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-current state of the atmosphere
always changes |
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-a collective state of the Earth's atmosphere over a long period of time (greater than 30 years)
-example tropical, subtropical |
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– study of the Earth's atmosphere
– forecasting (educated guess) is an offset of meteorology |
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-dealing with the gases that surround the Earth and other planets
-mostly nitrogen and oxygen gases |
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| weather affects our daily lives in... |
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1. Airfare – travel
2. Produce – farming – food
3. Pricing on items
4. Our personal and daily lives |
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-study of meteorology begins.
-Aristotle is known as " father meteorology" |
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-thermometers developed by galieo
-measures hot and cold |
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-barometer is developed by Torcllini
-measures atmospheric pressure |
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-hygrometeris developed by Foley and da Vinci
-measures humidity |
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-telegraph was developed by Alexander Bain
-transmit signals by Morse code |
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4 cup anemometer
measures wind speed |
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-civilian US weather Bureau
-it was against the law to use the word tornado in the 1950s because it would scare people |
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– air mass theory developed by Norwegians
-"fronts" became part of whether |
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-tupelo Mississippi tornado
-went from Mississippi to Kansas NE
-death toll for whites not blacks
-fourth deadliest tornado in history
-this change the way that America looked at weather |
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-weather bureau to commerce
-move from governments Department of Agriculture in 1890 to governments Department of Commerce |
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-upper air balloon
-rawinsound developed due to World War II
-this measures upper-level winds up |
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| computers were developed and saved weather data-very large |
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-weather radar was developed.
-They were monochrome (B&W) and have advanced greatly
-they seem rain |
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-weather radar was developed.
-They were monochrome (B&W) and have advanced greatly
-they seem rain |
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weather satellite
-predictors for hurricanes
-1900 Galveston hurricane was before any of this was invented |
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-weather bureau to NWS
-weather bunnies became popular
-Popularized weather through the weather channels on TV
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-worst tornado breakout ever!!!
-weather bunnies were out..and in meteorologist stepped in due to the impact of THIS storm |
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-Doppler weather radars
-used colors based on reflectivity
-allowed us to see the speed and circulation of wind |
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– wind profilers
– taking the Doppler radars in pointing them upwards
-predicts current wind
-supplement upper air balloons (rawisondes) |
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weather observation- ASOS
-report hourly observations of weather use by meteorologist in airports |
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| NWS modernization: centralized many offices into one per area |
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| the eight elements of weather (what a meteorologist forecasts) |
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| v-HPD CAPS!! 1.)visibility 2.)humidity-hygrometer 3.)precipitation-what's falling? 4.)wind direction-compass 5.)clouds-formation 6.)air temperature-thermometer w 7.) atmospheric pressure-barometer-(the only invisible element 8.)wind speed-anemometer |
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| amount of moisture in the air |
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| 10 kinds (2 precipitate)-they are key elements in forecasting. Biggest indicators for weather.. Developed by Aristotle |
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| falling stuff. Example rain, sleet, snow etc. |
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| stated FROM where the winds blow |
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| how quickly the air molecules are moving |
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| you can't see it. Measured by a barometer. Animals can predict the weather |
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| 8 ways we OBSERVE the weather |
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1. Satellites in space
2. Radar( speed and circulation of wind)
3. Profilers (radars up)upper air
4. Rawinsondes (upper air)
5.surface weather observation
6. Lightning detection network's
7. buoys
8. Human observation network |
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| lines of equal or constant values of beginner and property( with respect to place and time) |
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| lines of equal atmospheric pressure |
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| lines of equal air temperature |
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| lines of equal rainfall amounts |
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| lines of equal pressure change |
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| lines of equal dewpoint temperature |
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| two types of weather maps |
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Definition
-surface map (0-30 ft)
1)mono-ugly. 2)TV sexy
-upper air map(30ft-tropopause) |
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on a surface not you will see
1.) cold fronts
2.) warm fronts
3.) station fronts
4.) pressures ( hi and low) indicated by isobars
**** surface maps have two types... Mono and TV |
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taken twice-daily
NO FRONTS
looks at the wind direction
wind is generally West to East |
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1. Suns heat varies over the earth and with seasons
2. Difference in air temperatures over the earth causes the wind
3. Rotation of the earth destroys simple wind patterns (W to E) twisting the wind producing spirals of high and low pressures
4.) since less moisture can coexist in colder air... precipitation is generally caused by cooling the air. cold air cannot contain moisture hence it falls
5.)pressure in the atmosphere ALWAYS decreases with hight
6.)decreasing air pressure> Temp drops(hairspray)increasing air pressure> Temp rises (football pump)
7. Clouds/precipitation are caused by rising air (Low's).... Clear skies are caused by sinking air (highs) |
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Term
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Definition
hydrosphere-oceans, lakes
lithosphere-crust, land
biosphere-the living part of the planet
atmosphere-mixture of the different gases ( the Composition of the atmosphere is NOT constant. Changes placed a place in time to time |
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| composition of the atmosphere |
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Definition
permanent gases ( 98%)
-nitrogen 78.08%
-oxygen 20.95%
-Argon .93%
-neon .001%
variable gases a.k.a. greenhouse gases(2%)
-water vapor (0-4%) most variable
-carbon dioxide
-nitrous oxide
-ozone
-methane
*these greenhouse gases let sunlight in in traps heat. |
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| in respects to a location within a continent. Denver has more continentality than Houston. |
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| in the stratosphere a.k.a. "filter of the rays" |
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| in the troposphere... Pollution |
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| particles and solar winds formed the earth and then it cooled.outgassing occurred including water vapor. Clouds formed rain fell. At first rain "boiled away" after completely cooling the Earth the oceans eventually filled with water.and hydraulic cycle began |
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the first atmosphere contain little amounts of oxygen, how did oxygen as we know it today form??
