Reasons to Study Weather and Climate
Why study weather and climate:
Influences our daily activities
Influences agriculture, energy use, weather resources, transportation, and industry
Understand and predict severe weather
Understand, predict, and mitigate long term changes
Hurricane Irene: one of the top 10 hurricanes since 1980.
Definitions:
Meteorology: The scientific study of the atmosphere * Weather:
Climate: Long term trend (average, high and low extremes), temperature, wind, humidity, rainfall, etc.
Basic components:
Temperature
Humidity
Clouds
Precipitation
Pressure
Wind
Goal of science- uncover patterns, make predictions on the natural world
Observations/ measurements
Hypothesis/model- explanation
Testable
Multiple competing hypotheses
Results
Hypothesis corroborated or rejected
Publication in peer-reviewed journals
Scientific Theories
Not “just a theory”
Rigorously and extensively tested
Comprehensive explanation of phenomena
“paradigms”
Making observations
ASOS (Automated Surface Observing System)
High-altitude Observations
Radiosondes- measure temp., pressure, humidity; radio transmitters send back data 2x daily
Aircrafts study hurricanes
Radar- distribution and intensity of precipitation
Satellite Imaging- Storms, clouds, etc. over oceans and areas with little/ no observations
Earth’s Spheres
Geosphere- Solid earth
Atmosphere- Sky (thinner as you get higher till it merges with space)
99%
Hydrosphere- Water areas + ice
Oceans: ~71% Earth’s surface, avg. depth of 4 km
Streams, lakes, clouds, glaciers, underground
Volume of water
Oceans: 97.2%, Glaciers: 2.15%, Ground water: 0.62%
Shorelines- Interface between Land and Water (where it connects)
Biosphere- Living organisms
Primarily near Earth’s surface
Microbes, plants, animals
All parts are linked
System- Group of interacting parts forming a complex whole
Closed vs. Open- Most natural systems; energy and matter can flow in and out
Positive feedback
Change one component more
Influences our daily activities
Influences agriculture, energy use, weather resources, transportation, and industry
Understand and predict severe weather
Understand, predict, and mitigate long term changes
Hurricane Irene: one of the top 10 hurricanes since 1980.
Definitions:
Meteorology: The scientific study of the atmosphere * Weather:
Climate: Long term trend (average, high and low extremes), temperature, wind, humidity, rainfall, etc.
Basic components:
Temperature
Humidity
Clouds
Precipitation
Pressure
Wind
Goal of science- uncover patterns, make predictions on the natural world
Observations/ measurements
Hypothesis/model- explanation
Testable
Multiple competing hypotheses
Results
Hypothesis corroborated or rejected
Publication in peer-reviewed journals
Scientific Theories
Not “just a theory”
Rigorously and extensively tested
Comprehensive explanation of phenomena
“paradigms”
Making observations
ASOS (Automated Surface Observing System)
High-altitude Observations
Radiosondes- measure temp., pressure, humidity; radio transmitters send back data 2x daily
Aircrafts study hurricanes
Radar- distribution and intensity of precipitation
Satellite Imaging- Storms, clouds, etc. over oceans and areas with little/ no observations
Earth’s Spheres
Geosphere- Solid earth
Atmosphere- Sky (thinner as you get higher till it merges with space)
99%
Hydrosphere- Water areas + ice
Oceans: ~71% Earth’s surface, avg. depth of 4 km
Streams, lakes, clouds, glaciers, underground
Volume of water
Oceans: 97.2%, Glaciers: 2.15%, Ground water: 0.62%
Shorelines- Interface between Land and Water (where it connects)
Biosphere- Living organisms
Primarily near Earth’s surface
Microbes, plants, animals
All parts are linked
System- Group of interacting parts forming a complex whole
Closed vs. Open- Most natural systems; energy and matter can flow in and out
Positive feedback
Change one component more