Another Hawaii type weather term that our NWS office uses here.
Kona Storms (also called Kona Lows) are a type of seasonal cyclone in the Hawaiian Islands, usually formed in the winter from winds coming from the westerly “kona” (normally leeward) direction.[1] They are mainly cold core cyclones, which places them in the extratropical cyclone rather than the subtropical cyclone category. Hawaii typically experiences two to three annually, which can affect the state for a week or more. Among their hazards are heavy rain, hailstorms, flash floods and their associated landslides, high elevation snow, high winds which result in large surf and swells, and waterspouts.
Okay on building terms dealing with Canada. This is just for some info.
As far as the Pineapple Express is as follows:
Pineapple Express is a non-technical term for a meteorological phenomenon characterized by a strong and persistent flow of atmospheric moisture and associated with heavy precipitation from the waters adjacent to the Hawaiian Islands and extending to any location along the Pacific coast of North America. A Pineapple Express is an example of an atmospheric river, which is a more general term for such narrow corridors of enhanced water vapor transport at mid-latitudes around the world.
This usually is affected by the Pacific Northwest down to Californina.
Solar Radiation: The measurement of radiant energy from the sun on a horizontal surface.
That’s really the definition of “Global Solar Irradiance”, which is what the Davis sensor records. There are a number of different solar radiation measurements.
There are so many different solar terms, how about something like:
Solar Irradiance: The total electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun. Typically 1367 Watts per square meter (W/m2) at the top of the atmosphere, it is reduced to approximately 1000 W/m2 when it reaches the earth’s surface. See Solar Radiation Sensor.
Solar Radiation Sensor: Instrument measuring solar irradiance. Many different types are available, the one most commonly used by weather stations measures Global Radiation - direct and diffuse solar irradiance received by a horizontal surface.
The chinook works because wet air cools off at 5c per kilometer. Once it hits the tops of the mountains it is dry and warms up at 10c per kilometer. So at 4 km high on the west side the temp at 5c equals a temp of 20c on the eastern side. The names are the saturated adiabatic lapse rate and the dry adiabatic lapse rate. Hope I’m not boring you.
Stratus Cloud: Layered cloud. Looks like a gray blanket hanging low in the sky. Often mean rain if warm, snow if cold. Usually stratus clouds and fog form when it has been cold out and then warmer wet air blows in.