalstorms. Scalenumbersrangefrom1to5. Category1:Maximumsustainedwindsofatleast64knots(118km/h). Category2:Maximumsustainedwindsofatleast83knots(154km/h). Category3:Maximumsustainedwindsofatleast96knots(178km/h). Category4:Maximumsustainedwindsofatleast114knots(210km/h). Category5:Maximumsustainedwindsofatleast136knots(250km/h). Sastrugi Seaiceterminology.Describessharp,irregularridgesformedonasnowsurfacebywinderosionandsnow accumulation.Onfloatingice,theridgesareparalleltothedirectionofthewindthatwaspresentatthetimethey wereformed. SeaBreeze Thisisthebreezewhichblowsfromtheseaoralargelake,totheland.Thebreezeissetoffwhenthe temperatureofthelandishigherthanthetemperatureofthewater.Thelandheatstheairabove,whichrises,and itisthenreplacedbythecoolerairfromoverthewater.(Oppositetothelandbreeze). SeaFog Fogwhichformsinthelowerpartofarelativelymoistandwarmairmassasitmovesoverarelativelycoolerwater surface.Thisprocesscoolsthewatervapourtosuchanextentthatitcondensesintothesuspendedwater dropletsthatcreatethefog.Itreducesvisibilitytolessthanonehalf(1/2)nauticalmiles.(Seealsoadvectionfog). SeaIce Seaiceterminologydescribinganyformoficefoundatsea,whichhasoriginatedfromthefreezingofwater. SeaSmoke Afogthatformswhenanoutbreakofcoldairsettlesoveranexpanseofopen,relativelywarmerwater,reducing visibilitytolessthan1kilometre.Alsoknownassteamfog.(Seealsoarcticseasmoke,andadvectionfogorsea fog) SeaState Overallstateofagitationofalargeexpanseofoceanorseaduetothecombinedeffectsofwindgeneratedwaves, swellwaves,andsurfacecurrents. SecondyearIce

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Seaiceterminology.Describesoldicewhichhassurvivedonlyonesummersmelt.Thickerthanfirstyearice,it standshigheroutofthewater.Incontrasttomultiyearice,summermeltingofsecondyeariceproducesa regularpatternofnumeroussmallpuddles.Inthiscase,barepatchesandpuddlesareusuallygreenishblue. SevereThunderstormWatch AwatchissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)thatoutlinesawatchzonewhere conditionsarefavourableforthedevelopmentofthunderstorms,someofwhichhavethepotentialtobecome severethunderstorms. SevereThunderstormWarning AwarningissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)whenatleastonethunderstormthat produceshaillargeenoughtocausedamage(atleast2cmindiameter),heavyrain,and/ordamagingwinds,is imminent.Thisisindicatedbyradarand/orobservationreports. Shearing Seaiceterminology.Anareaoffloatingiceissubjecttoshearwhentheicemotionvariessignificantlyfromits maindirection,subjectingtheicetorotationalforces.Theseforcesmayresultinphenomenasimilartoaflaw. Shoal Aplacewherethedepthofwaterisshallow,especiallywheretheseafloorisvisibleatlowtide. ShoreLead Seaiceterminologymeaningaleadbetweeniceandtheshore,orbetweeniceandanicefront. ShorePolynya Seaiceterminologydescribingapolynyabetweeniceandthecoast,orbetweeniceandanicefront. Shower Precipitationthatischaracterizedbythesuddennesswithwhichitstartsandstops,byitsrapidchangesin intensity,andusuallybytherapidchangesintheappearanceofthesky. Shuga Seaiceterminologymeaninganaccumulationofspongywhiteicelumpsthathaveadiameterofafew centimetersacross.Shugaareformedfromgreaseiceorslush,andsometimesfromanchoricerisingtothe surface. SkyandAirIndications Seaiceterminology. Includes: 1)WaterSky 2)IceBlink 3)FrostSmoke Skylight Seaiceterminology.Describesthethinplacesinanicecanopy,usuallylessthan1meterthick,thatappearfrom belowaslight,translucentpatchesindarksurroundings.Theundersurfaceofskylightsarenormallyflat.Theyare termedsmallorlargeiftheyarebigenoughforasubmarinetoattempttosurfacethroughthem(120meterswide ormore)theyqualifyaslarge.

