LECTURE 2.1: Hydrology (The Atmosphere) Flashcards
It is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere that focuses on weather processes and short term forecasting
Meteorology
These are observable weather events which illuminate and are explained by the science of meteorology
Meteorological Phenomena
Refers to the gases surrounding a star or planetary body held in place by gravity
Atmosphere
What is the composition of earth’s atmosphere?
21% - Oxygen
78% - Nitrogen
0.09% - Argon
0.03% - Carbon Dioxide
0.07% - Trace Substances
What are the trace substances in the atmosphere?
Neon
Helium
Methane
Water Vapor
Krypton
Hydrogen
Xenon
Ozone
What are the different layers of the earth’s atmosphere?
Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere
Exosphere
- the lowest layer and closest to the Earth’s surface
- contains approximately 75% of the Earth’s atmosphere
- about 99% of the total atmospheric water vapors and aerosols are presebt
Troposphere
- found to be the high-temperature region and the temperature decrease along with increased altitude
Troposphere
The outer membrane of the troposphere is called?
Tropopause
What happens when the temperature rises, the density is low
Troposphere Expansion
What happens when there is a decrease in temperature, the density is high
Troposphere contraction
- the second layer of the Earth’s atmosphere
- the significance of this region is the presence of an ozone layer
- the temperature increases along with an increase in altitude
- atmospheric condition is stable
Stratosphere
The outermost region of tge stratosphere is called?
Stratopause
It is a special kind of cloud found in tye lower layer of the stratosphere
Nacrose
- the coldest region of the Earth’s atmosphere is found in the mesosphere
- a few weather condutions like a particular type of cloud formed here
- also known for the destructive region for meteors
Mesosphere
It is the outermost region of the mesosphere
Mesopause
This is a type of cloud formed in the layer of mesosphere
Polar mesospheric noctilucent cloud
- the height of this layer varies due to increased solar activities
- temperature may reach 1500 degrees celsius yet, due to the least number of atoms, the heat energy remains
- auroras are also seen in this sphere specifically in the ionosphere
- hydrogen and helium ions are present in the outer layer of this sphere
Thermosphere
This is where the international space station is located
Thermosphere
- the outermost layer of the atmosphere that directly connects with space
- atoms and molecules are present in this region and move extremely fast
- a very thin layer of air is present in this layer
Exosphere
It is the condition of the atmosphere in one place during a short period of time
Weather
It is a weather pattern typical for an area over a long period of time
Climate
It is the ability of the atmosphere to retain its position and determines the motion of air particles
Atmospheric Stability
These are the types of Atmospheric Stability
Stable
Unstable
Neutral
This refers to the volume of air, large enough to contain a great number of molecules, but small enough so hat energy (heat) and mass (air molecules) are nearly constant within boundaries
Air Parcel
It means no exchange of energy with the outside environment
Adiabatic
These are two types of Adiabatic Process
Adiabatic Cooling
Adiabatic Warming
The rate of atmosphere decrease of the rising dry air parcel, it is usually 9.8 degrees centigrade per kilometer.
Dry condensed less when going and latent heat of evaporation is less compared to normal lapse rate, hence temperature decrease is more with altitude.
Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate
The global average tropospheric lapse rate is 6.5 K/km-1, which is stable dry lifting
Dry Stability
The rate of temperature decrease of the rising humid air parcel, it is usually 4.5 degrees cebtigrade per kilometer.
The latent heat evaporation is released more when air goes up, hence temperature decrease is less of rising air and creates stability
Moist Adiabatic Lapse Rate
These are types of Moist Adiabatic Lapse Rate
Absolutely Stable
Absolutely Unstable
Conditionally Unstable
The atmosphere is said to be in this condition if the environmental lapse rate is less than the moist adiabatic lapse rate
Absolutely Stable
The atmosphere is said to be in this condition if the environmental lapse rate is greater than the dry adiabatic lapse rate
Absolutely unstable
The atmosphere is said to be in this condition if the environmental lapse rate is between the moist and dry adiabatic lapse rate
Conditionally Unstable
Variables influencing the Atmosphere
Temperature
Pressure
Humidity
Cloudiness
Winds
Different types of instruments
Thermometer
Hygrometer
Barometer
Anemometer
Wind Vane
It is an instrument used to measure the air temperature
Thermometer
It is an instrument used to measure the humidity of the air
Hygrometer
It is an instrument used tomeasure air pressure
Barometer
It is an instrument used to measure wind speed
Anemometer
It is an instrument used to determine the direction from which air is moving and usually mounted at the highest peak on the roof
Wind Vane
