M
m2/s2: meters squared per second squared, equivalent to J/kg. See CAPE and CIN.
Macroburst: One of 2 categories of downbursts (the other category is called a microburst). This Down burst has an affected outflow area of at least 2.5 miles wide and peak winds lasting between 5 and 20 minutes. Intense macrobursts may cause tornado-force damage up to F-3.
Macroscale: Large scale, characteristic of weather systems several hundred to several thousand kilometers in diameter.
Magnetron: A self-exciting oscillator tube used to produce the radio frequency signal transmitted by some radars. It utilizes a strong magnetic field to help induce the RF signal generated.
Main Lobe: The envelope of electromagnetic energy along the main axis of the radar beam.
Main Stem: The reach of a river/stream formed by the tributaries that flow into it.
Major Flooding: A general term including extensive
inundation and property damage. (Usually characterized by the evacuation of people and
livestock and the closure of both primary and secondary roads.)
Mammatus Clouds: Rounded, smooth, sack-like
protrusions hanging from the underside of a cloud (usually a thunderstorm anvil). Mammatus
clouds often accompany severe thunderstorms, but do not produce severe weather; they may
accompany non-severe storms as well.
MAP (Mean Areal Precipitation): The average rainfall over a given area, generally expressed as an average depth over the area.
MAREP: An acronym for the Marine Reporting Program. These are recreation craft equipped with VHF radio to assist Environment Canada, Ontario Region and the National Weather Service in preparing reliable marine forecasts for vessels operating in near-shore waters around The Great Lakes.
Marine Inversion: A temperature inversion created by the cooling of a warm airmass from below by the cool lakes on spring and summer days. The same effect can occur along the oceans anytime of the year.
Marine Prediction Center (MPC): This is one of 9 centers that comprises the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP, formerly the National Meteorological Center). The Marine Prediction Center (MPC) is an integral component of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). MPC is located at the NOAA Science Center in Camp Springs, MD. The primary responsibility is the issuance of marine warnings, forecasts, and guidance in text and graphical format for maritime users. Also, the MPC quality controls marine observations globally from ship, buoy, and automated marine observations for gross errors prior to being assimilated into computer model guidance. In addition MPC coordinates with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) with forecast points for Tropical Cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean E of 65W.
The MPC originates and issues marine warnings and forecasts, continually monitors and analyzes maritime data, and provides guidance of marine atmospheric variables for purposes of protection of life and property, safety at sea, and enhancement of economic opportunity. These products fulfill U.S. responsibilities with the World Meteorological Organization and Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS). In emergency situations MPC acts as a backup to the Tropical Prediction Center (TPC) taking over the marine functions of TPC.
Areal Extent: Region of coverage is the over marine areas of the Northern Hemisphere S of 67N to 15 degrees S (except Indian Ocean).
Temporal Extent: Guidance and forecasts are issued for time periods where useful skill exists out to 48 hours for seas and 120 hours for weather systems.
Application Activities: Conducted to support the civilian maritime community and other government agencies in support of safety of life at sea , ie. U.S. Coast Guard.
Product Suite: Support for transoceanic, fishing, and recreational marine users, coastal communities, marine navigation, and other marine interests.
Product Distribution: Direct support for all national and international marine users. MPC produces principal guidance for National Weather Forecast Offices with offshore and coastal responsibilities, and other marine related programs.
Both graphical and text products are disseminated covering these geographical regions: synoptic scale coverage over the entire North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans, and mesoscale coverage for the coastal and offshore portions of the eastern and western United States.
Marine Small Craft Thunderstorm Advisory: A marine warning issued by Environment Canada Atmospheric Environment Branch when the possibility of thunderstorms is greater than 40 percent.
Marine Small Craft Wind Warning: A marine warning issued by Environment Canada Atmospheric Environment Branch for winds which are forecasted to be in the 20-33 knot range inclusive.
Marine Weather Statement: The National Weather Service will issue this statement: 1) To provide follow-up information on Special Marine Warnings and to cancel all or part of a warning. 2) To describe short duration, nonsevere, but potentially hazardous conditions which sustained winds or frequent gusts are less than 34 knots for 2 hours or less. Short-lived increases in winds, although below threshold for Special Marine Warnings, that may make small craft handling difficult especially for inexperienced boaters. 3) To provide information for a variety of conditions not covered by warnings or routine forecasts (e.g., low water conditions, dense fog, etc.). 4) To discuss increasing or decreasing winds and to convey details on possible later warnings.
Mass Curve: A graph of the cumulative values of a hydrologic quantity (such as precipitation or runoff), generally as ordinate, plotted against time or date.
MAX: An abbreviation of maximum.