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Slush Seaiceterminologydescribingsnowwhichissaturatedandmixedwithwateronland,onicesurfaces,orasa thickfloatingmassinwater,afteraheavysnowfall. SmallIceCake Seaiceterminologythatdescribesanicecakethatislessthan2metersacross. SmallIceField Seaiceterminologythatdescribesanicefieldthatis10kmto15kmacross. SmallIceberg Seaiceterminologythatdescribesapieceofglaciericeextending5mto15mabovesealevel,andwithalength of15mto60meters. Smoke Suspensionintheatmosphereofsmallparticles,whichareproducedbyfire. Snow Precipitationoficecrystals,isolatedoraspartofacluster,fallingfromacloud. SnowGrains Minute,whiteandopaquegrainsofice.Whentheyhithardground,theydonotbounceorshatter.Theyusually fallinverysmallquantities,andneverintheformofashower. SnowPellets Snowpelletsarebrittleandeasilycrushedwhentheyfallonhardground,theybounceandoftenbreakup.They alwaysoccurinshowers.Theyareoftenaccompaniedbysnowflakesorraindrops,whenthesurface temperatureisaroundzeroCelsius. SnowSquall Amoderatetoheavysnowflurry,whichisdrivenbystrong,gustywinds.Visibilityduringsnowsquallsisusually poor. SnowSquallWarning AwarningissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)forlocalized,limitedduration,intense snowfallthatreducesvisibilitysignificantlyandmaybeaccompaniedbystrong,gustywindsand(insomecases) lightning.Theseweatherconditionsareproducedbythepassageofcoldairoveranopenbodyofwater(open watersquall)orthepassageofacoldfront(frontalsnowsquall).Localsnowaccumulationsmaybesignificant duringthistypeofevent. Snowbelt Areaswhereprevailingonshorewindsareresponsibleforheavysnowfallisknownasasnowbelt,andusually referstoregionssoutheastofopenwater. SnowCoveredIce Seaiceterminologymeaningicethatiscoveredwithsnow. Snowdrift Seaiceterminology.Describesanaccumulationofwindblownsnowthatisdepositedintheleeofanobstacle.A crescentshapedsnowdrift,withendspointingdownwind,iscalledasnowbarchan.

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SnowfallWarning AwarningissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)foranexpectedsnowfallthatisheavy enoughtocausesignificantinconvenienceandhazardousconditions. SpecialMarineWarning AwarningissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)towarnmarinersofanyundefined marineweatherphenomenonthatcouldposeahazardtomarinenavigationorsafety. SpecialMarineWatch AwatchissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)tonotifymarinersthatconditionsare favourableforthedevelopmentofanyundefinedmarineweatherphenomenonthatcouldposeahazardtomarine navigationorsafety. SpecialWeatherStatement AtypeofalertfromEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)where: (1)Awarningorwatchisnotwarrantedbecausetheexpectedconditionsarelessmenacingthanthoseofa warningor (2)Awarningorwatchisnotyetpracticaltoissuebecauseofthehighdegreeofuncertaintyofoccurrence, locationand/ortimingofthepossiblehazardouscondition(s). Aspecialweatherstatementcanbeusedtodescribeanyhazard(unlikeanadvisory).Thestatementsdonot haveaformalineffectstatus,sincethereisnorequirementtoupdateorendthem. Spicule Aspikeoficethathasneedlelikecrystals,whichisformedduringthefreezingofwater. SpiralRainBands Bandsofthunderstormsandintenserainthatwraparoundahurricane. Squall Anatmosphericphenomenoncharacterizedbyanabruptandlargeincreaseofwindspeedwithinadurationof minutes,thatsuddenlydiminishes.Squallsareusuallyassociatedwiththunderstorms,andassuchareoften accompaniedbyheavyshowers,thunder,andlightning. SquallWarning AwarningissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)forforecastorobservedwindgustsof 34knotsorgreater,thatareassociatedwithaline,oranorganizedarea,ofthunderstorms.(Seealsosquall) SquallWatch AwatchissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)togiveadvancenoticeofconditionsthat arefavourableforthedevelopmentofsqualls. StagesofDevelopmentofLakeIce Seaiceterminology. Thestagesare: 1)NewLakeIce 2)ThinLakeIce

