Tools of Meteorology

Barometer -

measures air

pressure

(mercury and

aneroid)

Tools of Meteorology

Anemometer

measures wind

speeds ten

meters above the

ground.

Tools of Meteorology Psychrometer measures

humidity. Consists of 2

thermometers, one dry-bulb

(to show air temp) and one

wet bulb (has water-soaked

wick wrapped around bulb)

a fan blows air past the 2

thermometers or you can

swing them in the air

manually, 2 thermometer

read different temps and the

difference shows the

amount of humidity.

Tools of Meteorology

Thermometer

measures

temperature.

Scientist use

Celsius scale

(0ºC freezing pt

of water, 100ºC is

boiling for water)

Tools of Meteorology

Wind vane –

is an instrument

used to determine

the direction of

winds.

Layers of the Atmosphere

Thermosphere – above 90km , 4th layer, thin atmosphere, temps increase with altitude from -80ºC to above 1000ºC – Ionosphere is part of thermosphere

(about 90-500km above Earth), where auroras take place.

Mesosphere – 3rd layer, 50-90km above Earth’s surface, temps drop with increasing altitude from -20ºC to -90ºC.

Stratosphere – 2nd layer, clear, dry layer, lower portion is cold about -60ºC to upper portion about-20ºC. Temperature increase caused by ozone (ozone absorbs ultraviolet rays from sun and then releases some of it energy in form of heat.

Troposphere – lowest layer of Earth’s atmosphere, temperatures decrease with altitude from 18ºC to -60ºC, contains most of water vapor in atmosphere so most of weather occurs here, plans fly here.

Layers of the Atmosphere

Layers of the Atmosphere

Types of Clouds

Stratus clouds – layered, low clouds, form in stable air so it spreads out horizontally

Cumulus clouds – fluffy, grow upward, flat bases

Cirrus clouds – feathery, high clouds, feathery ice clouds

Alto – clouds between 2,000-7,000 meters

Nimbus – dark rain clouds

Types of Clouds

Types of Clouds - Cirrus

Types of Clouds - Cumulus

Types of Clouds - Stratus

Formation of a Cloud

Coriolis Effect and the Currents

Direction in which currents flow depends is influenced by the Coriolis Effect.

Air currents in Northern Hemisphere turn clockwise (to the right)

Air currents in the Southern Hemisphere turn counterclockwise (to the left)

Global Winds

Trade Winds

Westerlies

(where we live)

Kinds of Fronts

Cold Front – boundary between an advancing cold air mass and the warmer air mass it is displacing, moves quickly (about twice as fast as a warm front), precipitation associated with it usually ends shortly after the front passes

Warm Front – when warm air displaces cold air, warm air rises above denser cold air mass, weather changes are less dramatic, but precipitation may last for a day or more.

Occluded front – when a cold front catches up to a warm front, causes the warm caught between 2 colder air masses to rise, causes cloudiness and precipitation.

Stationary front – when a front is not moving forward, if the front remains stationary for too long flooding can occur.

Front Symbols

Warm and Cold Fronts

How to Read the Weather Symbols

Global Climates