150 likes | 156 Views
Chapter 12. Meteorology. Meteorology = the study of meteors?. Meteoros = anything high in the air Meteorologists study: Hydrometeors: rain, snow, sleet, hail Lithometeors: dust, smoke, haze, particles Electrometeors: lightning, thunder Weather (short term) vs. climate (long term).
E N D
Chapter 12 Meteorology
Meteorology = the study of meteors? • Meteoros = anything high in the air • Meteorologists study: • Hydrometeors: rain, snow, sleet, hail • Lithometeors: dust, smoke, haze, particles • Electrometeors: lightning, thunder • Weather (short term) vs. climate (long term)
Imbalanced heating • What makes summer warmer than winter? • Number of hours of daylight and angle of the sun’s rays
Air masses • Movement of air and water distribute heat around the earth • Air masses take on the properties of their source regions. • Polar = cold • Tropical = warm • Maritime = humid • Continental = dry • Arctic: very cold/dry
Coriolis Effect • Moving air curves clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere • Creates global wind systems: • Polar easterlies • Westerlies • Trade winds • Horse latitudes • Equatorial low (ITCZ)
Jet Streams • Narrow bands of fast westerly wind • Position varies seasonally • Polar and subtropical • Storms form along jet stream paths
Weather Fronts Stationary front
Pressure Systems • In a low pressure system, air rises, cools and forms clouds • Air sinks in a high pressure system, usually associated with fair weather
Weather Observation Systems • Automated surface observing system • Radiosonde (upper atmosphere weather balloon) • Weather radar (including doppler) • Weather satellites (infrared, visible and water-vapor imagery)
Weather Data • Temperature (thermometer) • Air pressure (barometer) • Wind speed (anemometer) • Relative humidity (hygrometer)
Weather Station Models • A station model is a record of weather data for a specific place at a specific time • Uniform way of communicating weather data • Lots of information in a small space
Short and Long Term Forecasts Short-term Long-term Less reliable because of great number of variables involved Based on large scale circulation patterns and weather cycles • More detailed and accurate • Hourly forecast based on present weather • One- to three-day forecasts based on larger systems such as low pressure systems