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3)MediumLakeIce 4)ThickLakeIce 5)VeryThickLakeIce StagesofDevelopmentofSeaIce Seaiceterminology. Thestagesare: 1)NewIce 2)Nilas 3)YoungIce 4)FirstYearIce 5)OldIce StagesofMelting Seaiceterminology. Thestagesare: 1)Puddle 2)ThawHoles 3)DriedIce 4)RottenIce 5)FloodedIce

StandingFloe Seaiceterminologythatdescribesaseparatefloestandingverticallyorinclined,andenclosedbyrathersmooth ice. SteamFog(alsocalledActicSeaSmoke) AtypeoffogthatformswhenanoutbreakofcoldArcticairsettlesoveranexpanseofopen,relativelywarmer water(Seeseasmoke,arcticseasmokeandadvectionfog,orseafog) StormForceWind Windspeedof48to63knotsinclusive,withaBeaufortwindforceof10to11. StormSurge Thepositiveornegativedifferenceinsealevelfromthepredictedastronomicaltide,duetotheforcesofthe atmosphere.Thetwomainatmosphericcomponentsthatcontributetoastormsurgeareairpressureandwind. Deeplowpressuresystemscancreateadomeofwaterunderthestorm(muchlikethelowpressureinavacuum onacarpet).Highwindsalongacoastlinecanalsoelevatethewaterlevelsattheshore,dependingonthe directionofthewindwithrespecttothecoast.Forpowerfulstormslikehurricanes,theabnormallyhighwater levelsareduemostlytothehighwindsandhighwavesatthecoast. StormSurgeWarning AwarningissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)forabnormallyhighwaterlevelsand highwaves(stormsurge)causedbyastorm,expectedtobeasignificantthreattopublicsafetyandproperty becauseofthepotentialforcoastalflooding.

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StormTrack Thelineofmovement(knownaspropagation)ofthestorm'scentrethroughanarea. StormWarning AwarningissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)ifwindspeedofbetween48and63 knotsinclusive,isforecastorobservedoveramarinearea. StrandedIce Seaiceterminologydescribingicewhichhadbeenfloatingandisthendepositedontheshorebyretreatinghigh water. Stratopause Aboundaryorzoneoftransitionseparatingthestratosphereandthemesosphereitmarksareversalof temperaturechangewithaltitude.Itislocatedattheheightofroughly50km. Stratosphere Theregionoftheatmosphereextendingfromthetopofthetroposphere(thetropopause),atheightof1017kmto thebaseofthemesosphere(thestratopause),ataheightofroughly50km. Stratus Generallygreycloudlayerwithafairlyuniformbase,whichmayproducedrizzle,iceprismsorsnowgrains. Stress Asurfaceforcemeasuredperunitarea,forexample,theforceduetothetransportofmomentumbyturbulentfluid motions. Strip Seaiceterminology.Describesalongnarrowareaofpack/driftice,aboutone(1)kmorlessinwidth,usually composedofsmallfragmentsdetachedfromthemainmassofice,whichruntogetherundertheinfluenceofwind, swellorcurrent. StrongWind Windspeedof20to33knotsinclusive,withaBeaufortwindforceof5to7. StrongWindWarning AwarningissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)ifawindspeedof20to33knots inclusive,isforecastorobservedovercoastalorinlandwaterbodiesduringtherecreationalboatingseason. Sublimation Theprocessbywhichsolidsaretransformeddirectlytothestateofvapourorviceversa,withoutpassingthrough theliquidphase. SubtropicalRidge Alargebeltofhighpressurelocatedaround30degreeslatitudeinbothhemispheres,andcharacterizedby mostlycalmwinds.Airflowsoutfromtheridgetowardtheupperandlowerlatitudesofeachhemisphere,creating boththetradewindsandthewesterlies. SubtropicalStorm Asubtropicalstormisacyclonethathascharacteristicsofbothatropicalstormandanextratropicalcyclone. SubtropicalCyclonescanforminwatersnormallytoocoolfortropicalcyclones,thereforetheyarenotas

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restrictedtothehurricaneseasonmonths.Withtime,thesubtropicalstormcanbecometropical. SuteWindsCapeBretonHighlands LesSuteisanAcadiansexpression,localtothewestcoastalhighlandsareaofCapeBretonIsland,andused todescribetheverystrongSoutheastwindscommontothatarea. Supercool Tocoolaliquid(i.e.water)belowitsfreezingpointwithoutsolidification(forexample,ice). Swell Undulatingmovementoftheseasurfacethatpersistsaftertheoriginatingcause(windgeneratedwaves)ofthe motionhasceased.

