1. Meteorology
study of atmosphere & weather events

2. Atmosphere Gases 78% = Nitrogen 21% = Oxygen <1% = Argon, Carbon
Dioxide, & others
As seen on p. 477 %
78%
21% 1%
gas
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Ozone
Carbon Dioxide
Argon
Hydrogen
atom(s) N O
C & O Ar H
molecule N2 O2 O3
CO2 -- H2

3. Atmosphere Layers

5. Temperature Heat Conduction Convection Radiation
measurement of how rapidly or slowly molecules move around
transfer of energy that occurs because of a difference in temperature between substances
Transfer of Energy:
Conduction
Convection
Radiation
Transfer of heat from one object to another through touch
Transfer of heat from one place to another through circulation
Transfer of energy in the form of waves
A spatula warms up after sitting in a hot pan.
In the ocean, warm currents move heat from the equator to higher latitudes.
Radiant heat energy that is emitted by an oven.

6. N. Hemisphere = right. S. Hemisphere = left.
The Coriolis Effect
As Earth spins, anything (planes, boats, water, wind, & molecules) moving in a straight line will be deflected.
N. Hemisphere = right. S. Hemisphere = left.

7. Air Pressure Force exerted on an object by the air (molecules).
Occurs in all directions → up, down, & sideways
Barometer = instrument used to measure air pressure.
Units = mmHg
(millimeters of Mercury)
or atm (atmospheres)
Sea Level = 1 atmosphere
As seen on p. 533

8. Air Pressure (continued)
Isobars = lines on a weather map that connect areas of equal pressure
“H” = high pressure cell
“L” = low pressure cell
How does air move?
air moves from
High to Low

9. High & Low Pressure Cells
clear skies
outward
sinking air
C.W.
cloudy skies
inward
rising air
C.C.W.

10. Airflow of cyclones & anticyclones
aloft = high in the atmosphere
p. 539

11. HIGH pressure cell :) Anticyclone
Center of HIGH pressure (“H” in BLUE)
Pressure increases toward the center
Winds associated with an anticyclone:
Outward (divergence)
C.W. = Clockwise (opposite in the Southern Hemisphere)
subsiding (sinking) air
Usually bring "fair" (clear) weather

12. LOW pressure cell :( Cyclone rising air Bring clouds & precipitation
Center of LOW pressure (“L” in RED)
Pressure decreases toward the center
Winds associated with a cyclone:
Inward (convergence)
C.C.W. = Counterclockwise (opposite in the Southern Hemisphere)
rising air
Bring clouds & precipitation

13. Winds in the N. Hemisphere

14. Caused by horizontal air pressure differences (pressure gradients)
Wind
Caused by horizontal air pressure differences (pressure gradients)
Uneven heating of the Earth creates pressure differences.
What part of the Earth heats up the most?
How does air pressure relate to density?

15. Factors that affect wind:
If the Earth didn’t rotate how would global winds move?
from the poles to the equator
As seen on p. 540
…but the earth DOES rotate so that creates some craziness
Factors that affect wind:
Pressure differences = cause air to move
Coriolis Effect = cause winds to be deflected
Friction = slows down air, changes wind direction

16. Global Winds
p. 541
both poles are
high pressure

17. hot air forms near Equator
Air masses
Large body of air that takes on the characteristics of the area over which it forms.
It’s source region determines temperature & humidity.
p. 559
Air Masses
forms over Land
(dry)
forms over Water
(humid)
hot air forms near Equator
Continental Tropical
(cT)
Maritime Tropical
(mT)
cold air forms near
Poles
Continental Polar
(cP)
Maritime Polar
(mP)

18. As seen on p. 560

19. Fronts Boundary that separates air masses of different densities
Air masses retain their identities
Warm, less dense air forced to move up
Cold, dense air acts as wedge, moving down
4 types:
p. 564

20. Warm Front Warm air replaces cooler air
Front is very gentle slope & moves slowly
Light-to-moderate precipitation
p. 565

21. Cold Front Twice as steep and moves faster than warm front
Violent weather, very intense, & short duration
Weather behind front is cold, sinking air, & clear conditions
p. 566

22. Stationary Front When 2 air masses meet but don’t advance
Flow of air on both sides of front is parallel
Rarely any clouds or heavy precipitation

23. Occluded Front Occurs when a cold air mass overtakes a warm front
Warm air is wedged upward
Weather is often complex...at mature stage
p. 567

