Atmosphere, Climate, and Weather Measurement
Atmospheric Science Fundamentals
Atmosphere: Composition and Properties
The Atmosphere is a gaseous mass that envelops the Earth, extending up to 1000 km. It filters solar heating, absorbs water vapor, and is rich in nitrogen.
Solar and Terrestrial Radiation
- Solar Radiation: The warming of the atmosphere and land by the sun.
- Terrestrial Radiation: The heat emitted from Earth into the atmosphere.
Gradients and Pressure Measurement
- Altotermic Gradient: The direct relationship between temperature and height.
- Altobaric Gradient: The direct relationship between altitude and atmospheric pressure.
- Millibar: A unit of measurement used to measure atmospheric pressure.
- Insolation: The amount of solar radiation received by a surface.
Climatological Mapping Tools
- Isobars: Lines on climatological maps that represent atmospheric pressure.
- Isotherms: Lines that indicate temperatures.
Wind and Atmospheric Phenomena
- Windward (Barlovento): The side of a mountain where air masses collide.
- Leeward (Sotavento): The side opposite the windward, where air masses are forced to descend.
- Troughs (Vaguadas): Weather phenomena common on Caribbean Sea coasts due to the energy exchange of air masses.
The Hydrologic Cycle Explained
The Hydrologic Cycle is the process by which water, in its liquid phase, passes through different stages to return to the same point.
- Evaporation: The process of liquid water turning into steam.
- Condensation: When vapor turns into small water droplets, forming clouds.
- Saturation: When clouds reach their maximum water content.
- Precipitation: The process by which clouds discharge large quantities of water.
- Freezing: When liquid water solidifies due to low temperatures.
- Sublimation: When water vapor freezes directly into ice, or vice versa.
- Melting (Fusion): When frozen water turns into liquid.
Key Climatology Concepts
- Climatology: The science that studies different weather phenomena.
- Climate: The characteristic weather phenomena of a region over time.
- Temperature: The degree of heat or cold present in bodies.
- Elements of Weather: Factors, results, or physical conditions.
Earth’s Atmospheric Layers
Troposphere: Earth’s First Layer
The first layer covering the Earth, starting from the ground.
- Most active weather phenomena occur here.
- Altotermic and altobaric gradients are present.
- Contains cold and warm air masses.
- Storms with alternating electric charges.
- Oxygen amounts decrease with altitude.
Stratosphere: Beyond the Tropopause
Located after the tropopause.
- In the first few miles, temperature diminishes and then increases rapidly.
- Contains cirrus clouds.
- Abundant horizontal air currents.
- Contains CO2.
- Ozonosphere layer (protects from UV rays).
Mesosphere: The Middle Layer
Known as the middle layer.
- Contains sodium.
- Minimal UV absorption.
- Reflects long-wave radio waves at night, absorbs them during the day.
- Temperatures drop to -70°C.
Ionosphere: The Ionized Region
The most ionized zone.
- Great electrical conductivity.
- Closer to the Earth’s surface during the day, further away at night.
- Large quantity of free electrons.
- Acts as a reflective screen for shortwave radio.
Exosphere: The Outermost Layer
The last layer of the atmosphere, where it gradually thins into space.
- Composed primarily of helium and hydrogen.
- Ionization of hydrogen contributes to polar auroras.
Climatology Instruments
- Heliofanograph: Measures the intensity of sunlight or insolation.
- Barometer: Measures the pressure exerted by the air (atmospheric pressure).
- Anemometer: Measures air velocity.
- Psychrometer: Measures atmospheric moisture and the air’s dew point.
- Rain Gauge: Measures existing rainfall.
- Evaporimeter: Measures the rate of water evaporation.