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Table of Contents
1. Earth and Its Atmosphere
2. Energy: Warming and Cooling Earth and the Atmosphere
3. Seasonal and Daily Temperatures
4. Atmospheric Humidity
5. Condensation: Dew, Fog and Clouds
6. Stability and Cloud Development
7. Precipitation
8. Air Pressure and Winds
9. Wind: Small-Scale and Local Systems
10. Wind: Global Systems
11. Air Masses and Fronts
12. Middle-Latitude Cyclones
13. Weather Forecasting
14. Thunderstorms
15. Tornadoes
16. Hurricanes
17. Earth's Changing Climate
18. Global Climate
19. Air Pollution
20. Light, Color and Atmospheric Optics
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Chapter l
Earthand Its Atmosphere
Learning Objectives
The Atmosphere and the Scientific Method
LO: 1-1 Outline the scientific method and describe how it can be applied to studying the atmosphere
and weather.
Overview of Earth's Atmosphere
LO: 1-2 Compare and contrast the composition ofEarth's atmosphere over the course ofits evolution.
LO: 1-3 Explain the role of gases (including water vapor, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and other
greenhouse gases) and pollutants in Earth's atmosphere and assess their impact on Earth's climate.
Vertical Structure of the Atmosphere
LO: 1-4 State the terms and calculations for density and air pressure, and explain their importance with
regard to Earth's atmosphere.
LO: 1-5 Label the layers ofthe atmosphere and their altitudes, and classify their respective
temperatures, compositions, and functions.
Weather and Climate
LO: 1-6 Differentiate between weather and climate, and briefly discuss the history of meteorology and
its most important milestones.
LO: 1-7 Interpret and describe a weather map, applying weather patterns and concepts such as low,
high, front, and storm types.
LO: 1-8 List the positive and negative effects ofclimate and weather on human health, agriculture,
infrastructure, environment, and economy.
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Summary
With many illustrations and photographs, this introductory chapter presents a broad overview of the
physical structure of the atmosphere and its weather. The chapter begins with a discussion of the present
composition of the earth's atmosphere. A focus section, “A Breath of Fresh Air”, examines the number of
molecules in a single breath and in the entire atmosphere. The important and varied roles played by water
vapor, which is a source of precipitation and latent heat energy as well as being the most important
greenhouse gas, are given particular attention. Current concern over increasing concentrations of another
constituent, carbon dioxide, and its possible effect on global climate are also examined. The student will see
that the observed increase in CO2 is a result of an imbalance between processes of release and removal.
The principle atmospheric pollutants, including ozone, are listed but are covered in greater detail in Chapter
1 9.
The concepts of air density and air pressure are introduced and their variation with altitude is
examined. A vertical profile of temperature shows that the atmosphere can be divided into several layers
with distinct properties. Additional focus sections describe “The Atmospheres of Other Planets” and “The
Radiosonde”.
Finally, the student is introduced to the elements that constitute weather and will see how weather
conditions might be depicted on a surface weather map and in a photograph from a geostationary satellite.
The chapter includes discussions of the history of and careers in meteorology, and ends with a description of
the many ways that weather and climate can affect our lives and interests. The final section includes a focus
section entitled “What is a Meteorologist”.
Key Terms
atmosphere outgassing
nitrogen density
oxygen pressure air
water vapor pressure
carbon dioxide lapse rate
ozone temperature inversion
ozone hole troposphere
aerosol stratosphere tropopause
pollutant
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