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Glossary of Some Meteorological Terms 

Meteorological Terms Explanation
Absolute Maximum Highest value of the parameter ever recorded.
Absolute Minimum Lowest value of the parameter ever recorded.
Air Temperature Temperature read on a thermometer which is exposed to the air in a position sheltered from direct solar radiation.
Amount of Cloud Percentage of the sky covered by any type of cloud.
Bright Sunshine Period during which solar radiation reaches sufficient intensity to cast distinct shadows.
Day with Fog A day with fog reported at any time during the day.
Day with Lightning A day with lightning reported at any time during the day.
Day with Strong Monsoon Signal A day with Strong Monsoon Signal issued at any time during the day.
Day with Thunderstorm A day with thunderstorm reported at any time during the day.
Day with Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals A day with Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals issued at any time during the day.
Dew point Temperature Temperature to which air must be cooled at constant pressure and water vapor content in order that it shall be saturated with respect to water.
Diurnal Range Difference between the daily maximum and minimum readings.
Duration of Rainfall Duration of rainfall in an hour is the sum of the duration of precipitation recorded in an hour to the nearest 5 minutes. Duration for other periods is the sum of the hourly duration to the nearest whole hour.
Evaporation Amount of water evaporated into the atmosphere from a free water surface.
Global Solar Radiation Sum of direct solar radiation and diffuse sky radiation received by unit horizontal surface.
Maximum Air Temperature Instantaneous maximum reading of the air temperature recorded in a specified period.
Maximum Gust Peak value of wind speed recorded in a specified period.
Mean Daily Global Solar Radiation Average of the daily values of total global solar radiation in a specified period.
Mean Daily Maximum Air Temperature Average of the daily values of maximum air temperature in a specified period.
Mean Daily Minimum Air Temperature Average of the daily values of minimum air temperature in a specified period.
Minimum Air Temperature Instantaneous minimum reading of the air temperature recorded in a specified period.
Percentage of Possible Sunshine Percentage ratio of actual amount of bright sunshine to the total possible between sunrise and sunset.
Potential Evapotranspiration Maximum quantity of water capable of being lost, as water vapor, by a continuous stretch of vegetation covering the whole ground and well supplied with water.
Pressure Atmospheric pressure reduced to mean sea level.
Prevailing Wind Direction Wind direction which occurs more frequently than any other in a specified period.
Rainfall Thickness of the layer of water which accumulates on a horizontal surface, as the result of precipitation, in the absence of infiltration or evaporation
Reduced Visibility Visibility below 8 kilometres, when there is no fog, mist, or precipitation.
Relative Humidity Percentage ration of the actual vapour pressure in the air to the saturation vapour pressure with respect to water at the same temperature and pressure.
Sea Surface Temperature Temperature of the water of the surface layer of the sea.
Soil Temperature Temperature observed in the interior of the soil at different depths.
Thunderstorm One or more sudden electrical discharges manifested by a flash of light(lightning) and a sharp or rumbling sound(thunder). It is regarded to have ceased when no further thunder is heard in 10-15 minutes after the last audible thunder.
Wet-bulb Temperature Temperature read on a thermometer whose bulb is covered by a film of water or ice and which is exposed to the air in a position sheltered from direct solar radiation.
Wind Speed Horizontal movement of air per unit time.