UV radiation through chemical reactions produced some oxygen. Largely most came through photosynthesis |
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Homosphere-surface to 55 miles up –well mixed region many Atoms
heterosphere-did a small number of atoms molecules higher up |
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| layers by electrical properties |
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| ionosphere-40/50-not a layer, but no electrical region. Molecules (N) and Atoms(O)are readily ionized with energy from sun's radiation contains the layers (low)D, (mid)E,(high)F |
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the Earth intercepts lesson to billions of all the suns energy!
However solar energy represents 99.9% of the energy that heats the Earth's surface
if the sudden stop shining and winced I the Earth will cool and die |
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Earth rotation-Earth spins on its axis once every 24 hours and is responsible for day in night
-orbital rotation responsible for the earths orbit around the sun every 365 1/2 days.responsible for the seasons |
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More of an angle determines the number of "atmospheres" that the suns rays must traverse.
90° overhead – ( 1 atmosphere)-most direct rays
30°above horizon-(2 atmospheres)
5 to 10° above horizon- ( 11 atmospheres) |
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March 21 – vernal equinox
June 21-summer solstice
September 21-autumale equinox
December 21-winter solstice |
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tropic of cancer is located at 23.5° NORTH
tropic of Capricorn is located at 23.5° SOUTH |
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100% from sun
51% absorbed by Earth
19% absorbed by atmosphere and clouds
20% scattered by clouds
4% reflected by the surface of the earth
* heat in the atmosphere is largely result of the heat on earth surface |
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| four ways to transfer energy |
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Definition
conduction, convection, advection, radiation
1. Conduction-not all materials are conducted. Transfer energy (hot>cold) through material.not very important for meteorology
2.convection-very important for meteorology-it's the vertical transfer of heat through particles resulting in thunderstorms
3. Advection-the horizontal transfer of energy
4. Radiation- transfer of heat from the sun (short wave-solar, longwave-terrestrial) |
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| dust and other particles redirects radiation which results in light. Small gas molecules scatter radiation |
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| specific types of scattering (two) |
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| Rayleigh scattering-short waves solar-scatters gases which creates a blue sky |
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| total fraction of total radiation that is reflected by a given surface ( black, white, etc.) |
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| Place to place in time to time. Due to cloud cover in particular matter. Due to angle of sunrays. Nature Earth's surface |
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| average planetary albedo percentage ( 30%) |
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Definition
freshly fallen snow – 80 to 85%
thick clouds – 70 to 80%
old snow – 50 to 60%
thin clouds- 25 to 50%
Sand surfaces- 20 to 30%
green areas – 20 to 25%
dry earth – 15 to 25%
wet earth – 10%
forested areas – 5 to 10%
water overhead – 3 to 5%
* Sun needs to get to the earth surface to heat it |
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*if an object radiates more energy than it absorbs it will become colder
*if an object absorbs more energy than a radiates it will turn warmer |
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perfect absorber (all of the radiation it receives it absorbs) or a perfect emitter (emits Max radiation possible at a given temperature)
* the not have to be black
"the Earth is a blackbody not the Earth's atmosphere" |
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Definition
the property have a system that enables it to do work.
ex, kinetic electrical etc. |
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| form of energy that traversed between objects by virtue of temperature differences |
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ratio heat absorbed or released by a system compared to the corresponding temperatures rise and fall
*the more he it takes to warm the higher the capacity (ocean compared to a pond) |
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"hidden" heat or moisture
-heat energy required for change of state
*evaporation and condensation |
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the evaporation of water is a cooling process.
-heat is hidden away in water vapor
-Evaporation= absorbed latent heat |
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the condensation of water is a warming process
-sensible heat is released within rising air particles this causes the particles to be warmer
-latent heat is released |
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| Latitutional heat balance |
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Definition
worldwide average short wave (solar) radiation is balanced by average longwave (terrestrial) radiation this is not true of each latitude north and south.
