Meteorology: the study of the entire atmosphere, including weather.

Energy Exchanges in the Atmosphere  Atmospheric variables: All data that describes the atmosphere. On a weather map this data is placed on a station model.

Energy Exchanges in the Atmosphere  Beaufort Scale: relates wind speed to its effects.

Energy Exchanges in the Atmosphere  Windchill factor: describes the danger of frostbite

Energy Exchanges in the Atmosphere  Specific humidity: The mass (amount) of water vapor per unit mass of air. (usually expressed as grams of water vapor per kilogram of air). water vaporwater vapor –The warmer the air the more water vapor it can hold.

Energy Exchanges in the Atmosphere  Relative Humidity: is a term used to describe the amount of water vapor that exists in a gaseous mixture of air with the maximum amount of water vapor the air can hold at a specific temperature. water vaporwater vapor

Energy Exchanges in the Atmosphere  Dew Point: temperature at which the air can no longer hold all of its water vapor, and some of the water vapor must condense into liquid water. condense  Cooling of the air can cause the dew point to be reached

Energy Exchanges in the Atmosphere  As air temperature and dew point approach each other humidity increases as well as the chance of rain. 1.Moisture must increase. 2.Air temperature can drop.

Energy Exchanges in the Atmosphere  Sling Psychrometer: An instrument used to measure the water vapor content of the atmosphere in which wet and dry bulb thermometers are mounted on a frame connected to a handle. The psychrometer is whirled by hand to provide the necessary ventilation to evaporate water from the wet bulb.The psychrometer is whirled by hand to provide the necessary ventilation to evaporate water from the wet bulb.