Max Parcel Level (MPL): This signifies the highest attainable level that a convective updraft can reach; therefore, it is a good indication of how tall a thunderstorm may reach.
Maximum Spillway Discharge: Spillway discharge (cfs) when reservoir is at maximum designed water surface elevation.
Maximum Unambiguous Range: The greatest distance a pulse can travel and return before the next pulse is transmitted. R_max = c / (2*PRF), where c is the speed of light, PRF is pulse repetition frequency.
Maximum Unambiguous Velocity: The maximum radial velocity that can be detected without velocity aliasing. V_max = PRF * L / 4, where PRF is pulse repetition frequency, L is wavelength.
MB: An acronym for Millibars. See Millibars.
MCC: An acronym for Mesoscale Convective Complex. See Mesoscale Convective Complex.
MCD: An acronym for Mesoscale Discussion. See Mesoscale Discussion.
McIDAS: An acronym for Man-computer Interactive Data Access System.
MCS: An acronym for Mesoscale Convective System. See Mesoscale Convective System.
Meander: The winding of a stream channel.
Meander Belt: The area between lines drawn tangential
to the extreme limits of fully developed meanders.
Mean Areal Precipitation: The average rainfall over a given
area, generally expressed as an average depth over the area.
Mean Depth: The average depth of water in a stream channel or conduit. It is equal to the cross-sectional area divided by the surface width.
Mean Doppler Velocity: Reflectivity-weighted average velocity of targets in a given pulse resolution volume. Usually determined from a large number of successive radar pulses. Also called mean radial (towards or away from the antenna) velocity. Doppler velocity refers to spectral density first moment, radial velocity to base data. It is also called mean radial velocity.
Mean Low Water (MLW): The average height of the daily low tides recorded over a 19-year period at a specific location.
Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW): The average height of the lower of the two low tides occurring during a tidal cycle recorded over a 19-year period at a particular location.
Mean Sea Level (MSL): The average height of the surface of the sea at a particular location for all stages of the tide over a 19-year period. This is usually determined from the hourly height readings of the tide gage at that site.
Medium Range: In forecasting, (generally) three to seven days in advance.
Melting Level: The altitude which ice crystals and snowflakes melt as they descend through the atmosphere.
Meniscus: The curved surface of the liquid at the open end of a capillary column.
Meridional Flow: Large-scale atmospheric flow in which the north-south component (i.e., longitudinal, or along a meridian) is pronounced. The accompanying zonal (east-west) component often is weaker than normal. Compare with zonal flow.
Mesocyclone (M): This WSR-88D radar product displays information regarding the detection of the following 3 types of azimuthal shear patterns:
1) Uncorrelated Shear: It is a sufficiently strong circulation detected on only one elevation angle within a thunderstorm.
2) 3-Dimensional Correlated Shear: It is a sufficiently strong circulation detected on two or more elevation angles within a thunderstorm, but less than two of the features are symmetrical. It is displayed on the radar display as a thin yellow circle.
3) Mesocyclone: It is a sufficiently strong circulation detected on two or more elevation angles which are symmetrically linked within a thunderstorm. It is indicated on the radar display as a thick yellow circle.
It is used to identify mesocyclones (they are sometimes associated severe weather--hail greater than 3/4 inch, wind gusts greater than 58 mph, and/or tornadoes).
Mesocyclone (MESO): A storm-scale region of rotation, typically around 2-6 miles in diameter and often found in the right rear flank of a supercell (or often on the eastern, or front, flank of an HP storm). The circulation of a mesocyclone covers an area much larger than the tornado that may develop within it. Properly used, mesocyclone is a radar term; it is defined as a rotation signature appearing on Doppler radar that meets specific criteria for magnitude, vertical depth, and duration. It will appear as a yellow solid circle on the Doppler velocity products. Therefore, a mesocyclone should not be considered a visually-observable phenomenon (although visual evidence of rotation, such as curved inflow bands, may imply the presence of a mesocyclone).
Mesohigh: A relatively small area of high atmospheric pressure that forms beneath a thunderstorm. It is usually associated with MCSs or their remnants.
Mesolow (or Sub-synoptic Low): A mesoscale low-pressure center. Severe weather potential often increases in the area near and just ahead of a mesolow. Mesolow should not be confused with mesocyclone, which is a storm-scale phenomenon.
Mesonet: A regional network of observing stations (usually surface stations) designed to diagnose mesoscale weather features and their associated processes.
Mesoscale: Size scale referring to weather systems smaller than synoptic-scale systems but larger than storm-scale systems. Horizontal dimensions generally range from around 50 miles to several hundred miles. Squall lines, MCCs, and MCSs are examples of mesoscale weather systems.
