Introduction to Meteorology PDF

Introduction to Meteorology Prepared by: Sir Kim What is Meteorology ? Branch of science that studies the atmosphere and the physical processes occurring within it.  It comes from the word Meteor Meteor which means “Non-permanent natural phenomenon that occurs in th...

Introduction to Meteorology Prepared by: Sir Kim What is Meteorology ? Branch of science that studies the atmosphere and the physical processes occurring within it.  It comes from the word Meteor Meteor which means “Non-permanent natural phenomenon that occurs in the atmosphere It consists of a precipitation, a suspension or a deposit of liquid or solid particles, or it may also be a form of optical or electrical phenomena.  Classes of Meteor 1. Hydrometeors – water related phenomena in a liquid or solid state such as clouds, rains, or fogs.  Classes of Meteor 2. Lithometeors – Related to phenomena formed by particles other than water such as smoke, dust or sand.  Classes of Meteor 3. Photo meteors – Related to the optical effects in the atmosphere such as rainbow.  Classes of Meteor 4. Electro meteors – Related to electrical phenomena such as lightning or aurora borealis.  WEATHER Atmospheric conditions present at a given time and place. It is constantly changing and practically unrepeatable. Weather is measured by parameters such as - Temperature - Atmospheric pressure - Wind - Humidity - Visibility - Present phenomena  WEATHER Weather is measured by parameters such as - Temperature - Atmospheric pressure - Wind - Humidity - Visibility With this, we can say that “ Today at - Present phenomena 6:00 PM, the weather in Manila is: Temperature(*), Relative Humidity of (*%), sky partially covered with clouds.  Climate It is the average weather in a certain place or region in a longer term. It is mainly conditioned by the geographical With this, we can say that Philippines characteristics of the area such as latitudes, has a rainy tropical climate type of surface, and elevation above sea or Cairo Egypt has a dry desert climate level.  Average or Specific typical atmospheric atmospheric conditions at a conditions of given time that place in and place. the long term. Climate One of the main factors that determine the Zones climate of a certain area is its latitude.  Meteorology – Focuses on the observation, study and short-term forecasting of atmospheric conditions. It allows to determine with fairly good precision the behavior of the atmosphere at a Meteorology specific moment in time. vs Climatology – Focuses on the study and Climatology long-term evolution of the climate in order to elaborate concrete models of the behavior of the atmosphere. It helps to develop more solid long-term forecasts and anticipate climate changes in a certain region.  Weather conditions are the result of the interaction of the Earth’s surface What do Weather and the atmosphere. conditions depend The main factors that determine on? climate on a large scale are: a. Solar radiation – amount of solar radiation absorbed by the surface. b. Earth’s rotation Other factors such as the type of surface, terrain characteristics, and relative humidity the climate on a local scale.  Since ancient times, climate and weather have been studied with the aim of predicting certain conditions or phenomena relevant to human activities such as agriculture. The study of climate date back to 340 BC when Aristotle wrote Meteorologica, a book that gave summary of meteorology Study of Meteorology Instruments used in forecasting the weather Barometer (atmospheric pressure gauge) – one of the first instrument used to forecast weather condition. Older barometer related atmospheric pressure directly to the weather conditions that could be expected.  Instruments used in forecasting the weather Other relevant instrument used: Thermometer – Measures temperature Anemoscope (Weathervane) – show the direction of wind or to indicate the change of wind direction.  Instruments used in forecasting the weather Other relevant instrument used: Anemometer – Measures the speed of the wind or any current of gas. Hygrometer – Measures the humidity of the air or gas  Instruments used in forecasting the weather Modern relevant instruments: Weather stations – Facility or instrument to observe and record various atmospheric conditions Weather balloons – Measures the Temperature, pressure, wind and humidity at different altitudes.  Instruments used in forecasting the weather Modern relevant instruments: Satellites – send real time imagery of weather.  Branches of Meteorology Maritime meteorology – focuses mainly on the phenomena and variables that affect the navigational vessels. Agricultural meteorology – focuses on the atmospheric conditions that affects crops. Aeronautical meteorology - focuses mainly on the phenomena and variables that affect air operations. Other branches of Meteorology Synoptic Meteorology – focuses on analyzing weather patterns and systems over short period of time scales, using data from weather stations, satellites, and radar. Dynamic meteorology – Studies the physical and mathematical principles that govern atmospheric motions, including the dynamics of weather systems and atmospheric circulation patterns. Atmospheric physics – Investigates the physical processes in the atmosphere, including radiation, thermodynamics, and the interactions of atmospheric gases with each other and with other environmental factors. Other branches of Meteorology Hydrometeorology - Studies the relationship between atmospheric processes and the hydrological cycle, focusing on precipitation, evaporation, and their impacts on water resources. Severe weather meteorology - Specializes in the study of extreme weather events such as tornadoes, hurricanes, thunderstorms, and floods, focusing on prediction and understanding their behavior. Paleoclimatology - Investigates past climates using data from ice cores, tree rings, sediments, and other sources to understand historical climate changes and their causes.  Gaseous layer that surrounds the planet. a. It sustains life on Earth; Atmosphe b. It saves it from hostile environment of outer space; re c. It absorbs most of the cosmic rays from outer space and a major portion of electromagnetic radiation from the sun; It transmits non-harmful radiation such as ultraviolet, visible, near infrared (300 to 2500 nm), and radio waves. (0.14 to 40 m) while filtering out the damaging ultraviolet waves below about 300nm. The atmosphere is also composed of nitrogen and oxygen besides argon, Carbon dioxide, and trace gases  Layers of the Atmosphere 1. Troposphere – Lowest layer where weather occurs and where humans live. Extends up to 8 – 15km. Temperature decreases with latitude. 2. Stratosphere – The layer above troposphere, extending from about 15km to 50km high. Contains the Ozone layer which absorbs and scatters UV radiation. Temperature increases with altitude. 3. Mesosphere – The middle layer, extending from 50km to 85km high. The Coldest layer(as low as -90°C), Meteors burn up in this layer.  Layers of the Atmosphere 4. Thermosphere – A very thin layer extending from about 85km to 600km or more. Contains the Ionosphere(electrically charged), where auroras occur, and the temperature increases significantly with altitude. It is the hottest layer because of direct absorption of solar radiation. 5. Exosphere – The outermost layer, extending from around 600km outward into space. It gradually fades into space and contains very few particles.  Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY_2U0YShpU&list=PLJ-0SVdtegU9Le_1zCrPMxeFALQJ iRDVn