T
TabularIceberg

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Seaiceterminologydescribingaflattoppedicebergmosttabularicebergsshowhorizontalbanding. TargetLeadTime ThetargetleadtimeisEnvironmentCanadasservicegoalforthetimelinessofalerts.Thetargetleadtimeis intendedtoprovideenoughtimeforthepublictotakeappropriateactionwhenalertedofapredictedevent.Other factors,suchasthepredictabilityofanevent,andtheabilityofthepublicandmediatoreceivenoticeofthe message,mayinfluencetheactualleadtimesprovided. Temperature Inmeteorologicalterms,temperaturereferstothedegreeofheatorcoldoftheair,asmeasuredbya thermometer. TermsRelatedtoSubmarineNavigation Seaiceterminology. Includes: 1)IceCanopy 2)FriendlyIce 3)HostileIce 4)Bummock 5)IceKeel 6)Skylight

TermsRelatedtoSurfaceShipping Seaiceterminology. Includes: 1)Beset 2)IceBound 3)Nip 4)IceUnderPressure 5)DifficultArea 6)EasyArea 7)Iceport

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ThawHoles Seaiceterminologydescribingverticalholesintheicethatareformedwhensurfacepuddlesmeltthroughtothe underlyingwater. Thermosphere LayeroftheEarth'satmosphere,abovethemesopause,inwhichthetemperaturegenerallyincreaseswithheight. ThickFirstyearIce Seaiceterminologywhichdescribesicethatisbetween30cmto70cmthick. ThickLakeIce Seaiceterminologywhichdescribesicethatisbetween30cmto70cmthick. ThinFirstyearIce/WhiteIceFirstStage Seaiceterminologywhichdescribesicethatis30cmto50cmthick. ThinFirstyearIce/WhiteIceSecondStage Seaiceterminologywhichdescribesicethatis50cmto70cmthick. ThinLakeIce Seaiceterminologywhichdescribesicethatis5cmto15cmthick. Thunder Thesoundthatresultsfromtheformationoflightning.Thisburstoflightningexpandsairaroundit,producingan effectsimilartoanexplosion,thuscreatingthenoise. Thunderstorm Alocalstorm,usuallyproducedbyacumulonimbuscloud,andalwaysaccompaniedbythunderandlightning. Tide Sealevelinstability/movementinanapproximatelydailyortwicedailyperiod.Themovementiscausedbythe differenceofthegravitationalattractionbetweencelestialbodiesandthecentrifugalaccelerationoftheirrotation, andisperiodicbecauseitisrelatedtothemotionofthesun,earth,andmoon. TideCrack Seaiceterminology.Describesthecrackatthelineofjunctionbetweenanimmovableicefootoricewall,and fastice.Thefasticebeingsubjecttoriseandfallofthetide. Tongue Seaiceterminologymeaninganextensionoftheiceedgeuptoseveralkilometresinlength,causedbywindor current. Tornado Tornadoesarereferredtoasfunnelcloudsuntiltheytouchtheground.Theyarespawnedbysevere thunderstorms,andareviolent,funnelshapedwindvortexesintheloweratmosphere,withupwardspirallingwinds ofhighspeeds. Thetornadousuallyappearsfromabulgeinthebaseofacumulonimbuscloud.Itcanbetenstohundredsof

