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Tools of Meteorology

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Tools of Meteorology Tools of Meteorology Barometer - measures air pressure (mercury and aneroid) Anemometer measures wind speeds ten meters above the ground. Psychrometer measures humidity. Thermometer measures temperature Wind vane – determine the direction of winds Composition of the Atmosphere Then…. (early Earth ) and Now… • Gases released from • 78% Nitrogen volcanoes filled the • 20% Oxygen atmosphere with: – Carbon dioxide – Sulfur dioxide – Water vapor – Nitrogen How Heat Energy Moves Through the Atmosphere • Radiation – transfer of energy through space in the form of visible light, UV rays, and other types of electromagnetic waves. (from the sun) • Conduction – transfer of heat energy through collisions of the atoms or molecules of a substance. (walking barefooted on the hot pavement – contact) • Convection – transfer of heat energy in a liquid or gas through the motion of the liquid or gas caused by different densities. (hot air rises, cool air sinks) Energy Budget • Incoming solar radiation is called Insolation. • On land insolation only heats the top few centimeters of soil, but can reach and heat meters in water (and convection helps it). • Lines separating temperature zones on a map are called isotherms. Energy Budget • Much of the heat energy is reflected back to space. (Remember: Albedo - % energy reflected back to space) • Carbon dioxide and water vapor in the atmosphere prevent some from radiating back into space (Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas – it traps heat energy in the atmosphere so Earth can warm) – This helped Earth thrive as the planet it is today. – However, now we may have too much carbon dioxide in our atmosphere which some say are causing global warming. Humans Impacting the Atmosphere • Air pollutants – any airborne particle that could harm humans or the environment. – CO2 from car exhaust. CO2, NO2, SO2 from burning fossil fuels, etc. • Produces acid rain and smog (ozone on ground level – causes lung problems) • Ozone depletion – which allows more UV rays to enter Earth and cause skin cancers, etc. • Global warming – causing increase because deforestation and increase of burning fossil fuels. Layers of the Atmosphere • Thermosphere – above 90km , 4th layer, thin atmosphere, temps increase with altitude from -80ºC to above 1000ºC – Ionosphere is part of thermosphere (about 90-500km above Earth), where auroras take place. • Mesosphere – 3rd layer, 50-90km above Earth’s surface, temps drop with increasing altitude from -20ºC to -90ºC – Meteors are burnt up in top • Stratosphere – 2nd layer, clear, dry layer, lower portion is cold about -60ºC to upper portion about-20ºC. – Temperature increase caused by ozone layer (ozone absorbs ultraviolet rays from sun and then releases some of it energy in form of heat. • Troposphere – lowest layer of Earth’s atmosphere, temperatures decrease with altitude from 18ºC to -60ºC, – contains most of water vapor in atmosphere so most of weather occurs here, planes fly here. Layers of the Atmosphere Layers of the Atmosphere Ch. 18 – Humidity and Clouds Humidity – the water vapor in the air Water vapor in the air (you can feel it), the more water vapor the more humid it is. • Specific Humidity – the actual amount of water vapor in the air. • Saturated – lots of water vapor in the air, this is when the rate of condensation = the rate of evaporation. – Like water droplets on the side of a bottle. The warmer the air the more water vapor it can hold. • Relative humidity – compares the actual water vapor in the air with the amount it can hold. – Relative humidity = Specific humidity X 100% maximum capacity • Dew Point – temperature where saturation occurs and condensation begins • Pyschrometer is the tool that measures the amount of humidity in the air. Saturated Water vapor in the air can Condense and form Clouds Cloud Types are classified by altitude: Cloud name meanings: • High – above 7,000m • Cirrus & cirro = high, • Cirrus, cirrostratus, feathery, icy cirrocumulus • Alto = between 2,000- • Middle - ~2,000-7,000m 7,000m • Altostratus, altocumulus • Nimbus & nimbo = dark, rain • Low – Below 2,000m • Stratus & strato = low, • Stratus, nimbostratus, form in layers stratocumulus • Cumulus & cumulo = • Vertical fluffy with a flat base, • Cumulus, cumulonimbus grow upward The shape of the clouds shows how air moves through them. Label cloud types When the clouds get full they Precipitate • Most precipitation occurs: – with warm, moist air that rises high in large quantities – near the equator (almost daily Thunderstorms – on the windward side of mountains – with low pressure systems Ch. 19 – Air Pressure/Winds • Air Pressure – weight of the atmosphere pushing down on Earth (we don’t feel it because air is pushing on all sides, not just down from the top.) • Barometer – tool that measures air pressure. – Use millibars to show pressure on maps = they make isobars when connected. Connect the same