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Reasons to Study Weather and Climate

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Reasons to Study Weather and Climate
Why study weather and climate:
Influences our daily activities
Influences agriculture, energy use, weather resources, transportation, and industry
Understand and predict severe weather
Understand, predict, and mitigate long term changes
Hurricane Irene: one of the top 10 hurricanes since 1980.
Definitions:
Meteorology: The scientific study of the atmosphere * Weather:
Climate: Long term trend (average, high and low extremes), temperature, wind, humidity, rainfall, etc.
Basic components:
Temperature
Humidity
Clouds
Precipitation
Pressure
Wind
Goal of science- uncover patterns, make predictions on the natural world
Observations/ measurements
Hypothesis/model- explanation
Testable
Multiple competing hypotheses
Results
Hypothesis corroborated or rejected
Publication in peer-reviewed journals
Scientific Theories
Not “just a theory”
Rigorously and extensively tested
Comprehensive explanation of phenomena
“paradigms”
Making observations
ASOS (Automated Surface Observing System)
High-altitude Observations
Radiosondes- measure temp., pressure, humidity; radio transmitters send back data 2x daily
Aircrafts study hurricanes
Radar- distribution and intensity of precipitation
Satellite Imaging- Storms, clouds, etc. over oceans and areas with little/ no observations
Earth’s Spheres
Geosphere- Solid earth
Atmosphere- Sky (thinner as you get higher till it merges with space)
99%
Hydrosphere- Water areas + ice
Oceans: ~71% Earth’s surface, avg. depth of 4 km
Streams, lakes, clouds, glaciers, underground
Volume of water
Oceans: 97.2%, Glaciers: 2.15%, Ground water: 0.62%
Shorelines- Interface between Land and Water (where it connects)
Biosphere- Living organisms
Primarily near Earth’s surface
Microbes, plants, animals
All parts are linked
System- Group of interacting parts forming a complex whole
Closed vs. Open- Most natural systems; energy and matter can flow in and out
Positive feedback
Change one component more
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