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metreswideandhavealifespanofminutesorhours.Intermsofsizeandarea,itisoneoftheleastextensiveof allstorms,butintermsofhowviolentstormscanbe,itistheworld'smostsevere. MoretornadoesoccurintheUnitedStatesthaninanyothercountry.InCanada,tornadoesoccurmostlyonthe PrairiesandinSouthernOntario. TornadoWarning AwarningissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC),whenatleastonetornadoisimminent, asindicatedbyobservations,reportsand/orradarscans. TornadoWarning(Marine) AwarningissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC),whentornadoesareforecastor observedoveralocalizedmarinearea,orwhenanexistingtornadoismovingfromlandtoanadjacentmarine area. TornadoWatch AwatchissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)whenseverethunderstormsareforecast, andconditionsarefavourableforoneormoretornadoestobespawnedfromthosethunderstormswithinadefined watchzone. TornadoWatch(Marine) AwatchissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)togiveadvancenoticeofconditionsthat arefavourableforthelocalizeddevelopmentoftornadoesover,orinthevicinityofamarinearea. ToweringCumulusClouds Cauliflowershapedcloudsassociatedwithintermittenttypeprecipitation(showers).Theymayappeartobetall andtowering,ortallandbroad,andcaneitherbeisolated,orgrowfromagroupoflowercloudcalledcumulus. TradeWinds(alsocalledTropicalEasterlies) Thebeltsofwindoneithersideoftheequator,blowingfromthenortheastintheNorthernHemisphere,andfrom thesoutheastintheSouthernHemisphere.Inbothhemispheresthewindsbecomemoreeasterlythecloserthey aretotheequator. TropicalCyclone Thegenerictermfortheclassoftropicallowpressuresystems,includingtropicaldepressions,tropicalstorms, andhurricanes. Thesenonfrontalcyclonesoriginateovertropicalorsubtropicalwaters,andareidentifiedbytheirorganized showersandthundershowers,mixedwithacyclonicsurfacewindcirculation.Theyareunlikeextratropical cyclonesinthattheyaregenerallysymmetricintheirtemperature,rainandwindpatterns. Therainfallintropicalcyclonesisnotdependentontheintensityofthestorm.Thedrivingmechanismfora tropicalcycloneisthereleaseoflatentheat. Tropicalcyclonesystemstypicallylastaweekormore. TropicalCycloneInformationStatement RoutinebulletinsissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasCanadianHurricaneCentre(CHC)whenatropicalcyclone couldbringhighwindsorseastoCanadianwatersorhighwinds,heavyrain,dangerouscoastalwaves,or coastalstormsurgestoCanadianterritorywithinthenext72hours.

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TropicalDepression Atropicalcyclonewithmaximumsustainedsurfacewindsof37to62km/h.Itdoesnottypicallyhavethe organizationorthespiralshapeofthemorepowerfulstorms.Whenatropicalcyclonereachesthisstageitis givenanumbersothatitcanbebetterrecognized. TropicalDisturbance Anorganizedregionofshowersandthunderstormsinthetropics,generally200kmto600kmindiameter,that maintainsitsidentityforatleast24hoursbutdoesnothaveacircularwindcirculation. TropicalEasterlies(alsocalledTradeWinds) Thebeltsofwindoneithersideoftheequator,blowingfromthenortheastintheNorthernHemisphere,andfrom thesoutheastintheSouthernHemisphere.Inbothhemispheresthewindsbecomemoreeasterlythecloserthey aretotheequator. TropicalStorm Atropicalcyclonewithmaximumsustainedsurfacewindsof63to117km/h.Whenatropicalcyclonereaches thisstageitisgivenanamesothatitcanbebetterrecognized. TropicalStormWarning AwarningissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)indicatingthattropicalstorm conditions,includingpossiblesustainedwindswithintherange63km117km/h,areexpectedinspecifiedareas within24hoursorless.Bynature,atropicalstormwarningalsoimpliesthethreatoflocalfloodingfromheavy rainfall. TropicalStormWatch AwatchissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)foraspecificareathatatropicalstormor adevelopingtropicalstormposesapossiblethreatwithin36hours. TropicalWave(alsocalledEasterlyWaveorAfricanEasterlyWave) Atypeofatmospherictrough,orientedfromnorthtosouth,whichmovesfromeasttowestacrossthetropics causingareasofcloudinessandthunderstorms.Atropicalwavecandevelopintoatropicalcyclone. Tropopause Theboundarybetweenthetroposphereandthestratosphere,whereanabruptchangeinlapserateusuallyoccurs. Troposphere Thelowermostlayeroftheatmosphere,inwhichairtemperaturefallssteadilywithincreasingaltitude.The tropospherebeginsatgroundlevelandrangesinheightfromanaverageof11km(attheInternationalStandard Atmosphere)atthepolesto17kmattheequator. Trough Anelongatedareaofrelativelylowpressure,extendingfromthecentreofalowpressureregion.Itistheopposite ofaridge. Tsunami Agravitationalseawaveproducedbyanylargescale,shortdurationdisturbanceoftheoceanfloor.Itisoften causedbyashallowsubmarineearthquakebutcanalsobecausedbysubmarineearthmovement,subsidence, orvolcaniceruption Turbulence Theverticalmotionoftheair,attimesviolent,whichcancausetheupanddownmovementofaplane.