numbers to draw in the isobars. So why does air pressure change? • Elevation • Temperature (warm air is low pressure, and may get rain) • Humidity (rising air pressure is cooler, drier air/fair weather) Reading Pressure on a Map • Isobars = lines showing air having the same pressure. • High pressure area (or a High) – Rotates clockwise • Low pressure area (or a Low) – Rotates counterclockwise • Pressure gradient = pressure change Distance coverage – Lines close together show that pressure is quickly changing (and we will have strong winds) Lines further apart shows weak pressure gradient (and we will have week winds). Winds Blow Because… • Air flows from an area of High pressure to an area of Low Pressure H to • Coriolis Effect - the apparent curve ofL a moving object due to the Earth’s rotation – Causes curve to the right in the Northern Hemi – Causes curve to the left in the Southern Hemi. • Jet Stream – fast moving winds near the top of the troposphere (winds 120-240 kph) – In the US the jet streams supplies energy to storms and directs their paths. • Anemometer – tool that measures wind speed Global Wind Patterns • Doldrums or Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) – Low pressure in tropics – Hot, humid, little to no wind, rain is common. • Subtropical highs or Horse Latitudes – between 20-35 degrees – Deserts – because sinking cooler air with no precipitation is near. • Tradewinds – between 35-60 degrees latitude – Warm, steady, winds • Polar highs – High pressure above 60 degrees latitude (in the poles) – Where cold air sinks at the poles, usually easterly surface winds. Global Wind Patterns Effects of seasons on winds… • With a change in air pressure the direction of winds changes • So winds change direction with the seasons – Monsoons • Occur southern Asia • Heavy rains Ch. 20 Fronts & Severe Weather Ch. 20 Fronts & Severe Weather • Air mass – large body of air in the lower troposphere with similar characteristics. – Has characteristics of climate where it is and when it travels brings those temps, so can change depending on where it is travelling to and from. • Fronts – a boundary that separates opposing air masses. – Fronts usually bring precipitation. Types of Fronts (and the Precipitation along Fronts) • Cold Front – cold air moving in displacing warm air. (Cold air is more dense than warm air, so the cold air slides underneath the warm air and forces the warm air upward.) – Steep slopes, quick T-storms over a small area because cold fronts tend to move relatively quickly. • Warm Front – warm air moves in displacing cold air – Gradual slope, high cirrus clouds, then cirrostratus, then nimbostratus clouds, steady rain over a large area for long periods of time (maybe a day or more). Types of Fronts • Occluded Front – when a fast cold front moves in and catches up to a warm front – You get warm air caught between two colder air Warm masses and it forces warm air up. Cold Cold • Stationary Front – front that is not moving – May have clouds, precipitation, and flooding if still in one area for too long. Cold Front • Steep slopes between air masses as the cold air slides in underneath and pushes the warm air up and out, quick T-storms over a small area Warm Front • Gradual slope between air masses as the warm air moves in and rises up along the cold air to push it out, high cirrus clouds, then cirrostratus, steady rain over a large area for long periods of time. Occluded and Stationary Fronts Fronts Fronts are usually connected to a mid-latitude low- pressure system. (Remember: low pressure brings precipitation) It generally takes 12-24 hours for a low-pressure system to pass through 1st 2 stages, when it reaches occluded front the low can last for 3 days or more. Fronts • To find a front on a weather map you will need temperature, wind direction, and dew point. • Here are the rules to follow: – Wind direction changes behind fronts – Temperature changes sharply across fronts – Dew point changes sharply across fronts. Low and High Pressure Systems and the Upper-Air Flow Upper-air flow (jet streams) controls the high and low pressure systems path and intensity on the surface. Weather Associated with Pressure Systems • High pressure systems are associated with fair weather because the air in a high pressure system is sinking so the skies clear up. – Clear skies – Days may be hot and nights may be cold – Air is still Weather Associated with Pressure Systems • If a low pressure system passes north of us we will likely have a warm front move over us followed by a cold front. (so here is the weather we may receive from a low) – 1st when the warm front is approaching we will get high clouds (cirrus) and then steady snow or rain, then drizzle – 2nd after warm front passes, we will have warm temps, winds will shift, and skies slowly clearing – 3rd as the cold front starts to approach we will get scattered showers and possible thunderstorms – 4th after cold front passes, the temps will drop, winds will shift and skies will clear.
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