Mesoscale Convective Complex (MCC): A large MCS, generally round or oval-shaped, which normally reaches peak intensity at night. The formal definition includes specific minimum criteria for size, duration, and eccentricity (i.e., "roundness"), based on the cloud shield as seen on infrared satellite photographs:
Size: Area of cloud top -32 degrees C
or less: 100,000 square kilometers or more (slightly smaller than the state of Ohio), and
area of cloud top -52 degrees C or less: 50,000 square kilometers or
more.
Duration: Size criteria must be met
for at least 6 hours.
Eccentricity: Minor/major axis at
least 0.7.
MCCs typically form during the afternoon and evening in the form of several isolated thunderstorms, during which time the potential for severe weather is greatest. During peak intensity, the primary threat shifts toward heavy rain and flooding.
Mesoscale Discussions (MCD): When conditions actually begin to shape up for severe weather, SPC often issues a Mesoscale Discussion (MCD) statement anywhere from roughly half an hour to several hours before issuing a weather watch. SPC also puts out MCDs for hazardous winter weather events on the mesoscale, such as locally heavy snow, blizzards and freezing rain (see below). MCDs are also issued on occasion for heavy rainfall, convective trends, and other phenomena, when the forecaster feels he/she can provide useful information that is not readily available or apparent to field forecasters. MCDs are based on mesoscale analysis and interpretation of observations and of short term, high resolution numerical model output.
The MCD basically describes what is currently happening, what is expected in the next few hours, the meteorological reasoning for the forecast, and when/where SPC plans to issue the watch (if dealing with severe thunderstorm potential). Severe thunderstorm MCDs can help you get a little extra lead time on the weather and allow you to begin gearing up operations before a watch is issued. The MCD begins with a numerical string that gives the LAT/LON coordinates of a polygon that loosely describes the area being discussed.
Mesoscale Convective System (MCS): A complex of thunderstorms which becomes organized on a scale larger than the individual thunderstorms, and normally persists for several hours or more. MCSs may be round or linear in shape, and include systems such as tropical cyclones, squall lines, and MCCs (among others). MCS often is used to describe a cluster of thunderstorms that does not satisfy the size, shape, or duration criteria of an MCC.
Meteoric Water: Water derived from precipitation.
Microburst: One of 2 categories of downbursts (the other category is called a macroburst). This Down burst has an affected outflow area of less than 2.5 miles wide and peak winds lasting less than 5 minutes. They may induce dangerous horizontal/vertical wind shears, which can adversely affect aircraft performance and cause property damage. They can be sub-classified into either dry or wet microburst depending on how much (or little) rain accompanies the microburst when it reaches the ground. Most microbursts are rather short-lived (5 minutes or so), but on rare occasions they have been known to last up to 6 times that long.
Microcomputer Automatic Radiotheodolite Master Control Unit (Micro-ART): This microcomputer system helps interpret the radiosonde data that it receives from the Automatic Radiotheodolite Control Unit (ART). This system can calculate the lapse rate, the ascension rate of the balloon, and many other things. It also codes up the radiosonde messages for the Hydrometeorological Technician or Intern to send out to the various users.
Michigan Travel Advisory: This is a product issued by the Michigan State Police. It summarizes road conditions as related to weather factors.
Middle Clouds: In the middle family are the altostratus, altocumulus, and nimbostratus clouds. The height of the bases of these clouds ranges from 6,500 to 23,000 feet in middle latitudes. These clouds are primarily water; however, much of the water may be supercooled and the clouds can contain some ice crystals.
Mid-Latitude Areas: Areas between 30o and 60o north and south of the Equator.
Mid-level Cooling: Local cooling of the air in middle levels of the atmosphere (roughly 8 to 25 thousand feet), which can lead to destabilization of the entire atmosphere if all other factors are equal. Mid-level cooling can occur, for example, with the approach of a mid-level cold pool.
Mie Scattering: Any scattering produced by spherical particles whose diameters are greater than 1/10 the wavelength of the scattered radiation. This type of scattering causes the clouds to appear white in the sky. Often, hail exhibits in this type of scattering.
Millibar (mb): Unit of atmospheric pressure. It is equal to 0.03 inches of mercury. One thousand millibars equals 29.55 inches of mercury on a barometer.
Miners' Inch: A rate of discharge through an orifice one inch square under a specific head.
Minimum Discernible Signal (MDS): In a receiver, it is the smallest input signal that will a produce a detectable signal at the output. In radar terms, it is the minimal amount of back scattered energy that is required to produce a target on the radar screen. In other words, MDS is a measure of the radar's sensitivity.
