1. State of the Atmosphere

2. Temperature
is a measurement of how rapidly or slowly molecules move around.

3. Heat.
is the transfer of energy that occurs because of a difference in temperature between substances.

4. Temperature can be measured in three ways
Fahrenheit – not the same scale as Celsius and Kelvin
Celsius (centigrade) – based on water freezing and boiling 100
Kelvin – is basically Celsius shifted to absolute zero

6. dew point
is the temperature to which air must be cooled at constant pressure to reach saturation.
when dew forms

7. Vertical Temperature Changes
Adiabatic Lapse Rates °C every 1000m
* Dry air cools more Quickly!
Lifted Condensation Level (LCL) = the bottom level of the clouds
Moist Adiabatic Lapse Rate °C to 9°C every 1000m
* Wet air cools more slowly…

9. Pressure and Temperature are directly related

10. Temperature and Density are inversely related

11. Direct vs. Indirect
Pressure
Density
Temperature
Temperature

12. Temperature Inversions
Hot air is usually closer to the earth because the sun heats the surface of the earth.
Temperature inversions- when cool air gets trapped beneath hot air.
This happens in Los Angeles and causes smog = smoke (from cars) + fog (moisture in air)

13. Wind moves from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure.

14. Weather Map
Warm air rises quickly and forms cumulonimbus clouds and thunderstorms (Sometimes tornados)

16. Humidity – the amount of water in the air.

17. The amount of humidity varies with Temperature

18. Amount of water air can hold
Relative Humidity– is the ratio of how much water is in the air to how much it can hold.
Humidity =
Relative Humidity
Amount of water air can hold