1. Solar Energy as Radiation Figure 1.1 Nearly 150 million kilometers separate the sun and earth, yet solar radiation drives earth's weather.
2. Earth's Atmosphere 99% of atmospheric gases, including water vapor, extend only 30 kilometer (km) above earth's surface. Most of our weather, however, occurs within the first 10 to 15 km. Figure 1.2 Thin Gaseous envelope
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4. Aerosols & Pollutants Human and natural activities displace tiny soil, salt, and ash particles as suspended aerosols, as well as sulfur and nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons as pollutants. Figure 1.6
5. Weather & Climate Weather is comprised of the elements of: a) air temperature b) air pressure c) humidity d) clouds e) precipitation f) visibility g) wind Climate represents long-term (e.g. 30 yr) averages of weather.
6. Satellite Instruments Meteorologists may study larger weather patterns with space borne instruments, while ground-based tools often measure a single point. (GOES SAT) Figure 1.10 Meridians Longitude Latitude Middle Latitudes – 30-50N Middle-latitude cyclonic storm Hurricane Thunderstorm Tornado – most violent disturbance in atms
7. Surface Weather Map Figure 1.11 Meteorologists generate diagrams of observed weather from ground-based instruments. This surface map overlaps in time with the previous satellite image. Low High Fronts Wind Direction
At it’s Surface, the earth maintains an average temp of 59F With a wide range of temperature readings -121F during the Antarctica night 122F in deserts
Aerosols are beneficial…act as surfaces on which water vapor condenses to form clouds…hygroscopic nuclei Pollutants are nuisances and health hazards….acid rain results from pollutants and can kill our pines, turn our lakes acidic and can even corrode metal surfaces.
