Weather Overview

Study Notes

Overview of Weather

Weather refers to the temporary and local conditions of the atmosphere at a specific place and time
It is a combination of temperature, humidity, cloudiness, wind, and precipitation

Factors Affecting Weather

Atmospheric Conditions
- Temperature: influenced by latitude, altitude, and time of day
- Humidity: amount of water vapor in the air
- Atmospheric pressure: high and low-pressure systems
Solar Radiation
- Amount of energy received from the sun
- Variations in solar radiation due to Earth's tilt and orbit
Wind Patterns
- Global wind patterns: trade winds, westerlies, and jet stream
- Local wind patterns: sea breezes, mountain breezes, and valley breezes
Ocean Currents
- Heat transfer between oceans and atmosphere
- Influence on regional climate and weather patterns

Weather Systems

High-Pressure Systems
- Characterized by sinking air, clear skies, and fair weather
- Associated with anti-cyclones and fair weather
Low-Pressure Systems
- Characterized by rising air, cloudiness, and precipitation
- Associated with cyclones and stormy weather
Fronts
- Boundaries between air masses of different temperatures and humidity
- Types: cold front, warm front, stationary front, and occluded front

Weather Phenomena

Clouds
- Classification: cumulus, stratus, cirrus, and nimbus
- Formation: condensation, evaporation, and updrafts
Precipitation
- Types: rain, snow, sleet, hail, and freezing rain
- Formation: condensation, nucleation, and precipitation processes
Severe Weather
- Thunderstorms: lightning, thunder, and strong winds
- Tornadoes: rotating columns of air
- Hurricanes and typhoons: large-scale storm systems

Weather Forecasting

Observation
- Weather stations: surface weather observations
- Radar and satellites: remote sensing of weather patterns
Modeling
- Numerical weather prediction (NWP) models
- Ensemble forecasting: multiple models and scenarios
Forecasting
- Short-term forecasting: nowcasting and short-range forecasting
- Long-term forecasting: climate forecasting and seasonal forecasting

Overview of Weather

Weather is a combination of temporary and local conditions of the atmosphere, including temperature, humidity, cloudiness, wind, and precipitation.

Factors Affecting Weather

Atmospheric Conditions
- Temperature influences weather patterns and is affected by latitude, altitude, and time of day.
- Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air, which affects weather.
- Atmospheric pressure can be high or low, leading to different weather patterns.
Solar Radiation
- The amount of energy received from the sun varies due to Earth's tilt and orbit.
Wind Patterns
- Global wind patterns include trade winds, westerlies, and the jet stream.
- Local wind patterns include sea breezes, mountain breezes, and valley breezes.
Ocean Currents
- Ocean currents transfer heat between the oceans and atmosphere, influencing regional climate and weather.

Weather Systems

High-Pressure Systems
- High-pressure systems are characterized by sinking air, clear skies, and fair weather.
Low-Pressure Systems
- Low-pressure systems are characterized by rising air, cloudiness, and precipitation.
Fronts
- Fronts are boundaries between air masses of different temperatures and humidity.
- Types of fronts include cold fronts, warm fronts, stationary fronts, and occluded fronts.

Weather Phenomena

Clouds
- Clouds are classified into cumulus, stratus, cirrus, and nimbus.
- Clouds form through condensation, evaporation, and updrafts.
Precipitation
- Precipitation types include rain, snow, sleet, hail, and freezing rain.
- Precipitation forms through condensation, nucleation, and precipitation processes.
Severe Weather
- Thunderstorms are characterized by lightning, thunder, and strong winds.
- Tornadoes are rotating columns of air.
- Hurricanes and typhoons are large-scale storm systems.

Weather Forecasting

Observation
- Weather stations provide surface weather observations.
- Radar and satellites allow for remote sensing of weather patterns.
Modeling
- Numerical weather prediction (NWP) models are used to forecast weather.
- Ensemble forecasting involves multiple models and scenarios.
Forecasting
- Short-term forecasting involves nowcasting and short-range forecasting.
- Long-term forecasting includes climate forecasting and seasonal forecasting.

Description

Learn about the temporary and local conditions of the atmosphere, factors affecting weather, and their importance. This quiz covers atmospheric conditions, solar radiation, and other factors that influence weather.