Meteorology

The study of the entire atmosphere, including its weather.

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vvvv **INSOLATION** Solar energy tat reaches the earth; we receive one two billionth of the sun's rays.

G **R** E **E** N **H** O **U** S **E** E **F** F **E** C **T**. **.**.

short ultra violet waves from the sun are able to reach the earth's surface, then longer infrared waves re-radiated by the earth's surface are trapped by greenhouse gasses. (cfc's and co2)





Water can spread heat easily because it is a fluid. - some solar energy is used in the process of evaporation. thus, less solar energy is available to raise the temperature of the water. -water can spread heat easily because it is a fluid. - some solar energy is used in the process of evaporation. thus, less solar solar energy is available to raise the temperature of the water.

- water cools more slowly than land because its heat is spread through a greater depth.

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**RELATIVE** **HUMIDITY**- compares the actual amount of water vapor in the air (spec. humidity) with the mazimum amount of water vapor the air can hold at that temperature. ======

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**CONDENSATION**- The change from water vapor to a liquid. this occurs when the temperature drops low enough that the capacity for water vapor in the air drops below the specific humidity. ======


 * contacting a colder surface.
 * radiating heat
 * mixing with colder air.
 * expanding when it rises.


 * when cooling occurs by contact with colder surface, the water vapor condenses directly on that surface.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- __ANEROID BAROMETER__: measures pressure with a thin metal can. ======

//MILLIBAR//: a metric unit of pressure. standard sea-level pressure is 1013.2 MB

//ISOBAR//: lines that join points having the same air pressure at a given time.
 * each line is worth 4 MB

//High pressure area//- the area of the largest pressure. the pressure in a high is greater than the surrounding air. //Low pressure area//- the area has a lower pressure than the surrounding area. //Pressure Gradient//- the rate of change for air pressure between two points.

__Rising Barometer__- Greater pressure usually means cooler, drier weather. (sinking air) __Falling Barometer__- Less pressure because the air is warm and moist and rises. this can be a sign of precipitation.

=- the horizontal movement of air from areas of high air pressure to areas of low pressure=
 * //WINDS BLOW FROM HIGH BELOW1273063146 trick? yes!//**


 * the closer the spacing between the isobars the stronger the winds.
 * Winds blow across isobars from high to low.

Wind flows from high pressure at the poles to low pressure at the equator.
 * the wind is deflected by the Earth's rotation; called the corilus effect.

- an **air mass** is a huge section of the lower troposphere that has the same kind of weather (temperature and moisture properties) throughout. - the best //source regions// for air masses are large flat areas where air can be stagnant long enough to take on the characteristics of the surface below.
 * __AIR MASSES__**

Air Masses have two characteristics. 1. //temperature// depends on whether it comes from the tropics or polar regions. 2. The //Humidity// of the air mass depends on wether it comes from land or sea. Air masses are named from their source region. c- continental - T- tropical m- martime moist P- polar --A- Arctic.



- boundaries between air masses are fronts. THIS IS A COLD FRONT WEATHER MAP. 1.) Cold air is advancing and replacing warm air. 2.) Cold fronts are steeper and more faster than warm fronts. 3.) The air rises upward rapidly forming cumulonimbus. 4.) Heavy precipitation and thunderstorms which start and end quickly are associated with cold fronts. 5.) Precipitation covers 75-100 miles and occurs both before and after a cold front passes at the surface. 6.) Cold fronts travel at speeds between 25-30 MPH. 7.) As soon as the front passes the temperature will decrease and the wind speed may rise. think of icicles... because of the triangles on this cold front.
 * FRONTS**
 * Cold Front

Warm Front 1) Warm air is advancing and replacing cold air 2) Warm fronts move slower; warm air moves up a gentle frontal surface 3) Warm air may travel 1000 KM before rising 2 or 3 KM 4) First cirrus and cirrostratus clouds form and then there are altostratus clouds. Finally, steady rain falls from nimbostratus clouds. 5) Precipitation can occur for 225-275 miles ahead of where the front touches the ground 6) Warm fronts travel at speeds between 20-25 MPH 7) Warmer temperatures follow the passing warm front 1) A cold front is advancing and combining with a warm front 2) Occluded fronts move the slowest of all (20 MPH) 3) These fronts are associated with cirrus and stratus clouds front of nimbostratus and cumulonimbus clouds 4) Precipitation occurs for about 400 miles, most of which is in front of the frontal boundary 5) Cool air is in front, as warm air is forced up by the cold air which follows the passing occluded front
 * __Occluded Front__**

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