Atmospheric Science / Geography 050:

INTRODUCTORY METEOROLOGY

Dr Neil Fox

385 McReynolds Hall

foxn@missouri.edu

This week

• TODAY– Important information– Overview of the course– Begin chapter 1– For Atmospheric Science majors only!

CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION

• Composition of the atmosphere

• Structure of the atmosphere

Meteorology

• Meteorology is the study of the atmosphere and the processes that cause atmospheric motions and the weather (and climate)

Weather

• State of the atmosphere at a particular place and TIME

• What’s the temperature, precipitation, cloudiness, wind speed etc.

• Affects daily activity

Weather & ClimateWeather & Climate

Weather is comprised of Weather is comprised of measured:measured: a) air temperature a) air temperature b) air pressure b) air pressure c) humidity c) humidity d) clouds d) clouds e) precipitation e) precipitation f) visibilityf) visibilityg) windg) wind

Climate represents long-term Climate represents long-term (e.g. 30 yr) averages of weather.(e.g. 30 yr) averages of weather.

Weather and Climate

• Climate is– Long-term average of atmospheric variables– Such as

• Temperature• Pressure• Wind speed and direction• Precipitation• Others

– And maxima, minima, extreme values, etc.

Climate

• Human activities (normal behavior, culture, architecture, agriculture) determined by climate

• The conditions we expect

Schedule• In Waters Auditorium

• Monday, Wednesday, Friday

• 2.00 - 2.50pm

Teaching Assistants

Sara Ortbals, Justin Glisan

Amanda Cox, Lindsey Fennewald

Texts

• Meteorology Today, 7th Ed. by C. Donald Ahrens

• Other texts (many introductory meteorology texts)

• Workbook/Study guide for Meteorology Today (has been shown to improve grades)

• Websites

Assessment

• Tests x 3

• Final Exam

• Weather journal

• Homeworks

• There may also be a few attendance quizzes, just to check

Test dates

• Exam #1: Friday, September 19

• Exam #2: Friday, October 17

• Exam #3: Wednesday, November 19

• Final exam: As stated in course catalog.• Thursday December 18, 1030

Weather Journal

• You are required to keep a weather journal

• Each day you should record– Maximum temperature– Minimum temperature– What the weather was like

• You can use any source of information BUT– YOU MUST REVEAL YOUR SOURCES

Weather Journal - Example

• Date:

• Maximum temperature:

• Minimum temperature:

• Conditions:

• Notes:

• Source:

Website

• http://solberg.snr.missouri.edu/People/fox/atm050/atm050.html

• Type it very carefully

• Contents to be decided– Course information– Links to useful websites

Course Outline

• See syllabus

Evolution of the Atmosphere

“BIG BANG”

1. First atmosphere -- one of cosmic gases:

H2 - Hydrogen He - Helium

CH4 - Methane NH3- Ammonia

H2O - Water Vapor CO2 - Carbon Dioxide

NOx - Oxides of Nitrogen

High temperatures probably drove off primeval atmosphere.

2. Second Atmosphere: Nothing -- similar to the moon

3. Third Atmosphere: Developed from secondary sources such as outgassing from volcanoes, geysers, cracks, fissures, etc..

Second and Third Atmospheres

Evolution of the Atmosphere

H2Ov - 68%

CO2 - 13%

N2 , N0x - 19%

After the Earth cooled

CO2 - 74%

H2Ov - 15%

N2 , NOx - 11%

oceans

rain

Composition ofVolcano Effluent

As the earth cooled, the watervapor condensed and created

the oceans, etc.

Evolution of the Atmosphere

• First bacteria evolved maybe four

billion years ago (anaerobic).

• About 2-3 billion years ago green plants appeared in the oceans (algae). Why oceans? Because liquid water (H2Ol) screens out ultraviolet radiation (UV).

Evolution of the Atmosphere

• Photosynthesis:

CO2 + sunlight + chlorophyll

O2 + organic material

Evolution of the Atmosphere

Billions of years before present

100 %

50 %

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CO2

O2

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Evolution of the Atmosphere

• Current Atmosphere

–N2 - 78% Nitrogen

–O2 - 21% Oxygen

–A - 1% Argon

–CO2 - 0.03% Carbon Dioxide

–H2Ov - 0 to 4% Water Vapor

–Particulates, Trace gases

Summary• Changes after plant life evolved:

– CO2 decreased via photosynthesis

– O2 increased via photosynthesis

– A (Argon) increased via the radioactive decay of potassium

– N2 ??????? --- Hmmm, a mystery!

Atmospheric Science majors

• Please stay behind for important program related information

• Move to the front!

Meteorology Club

• Storm chase FIG

• AMS and Club: 1st Meeting: September 10

• Campus forecasting

• Freshman welcome: 4pm, Sept 3

• SNR BBQ: 5.30pm, Aug 28

• Fall Picnic at South Farm: TBA