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Typhoon ThenamegiventohurricanesinthewesternNorthPacificOcean,westoftheInternationalDateLine.

U
Ultraviolet(UV)Radiation

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Invisibleelectromagneticradiationwithafrequencybetweenthatofvisiblevioletlightandxrays. Mostoftheultravioletcomponentofsunlightisabsorbedbytheozonelayeroftheatmosphere,howeverUVB radiationcancausesunburnandskincancer,andUVAradiationcancausephotosensitivityreactionsand possiblyskincancer. Unstable Aturbulent,convectivestateintheatmosphere,resultingfromarapiddecreaseinairtemperaturewiththe altitude. UTC UTCistheinternationalabbreviationforCoordinatedUniversalTime.ItisthelocaltimeattheGreenwichmeridian (0),situatedinUnitedKingdom.TheWorldMeteorologicalOrganization(WMO)hasadoptedtheUTCasthe standardtimeforuseinreportingofallmeteorologicaldata.TimesinUTCsometimesgetthesuffix"Z",i.e.16Z. Fromthe"Z"suffixcamethemnemonic"Zulu"(asusedininternationalmarinecommunicationsstandards).

V
VeeringWind

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Aclockwisechangeinwinddirection.Forexample,fromsoutheasttosouthwest,throughsouth.Itistheopposite ofbackingwind. VerticalWindShear Theconditionproducedbyachangeinwindvelocity(speedand/ordirection)withheight.Verticalwindshearcan weakenordestroyatropicalcyclone,byinterferingwithitssymmetricnatureandorganization. VeryClosePack/Drift Seaiceterminologythatdescribesfloatingiceinwhichtheconcentrationisfrom9/10tolessthan10/10. VeryLargeIceberg Seaiceterminology.Describesapieceofglaciericethatextendsmorethan75mabovesealevel,andhasa lengthofmorethan200metres. VeryOpenDrift Seaiceterminologydescribingiceinwhichtheconcentrationis1/10to3/10andwaterdominatesoverice. VeryThickLakeIce Seaiceterminologydescribinglakeicethatisgreaterthan70cmthick. VeryWeatheredRidge Seaiceterminologydescribingaridgewithtopsveryrounded.Theslopeofitssidesisusuallyfrom20to30 degrees.

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Virga Wispsorstreaksofprecipitationthatevaporatebeforereachingtheground. Visibility Thegreatestdistanceatwhichablackobjectofsuitabledimensionscanbeseenandrecognizedagainstthe horizonskyduringdaylight.Itcouldalsobeseenandrecognizedduringthenightifthegeneralilluminationwere raisedtothenormaldaylightlevel.

W
WarmFront Atransitionzonewhereacoldairmassretreatsandisreplacedbyawarmairmass. Warning

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AtypeofalertissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC),whereahazardousweatheror environmentaleventthatposesasignificantthreattopublicsafetyandpropertyiscertainorimminent. Watch AtypeofalertissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC),whereconditionsarefavourablefor thedevelopmentofweatheroranenvironmentalhazardthatposesasignificantthreattopublicsafetyand property,buttheoccurrence,location,and/ortimingoftheexpectedhazardouscondition(s)isstilltoouncertain toissueawarning.Itisintendedtoheightenpublicawarenessofthepotentialimpactoftheevent,andservesas aleaduptoawarning. WaterSky Seaiceterminology.Itdescribesdarkstreaksontheundersideoflowclouds,indicatingthepresenceofwater features,inthevicinityofice. Waterspout Amarineweatherphenomenonconsistingofawhirlwind,orvortex,revealedbythepresenceofarotatingcloud columnorinvertedcloudcone(funnelcloud),extendingdownwardfromthebaseofaCumuliformcloud,witha haloofsprayraisedinthevicinityofwherethebaseofvortexmakescontactwiththewatersurface.Thediameter ofaWaterspoutmayrangefrom7mto20m,withwindspeedsrangingfrom40to80km/h,or22to43knots. Waterspoutsusuallylastfor10minutesorless,andoccurmostfrequentlyfrommidsummertomidfall.They havealocalized,ratherthanwidespread,impactonthemarineareaoverwhichtheydevelop. WaterspoutWarning AwarningissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)whenwaterspoutsareforecastor observedoveramarinearea. WaterspoutWatch AwatchissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)togiveadvancenoticewhenconditions arefavourableforthedevelopmentofwaterspoutsoveramarinearea. WaveHeight Theverticaldistancebetweenthetroughandcrestofawave. WavePeriod Thetimeittakesfortwosuccessivewavecreststopassafixedpoint. Wavelength

