1. MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology - Lecture 1
“The Atmosphere”
Dr. Eugene Cordero
San Jose State University
Reading: Week 1
W&H: Chapter 1, Pg. 1-21
Stull: Chapter 1 Pg. 1-8, Appendix A
MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

2. MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology
Lecture Outline
Greensheet
Introduction to Meteorology
Meteorological conventions
SI Units (unit conversions)
Fundamentals of problem solving
MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

3. MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology
Weather -
Climate -
Meteorology and Climatology represent the study of weather and climate respectively, but are each components of Atmospheric Science and are dealt with in this course
I think that it would be worthwhile at this introductory lecture to provide some definitions that you may have never thought of before
Go through.....
Climatology also has a distinctly Geographical component to it - we often consider what gives one region or locality a different climate from another. However, although this course is put on by Geography and Environmental Science, there are clear components of meteorology and climatology in it. In the course we will not be taking a particularly mathematical approach to atmospheric science, but everything we will talk about will be based on sound physical principles.
MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

4. MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology
Weather - the state of the atmosphere at a particular point in time
Climate - a generalization or synthesis of the weather observed over a longer time period
Meteorology and Climatology represent the study of weather and climate respectively, but are each components of Atmospheric Science and are dealt with in this course
I think that it would be worthwhile at this introductory lecture to provide some definitions that you may have never thought of before
Go through.....
Climatology also has a distinctly Geographical component to it - we often consider what gives one region or locality a different climate from another. However, although this course is put on by Geography and Environmental Science, there are clear components of meteorology and climatology in it. In the course we will not be taking a particularly mathematical approach to atmospheric science, but everything we will talk about will be based on sound physical principles.
MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

5. MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology
Forecast Skill
MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

6. Characteristic time and space scales for atmospheric phenomena
MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

7. Characteristic time and space scales for atmospheric phenomena
What characteristic time (temporal) scale and distance (spatial) scale would describe the following atmospheric phenomena? Also, what would you call these motions in terms of Mesoscale, microscale etc.
Cumulus clouds developing over some mountains.
The wavy pattern of fast flowing winds called the jet stream.
The turbulence generated by a forest canopy.
A midlatitude cyclone passing through the west coast.
MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

8. Subfields of Meteorology
Thermodynamics
Physical Meteorology
Dynamic meteorology
Climatology
Synoptic Meteorology
I think that it would be worthwhile at this introductory lecture to provide some definitions that you may have never thought of before
Go through.....
Climatology also has a distinctly Geographical component to it - we often consider what gives one region or locality a different climate from another. However, although this course is put on by Geography and Environmental Science, there are clear components of meteorology and climatology in it. In the course we will not be taking a particularly mathematical approach to atmospheric science, but everything we will talk about will be based on sound physical principles.
MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

9. Subfields of Meteorology
Thermodynamics
Study of energy and energy conversion
Physical Meteorology
Study of microscale atmospheric particles and processes
Dynamic meteorology
Study of atmospheric motions
Climatology
The study of the climate and how the earth's atmosphere changes over long periods of time.
Synoptic Meteorology
Study of midlatitude weather systems
I think that it would be worthwhile at this introductory lecture to provide some definitions that you may have never thought of before
Go through.....
Climatology also has a distinctly Geographical component to it - we often consider what gives one region or locality a different climate from another. However, although this course is put on by Geography and Environmental Science, there are clear components of meteorology and climatology in it. In the course we will not be taking a particularly mathematical approach to atmospheric science, but everything we will talk about will be based on sound physical principles.
MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

10. How do we study the atmosphere?
MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

11. How do we study the atmosphere?
Observe
Develop physical understanding (theory)
Test understanding (prediction)
Compare prediction with observations and refine theory
MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

15. MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

16. MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

17. MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

18. MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

20. MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

21. MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

22. MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology
El Niño (sea surface temps)
MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

23. MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

24. MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

25. MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

27. Meteorological Conventions
Wind:
U: ___________________
V: ___________________
W: ___________________
Winds are named by direction they are from:
Northeasterly winds mean? ___________
A South wind is? ____________________
A westward wind means? _____________
I think that it would be worthwhile at this introductory lecture to provide some definitions that you may have never thought of before
Go through.....
Climatology also has a distinctly Geographical component to it - we often consider what gives one region or locality a different climate from another. However, although this course is put on by Geography and Environmental Science, there are clear components of meteorology and climatology in it. In the course we will not be taking a particularly mathematical approach to atmospheric science, but everything we will talk about will be based on sound physical principles.
MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

