What is the definition of meteorology? - The study of the atmosphere and the associated weather
phenomena
What are the functions and applications of meteorology? - 1) Weather observation and forecasting
2) Computer modeling of the atmosphere
3) analyzing, monitoring, and predicting air pollution
4) Earth science education
5) Helping industries (agriculture, energy, aviation, insurance, etc.) manage the risks posed by weather
6) Assisting emergency managers and disaster planners
7) Studying Earth's climate and climate change
What is the composition of the atmosphere (Permanent Gases)? - 1) Nitrogen (N2)- 78.08%
2) Oxygen (O2)- 20.95%
3) Argon (Ar)- .93%
4) Neon (Ne)- .0018%
Define radiation - the emission and transmission of energy through particles or waves
Define electromagnetic spectrum - the range of wavelengths or frequencies over which electromagnetic
radiation extends.
Define conduction - The transfer kinetic of energy from particle to particle.
Give and example of conduction - Cold spoon into hot soup
Define thermal conductivity - The ability of an object to transfer heat
,Why is the air closest to the surface warmer during the day? - conduction from the earth's surface to the
air in contact with it
Why is the air closest to the surface cooler at night? - earth's surface has a radiation deficit, thus cooling
and conduction then cools the air in contact with the surface
What is a nocturnal inversion? - When low level air temperatures are cooler due to conduction, while
temperature of the air above increases with altitude
Define convection - The transfer of heat via vertical movement of air
What is free convection? - Warm air rising freely
Define Planck's law - Every object emits radiation at all times and at all wavelengths.
Define Wien's Law - The hotter an object, the shorter the wavelength at maximum emission. (The hotter
the object the brighter)
According to Wein's law where does peak emission occur? - At infrared wavelengths
Stephan-Boltzmann Law - As temperature increases so does the amount of energy emitted
Kirchhoff's Law - With constant temperature, an object that absorbs radiation efficiently at a particular
wavelength will also emit radiation efficiently at that wavelength.
When electromagnetic radiation strikes a surface what can happen to the radiation? - 1) Absorption
2) Scattering
3) Transmission
Define radiation transmission - When radiation passes through an object virtually unaffected
, What is an example of radiation transmission - Visible light passing through a glass window
Describe radiation absorption - Extinguishing of radiation, amount of radiation extinguished depends on
radiation wavelength and object composition
Describe radiation scattering - Reflecting of radiation off an object
What is forward scattering? - When radiation scatters in a forward direction
What is back-scattering? - When radiation returns in the direction it came from
What is albedo? - The portion of solar radiation that is scattered
Describe the greenhouse effect. - the warming of the surface and lower atmosphere of Earth that occurs
when greenhouse gases in the air absorb and re-radiate infrared radiation
What are some greenhouse gases? - 1) Water Vapor
2) Carbon Dioxide
3) Methane
4) Nitrous Oxide
How does Wein's law apply to the greenhouse effect? - Peak emissions in the IR range emmitt upwards
and are absorbed by greenhouse gases
How does Kirchoff's law apply to the greenhouse effect? - greenhouse gases that absorb radiation
efficiently also emmitt that same radiation
Why is the greenhouse effect important? - It keeps earth warm enough for humans to live
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