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Eng ID Term Definition
4141
quadrantal correctors
Masses of SOFT IRON placed near a MAGNETIC COMPASS to correct for QUADRANTAL DEVIATION. Spherical quadrantal correctors are called qua­drant... more
Masses of SOFT IRON placed near a MAGNETIC COMPASS to correct for QUADRANTAL DEVIATION. Spherical quadrantal correctors are called qua­drantal spheres.
4142
quadrantal deviation
See DEVIATION.
4143
quadrantal sphere
See QUADRANTAL CORRECTORS.
4144
quadrature
An ELONGATION of 90° usually specified as east or west in accordance with the direction of the body from the SUN. The MOON is at quadrature ... more
An ELONGATION of 90° usually specified as east or west in accordance with the direction of the body from the SUN. The MOON is at quadrature at first and last quarters. See PHASES OF THE MOON. The situation of two periodic quantities differing by a quarter of a CYCLE.
4145
quadripod
A four-legged stand for TRIANGULATION, SIGNALS, etc.
4146
quality control
All procedures which ensure that the product meets certain standards and specifica­tions.
4147
quality of the bottom
See BOTTOM: NATURE OF.
4148
quarantine anchorage
An area where a vessel anchors when satisfying quarantine regulations.
4149
quarantine buoy
A BUOY marking the location of a QUARANTINE ANCHORA­GE.
4150
quarter-diurnal tide(s)
See TIDE.
4151
quartering sea
WAVES moving in a direction approxi­mately 45° from a vessel's HEADING, striking the vessel on the quarter.
4152
quarter point
The fourth of the distance from one POINT of the COMPASS to another, equivalent to about two DEGREES and forty-nine MINUTES.
4153
quartz
Crystalline silica. In its most common form it is colourless and transparent, but it takes a large variety of forms of varying degrees of op... more
Crystalline silica. In its most common form it is colourless and transparent, but it takes a large variety of forms of varying degrees of opaqueness and colour. It is the most common solid mineral. Part of the ocean bed is composed of quartz.
4154
quartz clock
See CLOCK: CRYSTAL.
4155
quartz horizontal magnetometer
See MAGNETOMETER.
4156
quay
A WHARF approximately parallel to the SHORELINE and accommodat­ing ships on one side only, the other side being attached to the SHORE. It is... more
A WHARF approximately parallel to the SHORELINE and accommodat­ing ships on one side only, the other side being attached to the SHORE. It is usually of solid construction, as contrasted with the open pile construc­tion usually used for PIERS.
4157
quayage
A comprehensive term embracing all the struc­tures in a PORT along­side which vessels can lie.
4158
quenching
The great reduction in underwater sound transmission or reception resulting from absorption and SCATTERING of sound energy by air bubbles en... more
The great reduction in underwater sound transmission or reception resulting from absorption and SCATTERING of sound energy by air bubbles entrap­ped around the sonar dome. See ATTENUATI­ON.
4159
quicksand
A loose mixture of SAND and water that yields to the pressure of heavy objects. Such objects are difficult to extract once they begin sinkin... more
A loose mixture of SAND and water that yields to the pressure of heavy objects. Such objects are difficult to extract once they begin sinking.
4160
quintant
A double-reflect­ing instrument for measuring angles. It is similar to a SEXTANT, but has an arc of 72°.