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Thedistancebetweentwosuccessivecrestsortroughsofawave. Weather Theconditionofthetroposphere(loweratmosphere)atanyparticulartimeandplace. WeatherandMeteorology Meteorologyisthesciencethatstudiestheprocessesandphenomenaoftheatmosphere.Weatheristhestate oftheatmosphereatagiventimeandplacewithregardtotemperature,atmosphericpressure,humidity,wind, cloudiness,andprecipitation.Thetermweatherisusedmostlyforconditionsovershortperiodsoftime. WeatherSummary AbulletinissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC),whichcontainsaposteventsummary ofaweatherevent,especiallyonethathasreceivedsignificantmediaattention. WeatheredRidge Seaiceterminologydescribingaridgewithpeaksslightlyrounded,andslopeofitssidesthatisusually30to40 degrees.Individualfragmentsoficearenotvisible. Weathering Seaiceterminology.Describestheprocessesofablationandaccumulation,whichgraduallyeliminate irregularitiesinanicesurface. WedgedIceberg Seaiceterminology.Describesanicebergwhichisratherflatontop,withsteepverticalsidesononeend,sloping tolesssteepsidesontheotherend. Westerlies Thedominantwesttoeastmotionoftheatmosphere,centeredoverthemiddlelatitudesofbothhemispheres. Wind Thehorizontalmovementofair,relativetotheearth'ssurface. WindChill Chillthatresultsfromaspecificcombinationofwindspeedandairtemperature,expressedbythelossofbody heatinwattspersquaremetre(ofskin). WindChillIndex Indexusedtodeterminetherelativediscomfortresultingfromaspecificcombinationofwindspeedandair temperature,expressedbythelossofbodyheatinwattspersquaremetre(ofskin). WindShear Thechangeofwindspeedand/orwinddirectionoveragivendistance. WindWarning AwarningissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)forsustainedwindsofspeedsthat poseasignificantthreattopublicsafetyandproperty. Windward Windwardorupwind,isthedirectionfromwhichthewindisblowingtheoppositeofleeward.

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WinterStormWarning AwarningissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)foramajorsnowfall,orsignificant snowfallcombinedwithfreezingrain,strongwinds,blowingsnow,and/orextremewindchill.Themixofthese winterweatherconditionsposesathreattopublicsafetyandproperty.Winterstormconditionsarenot necessarilyrestrictedtothewinterseason,butmayoccurinthelateautumnandearlyspringaswell. WinterStormWatch AwatchissuedbyEnvironmentCanadasMeteorologicalService(MSC)inadvanceofawinterstormwarning,to alertthepublicofthepossibilityofapotentialwinterweatherstorm. WreckhouseWinds WreckhouseislocatedbetweenCapeRayandStAndrew'sinSouthwesternNewfoundland.Thisareais,at times,subjecttoextremelyviolentsoutheastwinds,whichhavebeenstrongenoughtoblowrailcarsofftheir tracks.

Y
YoungCoastalIce

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Seaiceterminology.Describestheinitialstageoffasticeformationconsistingofnilasoryoungiceitswidth varyingfromafewmetresupto200metresfromtheshoreline. YoungIce Seaiceterminologywhichdescribesiceinthetransitionstagebetweennilasandfirstyearice.Itisofbetween 10cmand30cminthickness,andmaybesubdividedintogreyiceandgreywhiteice.

DateModified: 20130225

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