24. Humidity = amount of water vapor in the air
Condensation
gas → liquid
Humidity = amount of water vapor in the air

25. Cloud Formation Saturation depends on the temperature of air: cold air
room temperature
hot air
less capacity to hold
water vapor
holds about 1% of
greater capacity to hold water vapor
atmosphere molecules moving slowly -
less space between them
atmosphere molecules moving quickly -
more space between them
Relative Humidity = ratio of water vapor in air relative to how much it can hold
Dew point = temperature to which air must be cooled to reach saturation

26. Saturation = point at which air holds as much water vapor as it can
Cloud Formation
Saturation = point at which air holds as much water vapor as it can
Not saturated Saturated Beyond Saturated
it could hold more it can’t hold this much

27. Cloud Classification Cloud Shapes Shape Feature Nimbus
Low, gray rain clouds
Cumulus
Flat Base, rising dome = Califlower
Stratus
Sheets or layers
Cirrus
Thin, wispy, ice crystals = high

28. Cloud Project Name of Cloud
Explanation of the Root words within the name
Characteristics of the Shape of the Cloud
Location of the Cloud in the Atmosphere
Does the Cloud Produce Precipitation?
Creative Rendering of the Cloud - Color, Materials, etc.
Picture of You Interacting with Cloud - Airplane, Hot Air Ballon, Superhero...etc
Cloud Shapes
Shape
Feature
Nimbus
Low, gray rain clouds
Cumulus
Puffy or lumpy
Stratus
Sheets or layers
Cirrus
Thin, wispy, or stringy

29. Cloud Formation
Condensation nuclei = small particles (dust, particles, spores, aerosols) around which cloud droplets can form
if density is high enough
it becomes visible
air cools as it rises
it becomes precipitation
if gravity overtakes

30. Processes that lift air
1. Orographic Lifting
2. Frontal Wedging
When mountains block the flow of air forcing it up.
When warm air is lifted at a front, two different densities
3. Convergence
4. Convective Lifting
When air flows together and rises, similar densities
When unequal surface heating causes pockets of air to rise, parking lot next to park

31. Severe Storms
Cyclone = generic term for an organized system of winds rotating inward to an area of low pressure

32. Thunderstorms Storm that produces thunder,
lightning, heavy rain, gusty
winds, & possibly hail.
Can be local, single cloud storms, or multiple cells along a cold front.
Storm Hazards:
Lightning
Hail
Floods

33. 3 stages of a thunderstorm:
p. 572
warm, moist air is moved upward
(about 1 hour later) heavy precipitation begins with gusty winds, lightning, and hail.
cooling of the air → the storm to dies down.

34. Tornadoes
Violent windstorms that form a rotating column of air (vortex) that extends downward from a cumulonimbus cloud.
Most form during thunderstorms.
Intensity of a tornado is based on the wind speed & the estimated damage. (p. 574)
also known as a “Twister”

35. Hurricanes Tropical cyclone that produces winds of at least 74 mph.
Intensity is based on wind speeds.
Energy that drives it comes from warm ocean water.
Power dies down when it moves over land.

36. Hurricanes (stages)
Tropical Depression (disturbance) – first stage with several thunderstorm clusters and little or no cloud rotation.
Tropical Storm – winds begin to rotate & thunderstorms progress.
p. 577

37. Hurricanes (intensity)
p. 577
Category 3 is considered a major hurricane.

38. Hurricanes (structure)
p. 577
Eye – center of the hurricane where air is subsiding (sinking) & being warmed.
Eye Wall – layer of clouds that surrounds the eye, where winds are fastest & rainfall is greatest.
Rain Bands – clouds that extend outward from the eye wall, circulates, & rotates around the storm cell.
Storm Surge – dome of water directly underneath the eye which can cause severe flooding as the storm hits land.

39. What is the temperature in Charlotte, NC ?
Isotherms = lines that connect areas of equal temperature
What is the temperature in Charlotte, NC ?

40. Gathering Weather Data
Thermometer = temperature
Barometer = air pressure
Anemometer = Wind Speed
Hygrometer = relative humidity
Doppler Radar
tracks precipitation & measures wind speeds in storms
uses the Doppler Effect (change in wave frequency)
Satellites
Detects thermal (heat) energy
Gives an image of cloud cover
Determines cloud temperature

41. a record of weather data for a specific location and time
Station Model
a record of weather data for a specific location and time