Meteorology Notes
I. The Atmosphere
- envelope of gases and tiny, suspended particles encircling the Earth
A. Meteorology
- study of the atmosphere and weather processes
- studies of atmosphere involves many sciences
B. Weather
- the state of the atmosphere at a given time and place
C. Climate
- sum of all statistical weather information that helps describe a region
Climatology - the study of climate
D. The Scientific Method
- means of discovering basic scientific principles
1. Pose a question or problem
2. Collect observations (DATA; "facts")
3. Analyze data
4. Propose hypotheses (tentative explanations)
5. Predict what would happen if hypothesis were true
6. Test predictions and discard incorrect hypotheses (= concept of Multiple Working Hypotheses)
Null Hypothesis- no systematic relationship exists among the observations
7. Theory
- hypothesis that passes testing and has a good chance of being true
8. Scientific Law
- fundamental principles that are invariably found to be true
9. Model
- a conceptual, graphic, mathematical or physical image that is consistent with the data
a. Conceptual Model
- describes general relationships among components of a system
b. Graphical Model
- assembles and displays data in an organized and easily-interpreted format
c. Physical Model
- miniaturized version of a system
d. Numerical Model
- consists of mathematical equations that illustrate behavior of a particular physical system; computerized numerical models are very important for weather forcasting
E. Formation of the Atmosphere during PreCambrian times (4.6 to 0.6 billion years ago)
The Earth's Atmosphere was formed by:
1. Degassing of Earth's interior
- an initial atmosphere was probably formed during differentiation, then "swept away" when the early Solar System was cleared of debris by a strong "Solar Wind" (charged particles moving away from the Sun)
- volcanic
- envelope of gases and tiny, suspended particles encircling the Earth
A. Meteorology
- study of the atmosphere and weather processes
- studies of atmosphere involves many sciences
B. Weather
- the state of the atmosphere at a given time and place
C. Climate
- sum of all statistical weather information that helps describe a region
Climatology - the study of climate
D. The Scientific Method
- means of discovering basic scientific principles
1. Pose a question or problem
2. Collect observations (DATA; "facts")
3. Analyze data
4. Propose hypotheses (tentative explanations)
5. Predict what would happen if hypothesis were true
6. Test predictions and discard incorrect hypotheses (= concept of Multiple Working Hypotheses)
Null Hypothesis- no systematic relationship exists among the observations
7. Theory
- hypothesis that passes testing and has a good chance of being true
8. Scientific Law
- fundamental principles that are invariably found to be true
9. Model
- a conceptual, graphic, mathematical or physical image that is consistent with the data
a. Conceptual Model
- describes general relationships among components of a system
b. Graphical Model
- assembles and displays data in an organized and easily-interpreted format
c. Physical Model
- miniaturized version of a system
d. Numerical Model
- consists of mathematical equations that illustrate behavior of a particular physical system; computerized numerical models are very important for weather forcasting
E. Formation of the Atmosphere during PreCambrian times (4.6 to 0.6 billion years ago)
The Earth's Atmosphere was formed by:
1. Degassing of Earth's interior
- an initial atmosphere was probably formed during differentiation, then "swept away" when the early Solar System was cleared of debris by a strong "Solar Wind" (charged particles moving away from the Sun)
- volcanic