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K - see
Kelvin Temperature Scale
K AMS - cold air
mass
Katabatic Wind -
wind that is created by
air flowing downhill. These
downslope winds can rush down
elevated slopes at hurricane speeds,
but most are on the order of 12 mph or less. Some of the strongest winds
form where cold winds rush downhill from an elevated plateau covered
with snow and ice, so
katabatic winds tend to be cool or cold.
KE - see
Kinetic Energy
Kelvin-Helmholtz Waves (K-H Waves) -
vertical waves in the air that are
associated with wind shear. When two
parallel layers of air move at different speeds and in opposite
directions, these waves can form. When there is enough
water vapor, the waves become visible
as clouds. They can appear as breaking
waves and as braided patterns in radar
images and cloud photos.
Kelvin Temperature Scale (K)
- an absolute
temperature scale in which a change of 1 Kelvin equals a change
of 1 degree Celsius; 0K
(absolute zero) is the lowest temperature
on the Kelvin scale.
KFT - thousand(s) of feet
K-H Waves - see
Kelvin-Helmholtz Waves
Killing Freeze - see
Hard Freeze
K-Index - a measure of
thunderstorm potential based on
instability, moisture content of the
lower atmosphere, and the depth of the
moist layer. K-index=(850 mb
temperature - 500 mb temperature) + 850 mb
dew point - 700 mb
dew point depression
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K < 15
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Thunderstorm probability near 0%
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K = 15-20
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Thunderstorm probability less than 20%
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K = 21-25
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Thunderstorm probability 20-40%
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K = 26-30
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Thunderstorm probability 40-60%
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K = 31-35
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Thunderstorm probability 60-80%
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K = 36-40
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Thunderstorm probability 80-90%
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K > 40
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Thunderstorm probability >90%
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Kinetic Energy (KE) -
energy that a body has as a result of its motion.
Mathematically, it is defined as one-half the product of a body’s mass and
the square of its speed.
Kirchhoff's Law - at a given
temperature, a good
absorber of a given
wavelength is also a good
emitter of that wavelength
Klystron - the electronic component of the
NEXRAD transmitter that generates the
coherent radiation necessary for the
determination of Doppler velocities. The
WSR-88D typically transmits its
radiation using a power of 750,000
watts. Other commercial Doppler radars sometimes
use a Magnetron to generate the transmitted
radiation. Magnetrons typically generate less steady patterns of radiation
than do Klystrons.
Knot (KT) - the unit of speed in the
nautical system; one nautical mile per hour; it is equal to 1.1508
statute miles per hour or 0.5144
meters per second
KS - Kansas
KT - knot
KTS - knots
KY - Kentucky
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