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Meteorology Basics Lecture Science 2201 (chapter 18)

Meteorology Basics Lecture Science 2201 (chapter 18). “Climate is what you expect, weather is what you get.”. Distinguish between…. Weather Seasons Climate. Chemical Composition of the Atmosphere. Nitrogen 78% Oxygen 21% Argon 0.9% Carbon Dioxide 0.03% Trace substances

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Meteorology Basics Lecture Science 2201 (chapter 18)

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  1. Meteorology Basics LectureScience 2201 (chapter 18) “Climate is what you expect, weather is what you get.”

  2. Distinguish between… • Weather • Seasons • Climate

  3. Chemical Composition of the Atmosphere • Nitrogen 78% • Oxygen 21% • Argon 0.9% • Carbon Dioxide 0.03% • Trace substances • Water Vapor

  4. Vertical Structure of Atmosphere

  5. 5 variables influence the atmosphere: • Temperature • Pressure • Humidity • Cloudiness • Winds

  6. Variables influencing the atmosphere… temperature: • Measure of heat • Average kinetic energy of molecules • Weather reports give air temperature at ground level

  7. High Pressure Region where air has piled up Warmer and dryer than surrounding air Low Pressure Region where air has stretched out Tends to rise and cool, vapor condenses into clouds Variables influencing the atmosphere… pressure:

  8. Variables influencing the atmosphere… humidity: • “relative humidity” – the ratio of amount of water vapor in air at current temp to max amount vapor air can hold at that temp

  9. Variables influencing the atmosphere… cloudiness: • Water droplets • Ice crystals • Warm air rises, cools and condenses (phase change)

  10. Variables influencing the atmosphere… winds: • Due to differential heating of the earth’s surface • Warm air rises • Cooler air flows in

  11. Why is it warmer near the Earth’s equator and colder near the poles?What patterns of global air flow occur? Check your neighbor. Make a sketch to explain your answer.

  12. Global Air Circulation Patterns

  13. Where does your weather forecast come from? • National Weather Service • World Weather Building in Camp Springs, Maryland • Media weather specialists

  14. Weather Forecasting • Wrong half the time? • Many features, all are changeable • Nowcast  Forecast • CNN Weather link

  15. The Instruments • Thermometer • Hygrometer • Barometer • Weathervane • Anemometer

  16. The Instrument Carriers • 10,000 land-based & 7,000 ocean-based • Weather Balloons (1,000 released 2X/day) • Buoys (300 drift or are moored at sea) • Automated Weather Stations (about 1,000) • Doppler Radar • Satellites

  17. Reading a Weather Map • Pressure Centers • Fronts • Precipitation • Temp. Readings • Surface Winds

  18. Winter Air Masses • Continental Polar • Maritime Polar • Maritime Tropical

  19. Summer Air Masses • Continental Polar • Maritime Tropical • Continental Tropical

  20. Cold Front digs in underneath a warm air mass Warm air rises, mixes with colder air, & condenses into clouds “Fronts” = a clash of air masses

  21. Warm Front rides up above the cold air In the rising warm air, clouds form far ahead of advancing warm front “Fronts” = a clash of air masses

  22. Air Masses Doing Battle link Cloud Classification link

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