visibility
Sign in to saveAlso known as visibility (meteorology), meteorological visibility, visual range
In meteorology, visibility is the measure of the distance at which an object or light can be clearly discerned. It depends on the transparency of the surrounding air and as such, it is unchanging no matter the ambient light level or time of day. It is reported within surface weather observations and METAR code either in meters or statute miles, depending upon the country. Visibility affects all forms of traffic: roads, railways, sailing and aviation.
~11 min read
Article
13 sectionsContents
- Meteorological visibility
- Definition
- History
- Derivation
- Fog, mist, haze, and freezing drizzle
- Very low visibility
- Low-visibility warnings
- Visibility and air pollution
- Prevailing visibility
- Geodetic visibility
- See also
- References
- Further reading
In meteorology, visibility is the measure of the distance at which an object or light can be clearly discerned. It depends on the transparency of the surrounding air and as such, it is unchanging no matter the ambient light level or time of day. It is reported within surface weather observations and METAR code either in meters or statute miles, depending upon the country. Visibility affects all forms of traffic: roads, railways, sailing and aviation.
The geometric range of vision is limited by the curvature of the Earth and depends on the eye level and the height of the object being viewed. In geodesy, the atmospheric refraction must be taken into account when calculating geodetic visibility.