Meteorology Chapter 1

Outgassing

As millions of years passed, the constant outpouring of gases from the hot interior. provided a rich supply of water vapor, which formed into clouds.

Atoms

At this center, or nucleus, are the protons and neutrons. Almost all of the atom's mass is concentrated here, in a trillionth of the atom's entire volume. In the nucleus, the proton carries a positive charge, whereas the neutron is electrically neutral. The circling electron carries a negative charge. As long as the total number of protons in the nucleus equals the number of orbiting electrons, the atom as a whole is electrically neutral

We live at the bottom of a turbulent ocean of air where rising air can form into clouds composed of water and ice.

Earth intercepts only a very small fraction of the sun's total energy output. However, it is this radiant energy (or radiation)Footnote that drives the atmosphere into the patterns of everyday wind and weather and allows Earth to maintain an average surface temperature of about

Atmosphere

Earth's atmosphere is a relatively thin, gaseous envelope comprised mostly of nitrogen and oxygen, with small amounts of other gases, such as water vapor and carbon dioxide Nestled in the atmosphere are clouds of liquid water and ice crystals.

Early Atmosphere

Earth's first atmosphere (some 4.6 billion years ago) was most likely hydrogen and helium—the two most abundant gases found in the universe—as well as hydrogen compounds, such as methane and ammonia . Most scientists believe that this early atmosphere escaped into space from Earth's hot surface. A second, more dense atmosphere, however, gradually enveloped Earth as gases from molten rock within its hot interior escaped through volcanoes and steam vents.

Scientific Method

Investigators use the scientific method by posing a question, putting forth a hypothesis, predicting what the hypothesis would imply if it were true, and carrying out tests to see if the prediction is accurate.

Photodissociation

It appears that molecular oxygen , the second most abundant gas in today's atmosphere, probably began an extremely slow increase in concentration as energetic rays from the sun split water vapor into hydrogen and oxygen during a process called photodissociation. The hydrogen, being lighter, probably rose and escaped into space, while the oxygen remained in the atmosphere.

Green House Effect

Keeps the average air temperature near the surface much warmer than it would be otherwise.Footnote Thus, water vapor plays a significant role in Earth's heat-energy balance.

Dry Air

Notice that molecular nitrogen occupies about 78 percent and molecular oxygen about 21 percent of the total volume of dry air.

Chemical Weathering

Rain and snow can react with silicate minerals in rocks and remove from the atmosphere through a process known as

Size of Breath of Air

The volume of an average size breath of air is about a liter 1 breath of air= 10^22 molecules

Hypothesis

To be accepted, a hypothesis--- has to be shown to be correct through a series of quantitative tests.

Ions

electrically charged, having lost or gained electrons. These charged atoms and molecules are called

Photosynthesis with Atmosphere

he reason for this enrichment is that, during the process of photosynthesis, plants, in the presence of sunlight, combine carbon dioxide and water to produce oxygen. Hence, after plants evolved, the atmospheric oxygen content increased more rapidly, probably reaching its present composition about several hundred million years ago.

Latent Heat

when it changes from vapor into liquid water or ice. Latent heat is an important source of atmospheric energy, especially for storms, such as thunderstorms and hurricanes. Water vapor is an extremely important gas in our atmosphere. Not only does it form into both liquid and solid cloud particles that grow in size and fall to Earth as precipitation, but it also releases large amounts of heat