Meteorology

☁️Meteorology Unit 2 – Atmospheric Composition and Structure

The atmosphere is a complex system of layers with distinct properties. From the troposphere where weather happens to the thermosphere absorbing solar radiation, each layer plays a crucial role in Earth's climate and weather patterns. Understanding atmospheric composition is key to grasping climate change and air quality issues. Gases like nitrogen, oxygen, and trace amounts of greenhouse gases interact with aerosols and water vapor to influence our planet's energy balance and weather.

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Key Concepts and Terminology

  • Atmosphere consists of layers with distinct properties (temperature, pressure, density)
  • Troposphere is the lowest layer where most weather phenomena occur
    • Contains ~75% of the atmosphere's mass and ~99% of its water vapor and aerosols
  • Stratosphere is the second layer characterized by increasing temperature with height due to ozone absorption
  • Mesosphere is the third layer where temperature decreases with increasing altitude
  • Thermosphere is the uppermost layer with extremely high temperatures due to solar radiation absorption
  • Exosphere is the outermost region of the atmosphere that gradually fades into space
  • Homosphere and heterosphere describe the atmosphere's composition at different altitudes
  • Scale height measures the decrease in atmospheric pressure with altitude

Layers of the Atmosphere

  • Troposphere extends from Earth's surface to an average height of ~12 km (varies with latitude and season)
    • Tropopause marks the boundary between the troposphere and stratosphere
  • Stratosphere extends from the tropopause to an altitude of ~50 km
    • Stratopause separates the stratosphere from the mesosphere
  • Mesosphere spans from the stratopause to an altitude of ~85 km
    • Mesopause is the boundary between the mesosphere and thermosphere
  • Thermosphere extends from the mesopause to ~500-1000 km
    • Exosphere is the outermost part of the thermosphere that gradually transitions into space
  • Ionosphere is an electrified region within the thermosphere containing charged particles (ions and electrons)
  • Magnetosphere is the region around Earth dominated by its magnetic field, extending thousands of kilometers into space
  • Karman line at 100 km altitude is considered the beginning of space

Atmospheric Composition

  • Atmosphere is a mixture of gases, with nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%) being the most abundant
  • Trace gases include argon (0.93%), carbon dioxide (0.04%), and others (neon, helium, methane, krypton, hydrogen)
  • Water vapor content varies significantly with location and time (0-4%)
    • Plays a crucial role in weather phenomena and heat transfer
  • Aerosols are solid or liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere (dust, smoke, salt, pollen)
    • Affect air quality, visibility, and climate by scattering and absorbing radiation
  • Ozone is a key component in the stratosphere, absorbing harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun
  • Atmospheric composition is generally uniform up to ~80 km (homosphere) and varies above that (heterosphere)

Temperature Profile

  • Temperature varies with altitude in the atmosphere, creating distinct layers
  • Troposphere experiences a decrease in temperature with increasing altitude (lapse rate)
    • Average lapse rate is ~6.5°C/km, but varies with location and time
  • Stratosphere has an increasing temperature profile due to ozone absorption of ultraviolet radiation
    • Temperature inversion in the stratosphere creates a stable layer that limits vertical mixing
  • Mesosphere exhibits a decreasing temperature profile, reaching the coldest temperatures at the mesopause
  • Thermosphere has a rapidly increasing temperature profile due to absorption of solar radiation by oxygen and nitrogen
    • Temperatures can exceed 1000°C, but the air is too thin to effectively transfer heat

Pressure and Density Changes

  • Atmospheric pressure decreases exponentially with altitude, with the most rapid decrease in the lower atmosphere
    • Pressure at sea level averages ~1013 hPa and drops to ~1 hPa at 50 km
  • Density also decreases with altitude, as the air becomes thinner and less dense
    • Density at sea level is ~1.225 kg/m³ and decreases to ~0.001 kg/m³ at 80 km
  • Scale height is the distance over which atmospheric pressure decreases by a factor of e (~2.718)
    • Varies with temperature and molecular mass, averaging ~8 km for Earth's atmosphere
  • Hydrostatic balance describes the equilibrium between the vertical pressure gradient force and gravity
    • Explains why atmospheric pressure decreases with altitude

Atmospheric Phenomena

  • Weather occurs primarily in the troposphere and is driven by energy from the sun
    • Includes phenomena such as clouds, precipitation, winds, and storms
  • Jet streams are fast-moving air currents in the upper troposphere that influence weather patterns
  • Atmospheric tides are global-scale pressure oscillations caused by solar heating and lunar gravitational pull
  • Gravity waves are disturbances that propagate through the atmosphere, often generated by topography or convection
    • Play a role in transferring energy and momentum between atmospheric layers
  • Auroras (northern and southern lights) occur in the ionosphere due to collisions between energetic particles and atmospheric gases
  • Airglow is a faint emission of light by atmospheric gases, visible primarily at night
  • Noctilucent clouds form in the mesosphere at altitudes of ~80 km, visible during summer twilight

Measurement Techniques

  • Radiosondes are balloon-borne instruments that measure pressure, temperature, humidity, and wind as they ascend through the atmosphere
  • Weather satellites provide global observations of atmospheric conditions using visible, infrared, and microwave sensors
    • Geostationary satellites orbit at ~36,000 km and continuously monitor a fixed area
    • Polar-orbiting satellites circle Earth at lower altitudes (~800 km) and provide detailed observations of the entire globe
  • Radar systems detect precipitation, measure wind speed and direction, and track severe weather
  • Lidar (light detection and ranging) uses laser pulses to measure atmospheric properties such as temperature, density, and composition
  • Aircraft-based measurements provide detailed in-situ observations of atmospheric conditions
  • Ground-based instruments include weather stations, air quality monitors, and atmospheric observatories

Environmental Impacts and Climate Change

  • Greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor) absorb and emit infrared radiation, warming Earth's surface
    • Increasing greenhouse gas concentrations due to human activities are driving global climate change
  • Ozone depletion, caused by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other substances, allows more harmful ultraviolet radiation to reach Earth's surface
    • Montreal Protocol has successfully phased out ozone-depleting substances, and the ozone layer is slowly recovering
  • Air pollution, including particulate matter and ground-level ozone, adversely affects human health and the environment
    • Sources include transportation, industrial activities, and biomass burning
  • Acid rain results from the reaction of atmospheric pollutants (sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides) with water, damaging ecosystems and infrastructure
  • Climate change impacts include rising sea levels, more frequent and intense extreme weather events, and shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns
    • Mitigation efforts focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while adaptation strategies help communities prepare for and respond to climate-related risks


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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.