1. Meteorology

2. Meteorology is the study of atmospheric phenomena.
The word meteor means “high in the air”.
The atmosphere is high in the air, isn’t it?
Meteorology is the study of atmospheric phenomena.

3. Types of meteors (what is in the atmosphere)
Hydrometeors – “water” that is “high in the air”
Ex: Clouds that hold water
Lithometeors – “rock” that is “high in the air”
Ex: Smoke, haze, dust, and condensation nuclei
Electrometeors – “electricity” that is “high in the air”
Ex: Thunder and lightning or audible electricity

4. Weather Weather is the current (short-term) state of the atmosphere
Ex: It is sunny today, it will rain tomorrow.

5. Climate
Climate describes the average weather over a long (usually 30+ year) period of time

6. Why is it colder at the poles?
When the sun hits you straight on it is concentrated and hot
Ex: At noon, or tropical locations
When the sun hits you at an angle it is cooler, since the heat is spread out over a larger area
Ex: At sunset, or polar regions

8. Air Masses
An air mass is a large body of air that takes on the characteristics of the area over which it forms.
Air masses formed over land are usually dry
Those over oceans are usually wet
That is why they are classified according to source region.

9. Air Mass Classification
Air masses formed over land:
continental tropical (cT) = dry and warm
continental polar (cP) = dry and cold
…formed over oceans/seas:
maritime tropical (mT) = humid and warm
maritime polar (mP) = humid and cold
…formed over the arctic:
arctic (A)

12. Air mass modification is the exchange of heat or moisture with the surface over which an air mass travels.