Gamma
rays - a type of electromagnetic
radiation with a very short wavelength
and high Energy level. Generally, emitted
during radioactive decay of a substance.
Gas
- one of the three basic phases of matter; a gas can expand
indefinitely to completely fill its container
Gas
Constant - the proportionality constant in the equation of
state for ideal gases; for dry air, the gas constant is 287.054 joules
per kilogram per Kelvin
Gas
Laws - the thermodynamic laws pertaining to perfect
gases, including Boyle's law, Charles'
law, Dalton's law and the equation
of state
General
Circulation - the typical atmospheric weather patterns over
the earth
General
Circulation Model (GCM) - a type of numerical model
used in Numerical Weather Prediction
that represents a forecast of the long-term (e.g., months or years in
the future) changes in the atmosphere globally
Geostationary
Satellite - a satellite that orbits the earth at a height and
velocity which allows it to remain over a fixed place above the equator
Glacier
- a large body of ice moving slowly
down a slope or valley or spreading outward on a land surface
Glaciation
- the condition that exists when land is covered with glaciers
Global
Radiation - the total direct
solar radiation and diffuse sky radiation (e.g., that reflected or
scattered) received by surface of the earth
Global
Scale - the largest scale of planetary motion; covering all
or most of a latitude circle in horizontal extent
Gradient
- in general, the spatial change of a physical quantity (e.g.,
temperature)
Graupel
- snow pellets or soft sleet
Gravity
- in particular, the force imparted by the earth which tends
to draw all bodies in the earth's sphere of influence toward the center
of the earth
Graybody
- a hypothetical "body" that absorbs some constant fraction
of all electromagnetic radiation
incident upon it
Greenhouse
Effect - see atmospheric greenhouse
effect
Greenhouse
Gases - the gases that absorb terrestrial radiation and contribute
to the greenhouse effect; the main greenhouse gasses are water vapor,
methane, CO2 and ozone.
Greenwich
Mean Time (GMT) -
global time scale based on the local time observed on the Prime Meridian;
also called Zulu (Z) time or Universal
Coordinated Time (UTC)
Ground
Clutter - a pattern of radar echoes from fixed ground targets
(buildings, hills, etc.) near the radar. This
contamination is processed into the NEXRAD
base products (base reflectivity,
base velocity, and spectrum width) and
affects all derived products. Ground clutter is most prevalent close to
the radar at the lowest elevation slices. Ground clutter is always present
around the radar and is not the same as anomalous
propagation (AP), which occurs during certain atmospheric conditions.
Growing
Degree-Day - a form of degree-Day
used as a guide to determine the most appropriate time to plant and harvest
crops
Gulf
Stream - a warm, swift, relatively narrow
ocean current that flows along the east coast of the United States
Gust
Front - a boundary between cold air from
the thunderstorm
downdraft
and warm, humid surface air
Gustnado
(or Gustinado) - [Slang] a small tornado,
usually weak and short-lived, that occurs along the gust
front of a thunderstorm
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