Climatology And Meteorology 1St Year University (Geog 122)

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Geography and Physical Geography

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The study of natural and human constructed phenomena relative to a spatial dimension

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Earliest Atmosphere

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primordial atmosphere was comprised of hydrogen, helium, methane and ammonia

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Second Atmosphere

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caused by volcanoes (outgassing) - mostly water vapor (80%), CO2 (10%) and Nitrogen (3-5%)

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Homosphere

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the lower 80km of the atmosphere where the relative composition of permanent gasses remains constant throughout

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Heterosphere

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lies above the homosphere where the lighter gasses (helium and hydrogen) become increasingly dominant with incresing altitude. (lies between 80-100km from the surface

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Permanent Gasses

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gasses that form a constant portion of the dry atmospheric mass in the homosphere (nitrogen - 78.1%, oxygen - 20.9%, and argon - 0.9%)

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Variable gasses

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have distributions that vary spatially in the homosphere. Water vapor, aerosols and ozone. Most water vapor is found in the first 5km of the atmosphere.

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Aerosols

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small solid particles and liquid droplets in the air (excluding cloud droplets and precipitation). Formed by both human and natural processes. Normal concentrations = 10,000 particles per cm3 over land surfaces. Concentrations are greater closest to the surface.

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Ozone

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Three O atoms are joined to form a single molecule (O3). Absorbs harmful ultra violet radiation. Most is concentrated in the stratosphere between 10-50km from the surface. It is beneficial in the upper atmosphere but harmful in the lower atmosphere.

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Weather

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condition of the atmosphere at any particular time or space

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Climate

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the average range of weather over a long period of time. In canada and US climate is based on the past 30 years

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Meteorology

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the study of the atmosphere and it's phenomena aka atmospheric science

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Troposphere

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The lowest 12km of the atmosphere. Temp decreases with height. Where weather takes place. Large amount of water vapor. Thinnest layer and contains 80% of atmospheric mass. Near ground temp is avg 15C and at top -57C

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Tropopause

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Boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere

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Stratosphere

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layer above troposphere. Temp remains constant at about -59C for the first 20km then it increases with altitude up to -2C at the top. Because of absorption of UV radiation by ozone. Contains 19.9% of atmospheric mass

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Stratopause

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boundary between the stratosphere and the mesosphere

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Mesosphere

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contains 99.9% of all remaining 0.1% of atmospheric mass. Extends from about 50km - 80km. Layer above the stratosphere.

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Thermosphere

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Temp increases with altitude until the temp is greater than 1000C. Lies between 80km - 100km from the surface

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Temperature

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a measure of the average speed of atoms and molecules. The faster they move the higher the temp.

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Heat

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is defined as energy being transferred from one object to another because of the temperature

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Law of conservation of energy

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First law of thermodynamics. Energy can be transferred from one system to another in many forms but it cannot be created nor destroyed

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Second Law

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heat can never move from a cold mass to a warm mass

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Third Law

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if all of the thermal motion of molecules (kinetic energy) could be removed, a state called absolute zero would occur (0 Kelvins)

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Kinetic energy

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the energy due to motion

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Potential energy

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the energy that a body at rest possesses by virtue of it's position and that is potentially transformable into another form of energy

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Thermal energy (heat)

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a form of energy representing aggregated internal energy of motions of atoms and molecules in a body

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Electromagnetic energy (radiation)

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energy stored in electromagnetic waves of radiation. Energy is released when the waves are absorbed by a surface.

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Conduction

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movement of heat through a substance without the movement of molecules in the direction of heat transfer.

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Convection

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transfer of heat by mixing a fluid. Transfer of heat is usually accomplished by the movement of particles

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Radiation

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energy emitted by virtue of an objects temperature. Can travel through empty space unlike conduction and convection energy.

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Black body

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a body at a given temperature that emits the maximum amount of radiation possible. A black body emits energy at a rate given by the Stefan-Boltzmann Law

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Stefan-Boltzmann law for black bodies

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E=σT4

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Stefan-Boltzmann for grey bodies

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E=εσT4

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wein's displacement law:

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λmax=2898÷T(Kelvins)

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Solar constant

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the max planar insolation at top of atmosphere = 1367w/m2

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Kex

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extraterrestrial shortwave radiation received at the top of the atmosphere - 342w/m2

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Albedo (α)

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percentage of insolation reflected back by an object

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Scattering

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when an object reflects insolation as various weaker beams of radiation in different directions

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Direct radiation

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insolation that directly reaches the earth's surface

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Diffuse radiation

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insolation that reaches the earth's surface after being scattered by atmospheric gases, aerosols etc.

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Rayleigh scattering

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scattering agents are about one tenth the size of the insolation wave length. Affects shortwave lengths of insolation including the short visible light wavelengths especially blue. It scatters insolation both forwards and backwards.

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Radiation balance of the earth's surface

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Q*=K*+L*

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K*

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Kdown - Kup

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L*

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Ldown - Lup

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Sensible Heat

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heat energy that can be sensed with a thermometer

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Latent Heat

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heat energy that is released or absorbed during a change in state

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Advection

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vertical convection. Similar to convection but rather than a vertical transfer of heat energy it is a horizontal transfer of heat energy

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Kup=

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K(down)xα

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heat energy balance

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Q*=QH+QE+QG

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Summer Solstice

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maximum tilt of northern hemisphere towards the sun (June 22)

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Winter Solstice

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maximum tilt of the southern hemisphere towards the sun (Dec 21)

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Tropic of Cancer

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23.5°N latitude

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Tropic of Capricorn

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23.5°S latitude

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Solar Declination

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the latitudinal position of where the solar noon sun is 90°. On the Equinox the solar declination = 0 and it is +23.5 on summer solstice and -23.5 on winter solstice

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Analemma

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the trace of the sun's path at solar noon throughout the year

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Beam Spreading

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due to the increase in surface area that insolation has top cover (like a flashlight beam being more concentrated at less of an angle) Caused by the curvature of the earth and the decrease in solar angle

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Atmospheric Beam Depletion

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reduction in the amount of insolation as it travels through the atmosphere