This document provides an overview of meteorology and the atmosphere. It discusses the definition and scope of meteorology, early meteorologists like Aristotle, developments in weather observation tools, the origin and composition of the atmosphere, key atmospheric gases and their effects, and the main layers of the atmosphere.

1. An Introduction to
Environmental Science
Chapter 1
Engr. Dale P. Cataquis

2. METEOROLOGY
 The term meteorology was derived from the
Greek word meteoros meaning high in the
air, and logos or discourse.
 It deals with the study of the atmosphere: its
composition, structure, and the factors that
affect the weather and climate.
 A branch of physical science which may be
referred to as the Chemistry and Physics of
the atmosphere.

3.  Electronic equipment and satellites now
make a weather forecasting more accurate
unlike the forecasting techniques used
earlier by sailors, hunters, farmers,
fishermen and early meteorologists.

4. Aristotle
 One of the earliest meteorologists is the
Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BC)
who theorized that the world was composed
of fire, air, water and earth which can be
converted from one form to another by the
sun.
 Such transformation also produces wind,
clouds, snow, rain, frost or dew.

5.  These assumptions were taken as facts
until the middle of the sixteenth century
which was marked by outstanding
inventions like:
– Thermometer (Galileo)
– Barometer for pressure (Torricelli)
– Hygroscope for humidity measurement (Hooke)
– Rain gauge for measuring rainfall (Hooke,Wren
and Towneley)

6.  Today computers, modern weather balloons
and satellites feed the needed information
for more accurate weather predictions and
tracking of weather disturbances

7. THE ATMOSPHERE
 One part of the environment in which every
surface of our body is in contact with.
 The gaseous layer that envelops the earth’s
lithosphere
– (sun rise, air, sunsets, colors of the rainbow,
breeze, and the ever changing condition of the
weather)- brought about by the gaseous layers
enveloping the earth- atmosphere.

8. Origin of the Earth and the Evolution
of the Atmosphere
 Many scientists believed that the universe
was probably composed of a cloud of
hydrogen gas which through condensations
and various elements that we now find in
nature. This event probably took place
some 20 billion years ago.

9.  About 5 billion years ago, our solar system was
probably formed from a rapidly rotating ball of free
atoms.
 Hydrogen atoms, being the most abundant,
gravitated at the center of the ball and formed the
sun.
 The swirling belt of gas that remained outside the
sun broke up into a few smaller clouds which
eventually became the planets.
 One such planet is the earth.

10.  By gravitation, the heavy atoms sank towards the
center of the earth, the lighter atoms formed the
middle shell and the lightest such as H2, O2, N2,
and C became the outer layers.
 Due to the very cool cosmic space, the earth
began to cool gradually.
 As the temperature became low enough, bonding
together of atoms took place.
 Simple molecules were then formed.

11. Components of the atmosphere that
have significant effects on the
weather
 CO2 and H2O – absorb the heat being radiated by the
earth’s surface, thereby hoarding the warmth of the sun.
Due to this effect, the temperature does not decrease
abruptly at night.
 H2O together with the dust particles, is responsible for the
formation of clouds and precipitation.
 Ozone – screens out the ultraviolet rays from the sun
which would be lethal at greater intensity.
 Nitrogen – important constituent of proteins and is
absorbed by plants in the form of nitrate.
 Oxygen – makes possible the combustion of materials and
the respiration of living organisms.

12. Composition of the Atmosphere
 The air around us is a fluid mixture of gases
which surrounds the earth’s lithosphere.
 The word atmosphere originates from the
Greek words atmos which means vapor
and sphaira which means sphere

13. Basically, the atmosphere is made
up of the ff gases:
 Nitrogen - 78.08%
 Oxygen - 20.95%
 Argon - 0.93
 Carbon Dioxide - 0.03
 Neon - 0.00182
 Helium - 0.000524
 Methane - 0.00015
 Krypton - 0.00014
 Hydrogen - 0.00005
 Ozone
 Water vapor
 Dust particles

14. LAYERS OF THE ATMOSPHERE
 Troposphere – the most turbulent part where the
different atmospheric factors interact to produce
the condition known as the weather.
 Stratospere – contains the layer of ozone called
the ozonosphere.
 Mesosphere – the middle layer of the atmosphere,
the coldest part.
 Thermosphere – the hottest layer of the
atmosphere.

15. Assignment
 Answer the self evaluation No. 1

16. Quiz 1
1. The term meteorology was derived from the Greek
word meteoros meaning high in the air,
2. logos or discourse.
3. It deals with the study of the atmosphere: its
composition, structure, and the factors that affect
the weather and climate.
4. A branch of physical science which may be
referred to as the Chemistry and Physics of the
atmosphere.

17. 5. One of the earliest meteorologists is the Greek
philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BC) who theorized
that the world was composed of fire, air, water
and earth which can be converted from one form
to another by the sun.
6. Thermometer (Galileo)
7. Barometer for pressure (Torricelli)
8. Hygroscope for humidity measurement (Hooke)
9. Rain gauge for measuring rainfall (Hooke,Wren
and Towneley

18. 10. The gaseous layer that envelops the earth’s lithosphere (atmosphere)
11. According to the beliefs of many scientists Hydrogen atoms, is the
most abundant atom, gravitated at the center of the ball of gas and
formed the sun.
12. CO2 and H2O – absorb the heat being radiated by the earth’s surface,
thereby hoarding the warmth of the sun. Due to this effect, the
temperature does not decrease abruptly at night.
13. H2O together with the dust particles, is responsible for the formation
of clouds and precipitation.
14. Ozone – screens out the ultraviolet rays from the sun which would be
lethal at greater intensity.
15. Nitrogen – important constituent of proteins and is absorbed by plants
in the form of nitrate.
16. Oxygen – makes possible the combustion of materials and the
respiration of living organisms.

19. 17. The word atmosphere originates from the Greek words
atmos which means vapor and
18. sphaira which means sphere
19 – 20. Nitrogen , oxygen the two most abundant component
of the atmosphere.
21. Troposphere – the most turbulent part where the
different atmospheric factors interact to produce the
condition known as the weather.
22. Stratospere – contains the layer of ozone called the
ozonosphere.
23. Mesosphere – the middle layer of the atmosphere, the
coldest part.
24. Thermosphere – the hottest layer of the atmosphere.