What is meteorology?

Meteorology is the study of atmospheric phenomena. The root word of meteorology

is the Greek word meteoros, which means high in the air.
What is weather?
Short-term variations in atmospheric phenomena that interact and affect the
environment and life on Earth are called weather. Climate is the long-term average
of variations in weather for a particular area.
What causes weather?
Imbalanced heating: One reason that temperatures may vary from location to
location at a certain time of year is that Earths axis of rotation is tilted relative to
the plane of Earths orbit. Solar radiation is unequal partly due to the changing
angle of incidence of the sunlight. The greater the area covered by solar radiation,
the smaller the amount of heat per unit of area.
What are air masses?
An air mass is a large volume of air that has the same characteristics, such as
humidity and temperature, as its source region. A source region is the area over
which an air mass forms.
Types of air masses
1.The origins of maritime tropical air are tropical bodies of water. (MT)
2.The southwestern United States and Mexico are the source regions of continental
tropical air, which is hot and dry, especially in summer (CT)
3.Maritime polar air masses form over the cold waters of the North Atlantic and
North Pacific. (MP)
4.Continental polar air masses form over the interior of Canada and Alaska, and
carry frigid air southward in the winter. (CP)
5.Earths ice- and snow-covered surfaces above 60 N latitude in Siberia and the
Arctic Basin are the source regions of arctic air masses (EI)
Air mass modification: When an air mass travels over land or water that has
characteristics different from those of its source region, the air mass can acquire
some of the characteristics of that land or water and undergo modification. As the
cold, continental polar air moves over the warmer Great Lakes, the air gains thermal
energy and moisture. This modified air cools as it is uplifted and produces lakeeffect snows.
Why does Earths equator receive more solar energy than Earths poles? : more
direct angle of the sun.
What are the global wind systems?

The directions of Earths wind systems, such as the polar easterlies and the trade
winds, vary with the latitudes in which they occur.
1. The polar easterlies are the wind zones between 60 N latitude and the
north pole, and 60 S latitude and the south pole.
2. The prevailing westerlies are the wind systems on Earth located between
latitudes 30 N and 60 N, and 30 S and 60 S.
3. Between latitudes 30 N and the equator is a circulation belt of wind known
as the trade winds.
Trade winds
Near latitudes 30 N the sinking air creates an area of high pressure. This
results in a belt of weak surface winds called the horse latitudes. Trade winds
from the North and the South meet and join near the equator. The air is
forced upward, which creates an area of low pressure
called the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ).
What are the four fronts?
A collision of two air masses forms a fronta narrow region between two air
masses of different densities.
Cold front: blue triangles on a line
Warm front: red half circles on a line.
Occluded front: pink triangle half circle triangle half circle pattern on a line
Stationary front: blue triangle on bottom red half circle on top
1. Cold front: When cold, dense air displaces warm air, it forces the warm air,
which is less dense, up along a steep slope. This type of collision is called a
cold front. Intense precipitation and sometimes thunderstorms.
2. Warm front: Advancing warm air displaces cold air along a warm front. A
warm front develops a gradual boundary slope. Widespread light precipitation
3. Stationary front: When two air masses meet but neither advances, the
boundary between them stalls. This stationary front frequently occurs
between two modified air masses that have small temperature and pressure
gradients between them. Sometimes light winds and precipitation
4. Occluded front: Sometimes, a cold air mass moves so rapidly that it
overtakes a warm front and forces the warm air upward. As the warm air is
lifted, the advancing cold air mass collides with the cold air mass in front of
the warm front. A warm air mass is squeezed upward between two cold air
masses. Strong winds and heavy precipitation
What are pressure systems?
Sinking or rising air, combined with the Coriolis effect, results in the formation
of rotating high- and low-pressure systems in the atmosphere.
1. Low pressure: In surface low-pressure systems, air rises. When air from
outside the system replaces the rising air, this air spirals inward toward
the center and then upward. Clouds and precipitation
2. High pressure: In a surface high-pressure system, sinking air moves away
from the systems center when it reaches Earths surface. Clear skies and
fair weather.

How do we measure weather?

Data from earths surface
Temperature and air pressure
A thermometer measures temperature using either the Fahrenheit or Celsius scale.
A barometer measures air pressure.
Wind speed and relative humidity
An anemometer measures wind speed. A hygrometer measures relative humidity.
Data from upper atmosphere
The instrument used for gathering upper-atmosphere data is a radiosonde. A
radiosondes sensors measure the airs temperature, pressure, and humidity. Also
wind speed and direction (by its movement). Doppler radar: Analysis of Doppler
radar data can be used to determine the speed at which precipitation moves toward
or away from a radar station.
Weather satellites:1. Infrared, 2. visible light, 3. water vapor imagery. Some
satellites use cameras that require visible light to photograph Earth. These digital
photos are sent back to ground stations, and their data are plotted on maps. Unlike
weather radar, which tracks precipitation but not clouds, satellites track clouds but
not necessarily precipitation.
How do we communicate this data?
Station models: A station model is a record of weather data for a particular site at a
particular time. Meteorological symbols are used to represent weather data in a
station model. Advantages: universal language, more info in less space.
Plotting station model: To plot data nationwide and globally, meteorologists use
lines that connect points of equal or constant values. Lines of equal pressure are
called isobars. Lines of equal temperature are called isotherms.
Digital forecasts: A digital forecast is created by applying physical principles and
mathematics to atmospheric variables and then making a prediction about how
these variables will change over time.
Analog forecasts: An analog forecast is based on a comparison of current weather
patterns to similar weather patterns from the past.
Short term forecasts: The most accurate and detailed forecasts are short term
because weather systems change directions, speeds, and intensities over time.
Long term forecasts: Because it is impossible for computers to model every variable
that affects the weather at a given time and place, all long-term forecasts are less
reliable than short-term forecasts. Short term forecasts are more reliable.