28. Meteorological Conventions
Wind:
U: ___________________
V: ___________________
W: ___________________
Winds are named by direction they are from:
Northeasterly winds mean? ___________
A South wind is? ____________________
A westward wind means? _____________
East-West direction
North-South direction
Vertical direction
I think that it would be worthwhile at this introductory lecture to provide some definitions that you may have never thought of before
Go through.....
Climatology also has a distinctly Geographical component to it - we often consider what gives one region or locality a different climate from another. However, although this course is put on by Geography and Environmental Science, there are clear components of meteorology and climatology in it. In the course we will not be taking a particularly mathematical approach to atmospheric science, but everything we will talk about will be based on sound physical principles.
From the north-east
From the south
To the east/from the west
MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

31. MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology
Units…
Meteorology uses both English and Metric unit systems.
For example:
However, scientifically speaking, we use the metric system or the SI system (MKS)
A measurement without a unit is only a number.
Units are very important!!
Nitrogen, one of the essential building blocks for life
Oxygen, also extremely important for life - oxidation releases energy in food
Argon is abundant, but relatively unimportant
Water vapour is an important gas climatically and also for life on earth and varies across the surface of the earth - very high concentrations over the tropical oceans, very low concentrations over the Poles.
Ozone is a gas with an importance out of proportion to its volume. Its role is in protection of the Earth’s surface from harmful very short wave radiation from the sun
Carbon dioxide, present in relatively small quantities, is extremely important in determining global climate for reasons that we will discuss in subsequent lectures. It is also important for life on earth. It is variable on a daily and seasonal basis because of its role in photosynthesis, and also is steadily climbing in concentration because of human activity
MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

32. MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology
Units…
Meteorology uses both English and Metric unit systems.
For example:
Distance (kilometres and miles)
Temperature (ºC, ºF and ºK)
Pressure (bar, pascal)
However, scientifically speaking, we use the metric system or the SI system (MKS)
A measurement without a unit is only a number.
Units are very important!!
Nitrogen, one of the essential building blocks for life
Oxygen, also extremely important for life - oxidation releases energy in food
Argon is abundant, but relatively unimportant
Water vapour is an important gas climatically and also for life on earth and varies across the surface of the earth - very high concentrations over the tropical oceans, very low concentrations over the Poles.
Ozone is a gas with an importance out of proportion to its volume. Its role is in protection of the Earth’s surface from harmful very short wave radiation from the sun
Carbon dioxide, present in relatively small quantities, is extremely important in determining global climate for reasons that we will discuss in subsequent lectures. It is also important for life on earth. It is variable on a daily and seasonal basis because of its role in photosynthesis, and also is steadily climbing in concentration because of human activity
MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

33. MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology
Unit terminology
peta P 1,000,000,000,000,
tera T 1,000,000,000,
giga G 1,000,000,
mega M 1,000,
kilo k 1,
hecto h
deca da
no prefix
deci d
centi c
milli m
micro m
nano n
pico p
femto f
Nitrogen, one of the essential building blocks for life
Oxygen, also extremely important for life - oxidation releases energy in food
Argon is abundant, but relatively unimportant
Water vapour is an important gas climatically and also for life on earth and varies across the surface of the earth - very high concentrations over the tropical oceans, very low concentrations over the Poles.
Ozone is a gas with an importance out of proportion to its volume. Its role is in protection of the Earth’s surface from harmful very short wave radiation from the sun
Carbon dioxide, present in relatively small quantities, is extremely important in determining global climate for reasons that we will discuss in subsequent lectures. It is also important for life on earth. It is variable on a daily and seasonal basis because of its role in photosynthesis, and also is steadily climbing in concentration because of human activity
MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

34. MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology
Unit terminology
Nitrogen, one of the essential building blocks for life
Oxygen, also extremely important for life - oxidation releases energy in food
Argon is abundant, but relatively unimportant
Water vapour is an important gas climatically and also for life on earth and varies across the surface of the earth - very high concentrations over the tropical oceans, very low concentrations over the Poles.
Ozone is a gas with an importance out of proportion to its volume. Its role is in protection of the Earth’s surface from harmful very short wave radiation from the sun
Carbon dioxide, present in relatively small quantities, is extremely important in determining global climate for reasons that we will discuss in subsequent lectures. It is also important for life on earth. It is variable on a daily and seasonal basis because of its role in photosynthesis, and also is steadily climbing in concentration because of human activity
MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

35. MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology
Basic MKS units
Physical Quantity Name of SI unit Symbol for SI unit
length
mass
time
temperature
amount of substance
electric current
Nitrogen, one of the essential building blocks for life
Oxygen, also extremely important for life - oxidation releases energy in food
Argon is abundant, but relatively unimportant
Water vapour is an important gas climatically and also for life on earth and varies across the surface of the earth - very high concentrations over the tropical oceans, very low concentrations over the Poles.
Ozone is a gas with an importance out of proportion to its volume. Its role is in protection of the Earth’s surface from harmful very short wave radiation from the sun
Carbon dioxide, present in relatively small quantities, is extremely important in determining global climate for reasons that we will discuss in subsequent lectures. It is also important for life on earth. It is variable on a daily and seasonal basis because of its role in photosynthesis, and also is steadily climbing in concentration because of human activity
MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

36. MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology
Basic MKS units
Physical Quantity Name of SI unit Symbol for SI unit
length metre (meter) m
mass kilogram kg
time second s
temperature Kelvin K
amount of substance mole mol
electric current ampere A
Nitrogen, one of the essential building blocks for life
Oxygen, also extremely important for life - oxidation releases energy in food
Argon is abundant, but relatively unimportant
Water vapour is an important gas climatically and also for life on earth and varies across the surface of the earth - very high concentrations over the tropical oceans, very low concentrations over the Poles.
Ozone is a gas with an importance out of proportion to its volume. Its role is in protection of the Earth’s surface from harmful very short wave radiation from the sun
Carbon dioxide, present in relatively small quantities, is extremely important in determining global climate for reasons that we will discuss in subsequent lectures. It is also important for life on earth. It is variable on a daily and seasonal basis because of its role in photosynthesis, and also is steadily climbing in concentration because of human activity
MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

37. MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology
Other Units
Quantity Name Derived unit MKS
Force Newton (N) kg m s-2
Pressure Pascal (Pa) (Nm-2)=
Energy Joule (J) (N m )=
Power Watt (W) (Js-1) =
Nitrogen, one of the essential building blocks for life
Oxygen, also extremely important for life - oxidation releases energy in food
Argon is abundant, but relatively unimportant
Water vapour is an important gas climatically and also for life on earth and varies across the surface of the earth - very high concentrations over the tropical oceans, very low concentrations over the Poles.
Ozone is a gas with an importance out of proportion to its volume. Its role is in protection of the Earth’s surface from harmful very short wave radiation from the sun
Carbon dioxide, present in relatively small quantities, is extremely important in determining global climate for reasons that we will discuss in subsequent lectures. It is also important for life on earth. It is variable on a daily and seasonal basis because of its role in photosynthesis, and also is steadily climbing in concentration because of human activity
MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

38. MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology
Other Units
Quantity Name Derived unit MKS
Force Newton (N) kg m s-2
Pressure Pascal (Pa) (Nm-2)=
Energy Joule (J) (N m )=
Power Watt (W) (Js-1)=
kg m-1 s-2
kg m2 s-2
kg m2 s-3
Nitrogen, one of the essential building blocks for life
Oxygen, also extremely important for life - oxidation releases energy in food
Argon is abundant, but relatively unimportant
Water vapour is an important gas climatically and also for life on earth and varies across the surface of the earth - very high concentrations over the tropical oceans, very low concentrations over the Poles.
Ozone is a gas with an importance out of proportion to its volume. Its role is in protection of the Earth’s surface from harmful very short wave radiation from the sun
Carbon dioxide, present in relatively small quantities, is extremely important in determining global climate for reasons that we will discuss in subsequent lectures. It is also important for life on earth. It is variable on a daily and seasonal basis because of its role in photosynthesis, and also is steadily climbing in concentration because of human activity
MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

39. MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology
Units…
Meteorology often uses non standard units for both temperature and pressure.
Conversions:
(9/5 x ºC) + 32 = ºF
(ºF – 32) x 5/9 = ºC
K= ºC
Nitrogen, one of the essential building blocks for life
Oxygen, also extremely important for life - oxidation releases energy in food
Argon is abundant, but relatively unimportant
Water vapour is an important gas climatically and also for life on earth and varies across the surface of the earth - very high concentrations over the tropical oceans, very low concentrations over the Poles.
Ozone is a gas with an importance out of proportion to its volume. Its role is in protection of the Earth’s surface from harmful very short wave radiation from the sun
Carbon dioxide, present in relatively small quantities, is extremely important in determining global climate for reasons that we will discuss in subsequent lectures. It is also important for life on earth. It is variable on a daily and seasonal basis because of its role in photosynthesis, and also is steadily climbing in concentration because of human activity
MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

40. MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology
Temperature
Absolute zero = 0 K = ºC = ºF
Boiling Point of water at standard Ps (surface pressure) (K, C and F)
Freezing Point of water at standard Ps (K, C and F)
Nitrogen, one of the essential building blocks for life
Oxygen, also extremely important for life - oxidation releases energy in food
Argon is abundant, but relatively unimportant
Water vapour is an important gas climatically and also for life on earth and varies across the surface of the earth - very high concentrations over the tropical oceans, very low concentrations over the Poles.
Ozone is a gas with an importance out of proportion to its volume. Its role is in protection of the Earth’s surface from harmful very short wave radiation from the sun
Carbon dioxide, present in relatively small quantities, is extremely important in determining global climate for reasons that we will discuss in subsequent lectures. It is also important for life on earth. It is variable on a daily and seasonal basis because of its role in photosynthesis, and also is steadily climbing in concentration because of human activity
MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

41. MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology
Temperature
Absolute zero = 0 K = ºC = ºF
Boiling Point of water at standard Ps (surface pressure) (K, C and F)
= K = 100ºC = 212ºF
Freezing Point of water at standard Ps (K, C and F)
= K = 0ºC = 32ºF
Nitrogen, one of the essential building blocks for life
Oxygen, also extremely important for life - oxidation releases energy in food
Argon is abundant, but relatively unimportant
Water vapour is an important gas climatically and also for life on earth and varies across the surface of the earth - very high concentrations over the tropical oceans, very low concentrations over the Poles.
Ozone is a gas with an importance out of proportion to its volume. Its role is in protection of the Earth’s surface from harmful very short wave radiation from the sun
Carbon dioxide, present in relatively small quantities, is extremely important in determining global climate for reasons that we will discuss in subsequent lectures. It is also important for life on earth. It is variable on a daily and seasonal basis because of its role in photosynthesis, and also is steadily climbing in concentration because of human activity
MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

42. MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology
Pressure
100 Pa = 1 hPa = 1 millibar (mb) = .75 mm Hg
1 standard atm = mb = hPa = 760 mm Hg
Nitrogen, one of the essential building blocks for life
Oxygen, also extremely important for life - oxidation releases energy in food
Argon is abundant, but relatively unimportant
Water vapour is an important gas climatically and also for life on earth and varies across the surface of the earth - very high concentrations over the tropical oceans, very low concentrations over the Poles.
Ozone is a gas with an importance out of proportion to its volume. Its role is in protection of the Earth’s surface from harmful very short wave radiation from the sun
Carbon dioxide, present in relatively small quantities, is extremely important in determining global climate for reasons that we will discuss in subsequent lectures. It is also important for life on earth. It is variable on a daily and seasonal basis because of its role in photosynthesis, and also is steadily climbing in concentration because of human activity
MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology

43. MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology
Activity 1 (Due Jan 31st )
Convert 100 mph to ms-1
Convert 25 mm Hg per 100 miles to hPa per meter.
Exercise 1.9
Exercise 1.12
A friend comments that the recent blizzard on the east coast proves that ‘global warming’ is not real. Comment on your friends comment.
I think that it would be worthwhile at this introductory lecture to provide some definitions that you may have never thought of before
Go through.....
Climatology also has a distinctly Geographical component to it - we often consider what gives one region or locality a different climate from another. However, although this course is put on by Geography and Environmental Science, there are clear components of meteorology and climatology in it. In the course we will not be taking a particularly mathematical approach to atmospheric science, but everything we will talk about will be based on sound physical principles.
MET 61 Introduction to Meteorology