We live at the bottom of a swirling ocean of air We live at the bottom of a swirling ocean of air. Here, air billowing up from the earth’s surface forms into clouds and thunderstorms over the warm landmass of North America. Fig. 1-CO, p.xviii

FIGURE 1. 1 The earth’s atmosphere as viewed from space during sunrise FIGURE 1.1 The earth’s atmosphere as viewed from space during sunrise. About 90 percent of the earth’s atmosphere is within the bright area and about 70 percent lies below the top of the highest cloud. Fig. 1-1, p.3

Table 1-1, p.3

FIGURE 1.2 The earth’s atmosphere is a rich mixture of many gases, with clouds of condensed water vapor and ice crystals. Here, water evaporates from the ocean’s surface. Rising air currents then transform the invisible water vapor into many billions of tiny liquid droplets that appear as puffy cumulus clouds. If the rising air in the cloud should extend to greater heights, where air temperatures are quite low, some of the liquid droplets would freeze into minute ice crystals. Fig. 1-2, p.4

FIGURE 1.3 Measurements of CO2 in parts per million (ppm) at Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii. Higher readings occur in winter when plants die and release CO2 to the atmosphere. Lower readings occur in summer when more abundant vegetation absorbs CO2from the atmosphere. The solid line is the average yearly value. Fig. 1-3, p.5

FIGURE 1.4 Erupting volcanoes can send tons of particles into the atmosphere, along with vast amounts of water vapor, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. Fig. 1-4, p.6

FIGURE 1.5 Both air pressure and air density decrease with increasing altitude. Fig. 1-5, p.8

FIGURE 1. 6 Atmospheric pressure decreases rapidly with height FIGURE 1.6 Atmospheric pressure decreases rapidly with height. Climbing to an altitude of only 5.5 km, where the pressure is 500 mb, would put you above one-half of the atmosphere’s molecules. Fig. 1-6, p.9

FIGURE 1.7 Layers of the atmosphere as related to the average profile of air temperature above the earth’s surface. The heavy line illustrates how the average temperature varies in each layer. Fig. 1-7, p.10

The radiowomen with parachute and balloon.

FIGURE 1.8 Layers of the atmosphere based on temperature (redline), composition (green line), and electrical properties (blue line). Fig. 1-8, p.12

FIGURE 1.9 At night, the higher region of the ionosphere (F region) strongly reflects AM radio waves, allowing them to be sent over great distances. During the day, the lower D region strongly absorbs and weakens AM radio waves, preventing them from being picked up by distant receivers. Fig. 1-9, p.13

FIGURE 1.10 This satellite image (taken in visible reflected light) shows a variety of cloud patterns and storms in the earth’s atmosphere. Fig. 1-10, p.16

FIGURE 1.11 Simplified surface weather map that correlates with the satellite image shown in Fig. 1.10.The shaded green area represents precipitation. The numbers on the map represent air temperatures in °F. Fig. 1-11, p.17

FIGURE 1.12 Thunderstorms developing along an approaching cold front. Fig. 1-12, p.19

FIGURE 1.13 The ice storm of January, 1998. Fig. 1-13, p.20

FIGURE 1.14 Tornadoes annually inflict widespread damage and cause the loss of many lives. Fig. 1-14, p.21

FIGURE 1.15 Flooding during April,1997, inundates Grand Forks, North Dakota, as flood waters of the Red River extend overmuch of the city. Fig. 1-15, p.21

FIGURE 1.16 Estimates are that lightning strikes the earth about 100times every second. About 25 million lightning strikes hit the United States each year. Consequently, lightning is a very common, and sometimes deadly, weather phenomenon. Fig. 1-16, p.22