Met Lesson 1 Flashcards
Composition of the Atmosphere
Nitrogen = 78% Oxygen = 21% CO2 = 0.03%
Gravity Associated with Pressure
There is a higher pressure closer to the Earth’s surface
There is the highest amount of water vapour closest to the Earth’s surface
Layers of the Atmosphere
Troposphere Tropopause Stratosphere Mesosphere Thermosphere Exosphere
Troposphere
Almost all of the weather occurs in the troposphere
Tropopause
Top of the troposphere
30,000ft at the poles and 60,000ft at the Equator
Convection weakens
Stratosphere
Isothermal layer
-56.5 degrees celcius
Stevenson Screen
Measures temperature and dew point
International standard atmosphere (ISA) at MSL
Temperature: +15 degrees celcius with a lapse rate of -1.98 degrees celcius/1000ft to 36 090ft
Pressure: 1013.25hPa/29.92 inch Hg with a lapse rate of - 1hPa/30ft increase in altitude
Density: 1.225kg/m³
Horizontal Pressure Gradient
Areas of unequal pressures attempt to equal out
Air will flow from a high to a low
Affects of Volume on Density
If volume decreases: pressure, temperature and density increase
If volume increases: pressure, temperature and density decrease
Heat in the Atmosphere
Due to electro-magnetic radiation
Air is warmest closer to the Earths surface
Types of Electro-Magnetic Radiation
Short wave solar radiation from the sun
Long wave terrestrial radiation from the heated Earth
Types of Heat Transfer
Radiation (eg. sun or our bodies)
Conduction (eg. pan on a hotplate)
Convection (rising air)
Advection (eg. sea breeze)
Factors Affecting Atmospheric Temperature
Diurnal temperature variations The seasons Specific heat capacity Reflection Clouds Wind Costal proximity
Diurnal Temperature Variations
3pm is the warmest time of the day
Just after sunrise is the coldest part of the day
Solar radiation only occurs during daylight hours
Biggest amplitude at in-land stations
The Seasons
The Earth revolves around the sun in 1 year
The tilt of the Earth gives rise to the 4 seasons
Equinox
Equal amounts night and day
Specific Heat Capacity
SHC of water is 1 calorie/gram
SHC of air is 0.3 cal/g
Takes 3x more energy to heat water than dry air
Reflection
Fresh snow reflects 90% of heat energy Old snow reflects 60% of heat energy Sand reflects 20-30% of heat energy Ground (soil) reflects 15% of heat energy Forest reflects 5-10% of heat energy
Effect of Cloud
Overcast days are cooler
Overcast nights are warmer (blanketing effect)
Cloudless nights are relatively cooler due to maximum terrestrial radiation
Effect of Wind
Mixing of different air masses moderates the overall temperature
Effect of Costal Proximity
The cool sea breeze will cool a hot summers day on the coast
The warm sea breeze will warm a cool day