Exam 1- definitions and concepts Flashcards
Adiabatic
If a material undergoes a change in its physical state (e.g. its pressure, volume, or temperature) without any heat being added to it or withdrawn from it
Aerosols
Tiny solid or liquid suspended particles of various composition
Outgassing
The constant outpouring of gases from earth’s hot interior
Lapse rate
The rate at which the air temperature decreases with height. Environmental lapse rate is around 6.5 deg C/km
Temperature inversion
When air temperature increases with height.
Definition of climate
The accumulation of daily and seasonal rather events over a long period of time.
Concept of an air parcel
1) Thermally isolated from its environment
2) Always remaining at exactly the same pressure as its environment
3) Moving slowly enough that the macroscopic kinetic energy of the air parcel can be neglected.
First law of thermodynamics
= conservation of energy.
for atmosphere:
deltaEmechanical + delta E internal = 0
where delta E mechanical is parcel expansion/compression and delta E internal is work done to outside environment
P * delta V + delta E_internal = 0
conditionally unstable
when ELR is between DALR and SALR. Air parcel will become buoyant if lifted to the level of free convection.
stable with respect to unsaturated air, stable with respect to saturated air.
equation for first law of thermodynamics
PdV + CvdT = 0
dew point
temperature to which air must be cooled at constant pressure to become saturated with respect to a plane surface of pure water.
lifting condensation level
the level to which an unsaturated (but moist) parcel of air can be lifted adiabatically before it becomes saturated
equivalent potential temperature
air is lifted adiabatically until all of the vapor condenses, releases its latent heat, and falls out. the air is then compressed dry adiabatically to 1000 hPa. its temperature at this point is the equivalent potential temperature.
growth of cloud droplets, warm clouds
collision and coalescence
growth of cloud droplets, cold clouds
Bergeron process
Riming and Aggregation
