AtmosphereThe atmosphere is the thin layer of air surrounding the earth99% of the atmosphere is within 30 km of the surfaceThe atmosphere is vital for lifeThe air we breatheLiquid waterIf no air, water will boil awayTemperate temperaturesNot freezing cold or boiling hotComprised mostly of Nitrogen (78%) and Oxygen (21%), along with Argon (1%), carbon dioxide (.038%), and small amounts of other trace gasesOther trace gases=less than 1%Methane (CH4)Natural gasOzone (O3)Absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation from sunChlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)Formerly used as a coolant in air conditionersReact with and destroy ozoneMany others…Aerosols: Small solid or liquid particles suspended in the atmosphereBoth natural and man-made pollutantsComponent of smogReduce visibilityHistory of Meteorology340 B.C.: Aristotle writes Meteorologica1600s-1700s: Weather instruments invented1843: Telegraph invented1920s: Study of air masses and fronts1940s: Upper-air observations begin1950s: Development of weather radar and computers1960s: First satellites launchedWeatherWeather: Atmospheric conditions at a particular time and placeElements: Temperature, pressure, humidity, cloud cover, precipitation, visibility, wind speed and directionObserving weatherSatellites: view clouds from spaceRadar: View precipitation from groundDoppler radar: Can sense motion of precipitation particles toward/away from radarData from weather instruments plotted using the station modelExamine temperature data (colored) to find areas of warm and cold airMasses of warm and cold air meet at frontsCold front – Cold air advancesWarm front – Cold air retreatsLow pressure (L=red): Counter-clockwise circulation and clouds/rainHigh pressure (H=blue): Clockwise circulation and clear skiesWindWind direction is identified by the direction FROM which the wind is blowingA north wind blows from the north (toward the south)Stick on weather map identifies wind directionBarb(s) identify wind speedOne barb = 10 knotsHalf barb = 5 knotsFlag = 50 knotsJet Stream axis is greenClimateClimate: The average weather over a long (10+ year) period of timeWeather recordsClimate changes over long periods of time and is changing nowLook at long-term trends in weather dataOften requires detailed statistical analysisYou CANNOT see climate change by looking out the window!!!CANNOT use individual weather events to prove or disprove changes in climate!Climate is what you expect, weather is what you getReading Quiz Q&AWhich of the following gases is most closely linked to day-to-day weather changes?Water vaporWhat is the most common gas in the earth's atmosphere?NitrogenWhich of the following statements is correct concerning climate?Climate is a long-term average of the weather. one must be careful never to use individual weather events to prove or disprove changes in climate.Place these storms in order from LARGEST to SMALLEST.Mid-latitude cyclone (1000km), hurricane (500km, thunderstorm (10-100 km), tornado (10m-1km)If you are facing north and the wind is blowing in your face, what is the wind direction?North. Wind direction is always defined relative to the direction FROM which it is blowing.Which of the following describes airflow around a low pressure system in the Northern Hemisphere?Counter-clockwise and inwardWeather, Climate, and Atmosphere 08/29/2012Atmosphere-The atmosphere is the thin layer of air surrounding the earth-99% of the atmosphere is within 30 km of the surface-The atmosphere is vital for lifeoThe air we breatheoLiquid waterIf no air, water will boil away-Temperate temperaturesoNot freezing cold or boiling hot-Comprised mostly of Nitrogen (78%) and Oxygen (21%), along with Argon (1%), carbon dioxide (.038%), and small amounts of other trace gasesoOther trace gases=less than 1%Methane (CH4)Natural gasOzone (O3)Absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation from sunChlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)Formerly used as a coolant in air conditionersReact with and destroy ozoneMany others…-Aerosols: Small solid or liquid particles suspended in the atmosphereoBoth natural and man-made pollutantsoComponent of smogoReduce visibilityHistory of Meteorology-340 B.C.: Aristotle writes Meteorologica-1600s-1700s: Weather instruments invented-1843: Telegraph invented-1920s: Study of air masses and fronts-1940s: Upper-air observations begin-1950s: Development of weather radar and computers-1960s: First satellites launchedWeather-Weather: Atmospheric conditions at a particular time and place-Elements: Temperature, pressure, humidity, cloud cover, precipitation, visibility, wind speed and direction-Observing weatheroSatellites: view clouds from spaceoRadar: View precipitation from groundDoppler radar: Can sense motion of precipitation particles toward/away from radaroData from weather instruments plotted using the station modeloExamine temperature data (colored) to find areas of warm and cold airoMasses of warm and cold air meet at fronts Cold front – Cold air advancesWarm front – Cold air retreatsoLow pressure (L=red): Counter-clockwise circulation and clouds/rainoHigh pressure (H=blue): Clockwise circulation and clear skiesoWindWind direction is identified by the direction FROM which the wind is blowingA north wind blows from the north (toward the south)Stick on weather map identifies wind directionBarb(s) identify wind speedOne barb = 10 knotsHalf barb = 5 knotsFlag = 50 knotsoJet Stream axis is greenClimate-Climate: The average weather over a long (10+ year) period of timeoWeather recordsoClimate changes over long periods of time and is changing now-Look at long-term trends in weather dataoOften requires detailed statistical analysis-You CANNOT see climate change by looking out the window!!!-CANNOT use individual weather events to prove or disprove changes in climate!oClimate is what you expect, weather is what you getReading Quiz Q&A-Which of the following gases is most closely linked to day-to-day weather changes?oWater vapor-What is the most common gas in the earth's atmosphere?oNitrogen-Which of the following statements is correct concerning climate?oClimate is a long-term average of the weather. one must be careful never to use individual weather events to prove or disprove changes in climate.-Place these storms in order from LARGEST to SMALLEST.oMid-latitude cyclone (1000km), hurricane (500km, thunderstorm (10-100 km), tornado (10m-1km)-If