-At 36° latitude or below or short wave radiation is received and lost
-36° latitude above the opposite is true
the Earth's atmosphere and to a lesser extent the oceans help transfer colder air to the polls
*** 30-50° is the "war zone" Battle of the atmospheres |
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Definition
the expansion and contraction of a liquidated on an index scale
-maximum thermometer (Mercury)
-minimum thermometer (alcohol)
-Mercury is now outlawed in federal facilities |
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| ways to measure temperature |
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Definition
Hygrothermometer-looks like a mushroom catches air
radio meters- satellite application
bimetallic thermometer-makes a thermographic chart |
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| door to the north no direct sunlight well ventilated shielded from any radiating surfaces 5 feet above ground level in a grassy vegetated area. The more inconvenient the better |
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| Fahrenheit (only in US) and Celsius |
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developed in 1714 by Daniel Fahrenheit
_based on Mercury and the glass barometer based on the zero point
32° – freezing point
98.6°-human temperature
212° boiling point |
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Definition
used worldwide developed by anders
using decimal scale where freezing is zero
0°-freezing
37°-human
100°-boiling
*kelvin and Celsius are the same
** degree of Celsius is larger than a degree of Fahrenheit by factor of 1.8 |
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| formula for Fahrenheit to Celsius |
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Definition
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| formula for celcius to farenheight |
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| controllers for temperature |
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Definition
solar radiation is the primary control
* place to place changes are due to differential heating of land and water, ocean currents, elevated latitude and geographic position |
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| when plants release paper |
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| temperature data is gathered at thousands of stations worldwide on an hourly basis |
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| uses for temperature data |
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hourly temperatures, max and min daily, record of high low, heating and cooling growing degree days, daily average temperature, monthly average temp
*these records are sometimes used for CSI data |
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| heating/cooling degree days |
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Definition
HDD/CDD's were developed by heating engineers
* these are considered units of measurement
-HDD/CDD's are practical method of evaluating energy, energy demand and consumption
-these degree days are based on the assumption that heating/cooling is not required when it's 65°F |
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-formula
examples of degree days
high 90 low 70
high 50 low 40 |
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average the high low temperature.... Find the difference in degrees to 65
avg 80-65= 15 DD cooling
avg 45>65= 20 DD Heatin |
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CDD season-January> December (encompasses entire summer season)
HDD season-July> June 30 ( encompasses entire winter season) |
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| bio meteorological applications |
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Definition
heat stress index
developed by RG steadham '83
two factors temperature and humidity
-windchill index
developed by polar scientist in the 1940s
two factors air temp and wind speed
* also clothes humidity and solar radiation |
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Definition
most important element in the atmosphere
varies from 4% near the equator and 0% at the poles |
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| the amount of water vapor in the air |
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ratio of the airs actual water vapor content compared with the amount of water vapor required for saturation at a given temperature.
express as a percentage
total saturation-100%
tells us how close we are to saturation |
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| influences on relative humidity |
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Definition
-adding/subtracting moisture to the air
-changing a given temperature
-daily temp changes
-air moves horizontally
-air moves vertically |
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the temperature to which a parcel of air would need to be cold to in order for a given parcel of air to become saturated
-it is always less than the air temperature. If same era saturated |
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Definition
slinger wet/dry
hair hygrometers
electric hydrogmeters
infared hydrogmeter-sattelitees |
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Definition
state of equilibrium of the atmosphere
-stable equilibrium
-unstable equilibrium |
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| in order to determine atmospheric stability...… |
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Definition
We look at the temperature of a parcel of air as it rises and sinks in the atmosphere compared to the temperature of the surrounding environmental air.... Micro-analyzing
--- if air parcelis warmer than its surrounding parcels of air.... Then it is considered unstable
rises> Cools..... Sinks> Warms
*** the rate at which air cools/warms the pens upon the air moisture content and whether it is saturated or unsaturated |
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| adiabatic and diabatic processes |
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Definition
adiabatic- when parcel of air cools(expands)or warms (compresses) with NO change in atmosphere
diabatic...including changes in the atmosphere |
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| as parcels rise or sink in the atmosphere we assume a Adiabatic process is occurring |
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unsaturated air (DRY Adiabatic)
-air cools/heats at 5.5/1000ft
saturated air(WET adiabatic)
-air cools/heats 3.3/1000ft |
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| environmental lapse rates ELR |
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Definition
by looking at the environment temperature profile via thermodynamic diagrams( data provided by radiosonde and profilers)we can determine stability
*** the overall atmospheric temperature profile |
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absolutely unstable> When you ELR is greater then air molecule (5.5/1000 feet)>>>>> (fast)
conditionally unstable-When the ELR is in between 5.5 and 3.3
absolutely stable-when ELR is below 3.3<<< (slow)
***if air is saturated it is unstable |
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air resist change
stability is enhanced by:
radiation of cooling of the earth surface after sunset
cooling air mass from below as it traverses a colder surface
sinking air
*** promotes cool dense stable air close to the ground |
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Definition
once forced upward initially air rises
-instability is enhanced by:
intense solar heating
heating of an air mass from below as it moves over a warmer surface
forceful lifting of air( Mountain)
upward motion with surface air convergence |
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