Minor Flooding: A general term indicating minimal or no property damage but possibly some public inconvenience.
Minor Tidal Overflow: Minor flooding caused by high tides that results in little if any damage.
Mist (BR): A visible aggregate of minute water particles suspended in the atmosphere that reduces visibility to less than 7 statue miles, but greater than or equal to 5/8 statue miles.
Misoscale: The scale of meteorological phenomena that ranges in size from a 40 meters to about a 4 kilometers. It includes rotation within a thunderstorm.
Mission of the National Weather Service: To provide
weather and flood warnings, public forecasts and advisories for all of the United States,
its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas, primarily for the protection of life and
property. NWS data and products are provided to private meteorologist for the provision of
all specialized services.
Mission of the Hydrologic Services Program: To provide
river and flood forecasts and warnings for the protection of life and property and to
provide basic hydrologic forecast information for the Nation’s economic and
environmental well being.
MLCAPE: CAPE calculated using a parcel consisting of Mean Layer values of temperature and moisture from the lowest 100 mb above ground level. See Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE).
MLLI: Lifted Index (LI) calculated using a parcel consisting of Mean Layer values of temperature and moisture from the lowest 100 mb above ground level. See Lifted Index.
Model Output Statistics (MOS): The
Hydrometeorological Center of the National Environmental Prediction Centers (formerly
National Meteorological Center) produces a short range (6 to 60 hours)
MOS (Model Output Statistics) guidance package generated from the NGM
(Nested Grid Model) for over 300 individual stations in the continental United
States. These alphanumeric messages are made available at approximately 0400 and
1600 UTC for the 0000 and 1200 UTC forecast cycles, respectively. Model Output
Statistics are a set of statistical equations that use model output to forecast the
probability of precipitation, high and low temperature, cloud cover, and precipitation
amount for many cities across the USA. The statistical equations were specifically
tailored for each location, taking into
account factors such as each location's climate. To indicate snow and
precipitation type forecasts, the message varies between the cold (September 16 through
May 15) and warm (May 16 through September 15) seasons. Snow and precipitation type
forecasts are never issued for certain Florida and California stations.
Moderate Flooding: The inundation of secondary roads; transfer to higher elevation necessary to save property -- some evacuation may be required.
Moderate Icing: The rate of ice accumulation on an
aircraft is such that even short encounters becomes potentially hazardous and the use of
de-icing/anti-icing equipment or a diversion is necessary. This standard of
reporting this type of icing was based on a recommendation set forth by the subcommittee
for Aviation Meterorological Services in the Office of the Federal Coordinator for
Meteorology in November 1968. The convetion has been to designate icing intensity in
terms of its operational effect upon reciprocating engine, straight wing transport
aircraft as used by commuter operators.
Moderate Risk of Severe Thunderstorms: Severe
thunderstorms are expected to affect between 5 and 10 percent of the area. A moderate risk
indicates the possibility of a significant severe weather episode. See high risk,
slight risk, and convective outlook.
Modulation: Variation of the amplitude, frequency, or phase of a wave due to the mixing of two signals.
Moist Adiabats: They show how the air temperature would change inside a rising parcel of saturated air.
Moisture Advection: Transport of moisture by horizontal winds.
Moisture Convergence: A measure of the degree to which moist air is converging into a given area, taking into account the effect of converging winds and moisture advection. Areas of persistent moisture convergence are favored regions for thunderstorm development, if other factors (e.g., instability) are favorable.
Moisture Equivalent: The ratio of 1) the weight of water which the soil, after saturation, will retain against a centrifugal force 1,000 times the force of gravity, to 2) the weight of the soil when dry. The ratio is stated as a percentage.
Monostatic Radar: This is a radar that uses a common antenna for both transmitting and receiving.
Monthly Climatological Report: This climatological product is issued once a month by each National Weather Service office. It is a mix of tabular and narrative information. It is organized so that similar items are grouped together (i.e., temperature, precipitation, wind, heating/cooling degree information, etc.).
Monthly Climatic Data of the World (MCDW): This National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) publication contains monthly mean temperature, pressure, precipitation, vapor pressure, and sunshine for approximately 2,000 surface data collection stations worldwide and monthly mean upper air temperatures, dew point depressions, and wind velocities for approximately 800 upper air stations.
Monsoon: A wind which blow from opposite directions between winter and summer. Usually the wind blows from land to sea in winter and from sea to land in summer.
Monstatic Radar: A radar that uses a common antenna for both transmitting and receiving.
Morning Glory: An elongated cloud band, visually similar to a roll cloud, usually appearing in the morning hours, when the atmosphere is relatively stable. Morning glories result from perturbations related to gravitational waves in a stable boundary layer. They are similar to ripples on a water surface; several parallel morning glories often can be seen propagating in the same direction.
MOS: An acronym for Model Output Statistics. See Model Output Statistics.
Mostly Clear: When the predominant/average sky condition is covered 1/8 to 2/8 with opaque (not transparent) clouds. Called Mostly Sunny if it is during the day.
Mostly Cloudy: When the predominant/average sky condition is covered by more than half, but not completely covered by opaque (not transparent) clouds. In other words, 5/8 to 7/8 of the sky is covered by opaque clouds. Same as Considerable Cloudiness.
Mostly Sunny: When the predominant/average sky condition is covered 1/8 to 2/8 with opaque (not transparent) clouds. Same as Mostly Clear.
Movable Bed: A stream bed made up of materials readily transportable by the stream flow.
Moveable Bed Streams: These are most common in the
arid West, where steep slopes and lack of vegetation result in a lot of erosion. During a
flood, a channel may be eroded more deeply, or it may become filled with sediment and move
to a different location.
MRF - Medium-Range Forecast model: One of the
operational forecast models run at NCEP. The MRF is one of the main models forecasters use
for the medium range time period beyond 48 hours into the future. It is run twice daily
(0000 UTC and 1200 UTC). The MRF model forecasts for the entire northern hemisphere,
unlike the national models, which only forecast for North America. The resolution of the
MRF model is about 150 km, which is far less than the national models. The MRF is
primarily used for the medium range time period from 60 to 240 hours (10 days) into the
future. The MRF, like the previous models, has its own set of Model Output
Statistics (MOS) equations known as MRF MOS.
MUCAPE: CAPE calculated using a parcel from a pressure level that results in the Most Unstable CAPE possible. See Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE).
MULI: Lifted Index (LI) calculated using a parcel from the pressure level that results in the Most Unstable value (lowest value) of LI possible. See Lifted Index.
Multicell Thunderstorms: These thunderstorms are organized in clusters of at least 2-4 short-lived cells. Each cell generates a cold air outflow and these individual outflows combine to form a large gust front. Convergence along the gust front causes new cells to develop every 5 to 15 minutes. The cells move roughly with the mean wind. However, the area (storm) motion usually deviates significantly from the mean wind due to discrete propagation (new cell development) along the gust front. The multicellular nature of the storm is usually apparent on radar with multiple reflectivity cores and maximum tops.
Severe multicell thunderstorms occur in environments possessing moderate vertical wind shear and moderate to large positive buoyancy (CAPE). The moderate vertical wind shear leads to the development of a non-symmetric surface convergence pattern associated with the thunderstorm outflow, with the strongest convergence taking place on the downwind from the storm's motion. New cells developing along this enhanced convergence zone tend to move in the same direction as the older cells, which increases the time that the new cells will experience low-level convergence and tap into the warm, moist inflow air. Cell regeneration in the convergence zone along an outflow boundary is the primary physical mechanism for maintaining a multicell storm. Moderate to large buoyancy ensures that strong updrafts are possible.
Multicell thunderstorms usually develop in an environment where the vertical wind shear is characterized by a straight line hodograph. The name describes well what it looks like on the hodograph. The Bulk Richardson number for a multicellular thunderstorm environment is typically above 50. These thunderstorms can become severe producing hail greater than 3/4 inch hail, wind gusts greater than 58 miles an hour, and possibly a tornado. Nearly all thunderstorms (including supercells) are multi-cellular, but the term often is used to describe a storm which does not fit the definition of a supercell.
Multiple Doppler Analysis: The use of more than one radar (and hence more than one look angle) to reconstruct spatial distributions of the 2D or 3D wind field, which cannot be measured from a single radar alone. Includes dual Doppler, triple Doppler, and overdetermined multiple Doppler analysis.
Multiple-vortex (or Multi-vortex) Tornado: A tornado in which two or more condensation funnels or debris clouds are present at the same time, often rotating about a common center or about each other. Multiple-vortex tornadoes can be especially damaging. See suction vortex.
Multipurpose Reservoir: A reservoir constructed and equipped to provide storage and release of water for two or more purposes such as flood control, power development, navigation, irrigation, recreation, pollution abatement, domestic water supply, etc.
Municipal Use of Water: The various uses to which water is put to use developed urban areas, including domestic use, industrial use, street sprinkling, fire protection, etc. The term is an inclusive one, applied where the uses are varied.
Mushroom: Slang for a thunderstorm with a well-defined anvil rollover, and thus having a visual appearance resembling a mushroom.
Myctophobia: The fear of darkness.
