The Atmosphere: An Introduction to Meteorology

Preface
	Cover
	Title
	Copyright
	Brief Contents
	MasteringMeteorology Media
	Preface
	Digital and Print Resources
Contents
	Contents
Special Features
	Visual Walkthrough
1: Introduction to the Atmosphere
	Introduction: Introduction to the Atmosphere
	1.1: Focus on the Atmosphere
	1.2: The Nature of Scientific Inquiry
	1.3: Earth as a System
	1.4: Composition of the Atmosphere
	1.5: Vertical Structure of the Atmosphere
	End of Chapter: Introduction to the Atmosphere
2: Heating Earth's Surface and Atmosphere
	Introduction: Heating Earth's Surface and Atmosphere
	2.1: Earth–Sun Relationships
	2.2: Energy, Temperature, and Heat
	2.3: Mechanisms of Heat Transfer
	2.4: What Happens to Incoming Solar Radiation?
	2.5: The Role of Gases in the Atmosphere
	2.6: Earth's Energy Budget
	End of Chapter: Heating Earth's Surface and Atmosphere
3: Temperature
	Introduction: Temperature
	3.1: For the Record: Air-Temperature Data
	3.2: Cycles of Air Temperature
	3.3: Why Temperatures Vary
	3.4: Global Distribution of Temperature
	3.5: Temperature Measurement
	3.6: Applying Temperature Data
	End of Chapter: Temperature
4: Moisture and Atmospheric Stability
	Introduction: Moisture and Atmospheric Stability
	4.1: Water on Earth
	4.2: Water's Changes of State
	4.3: Humidity: Water Vapor in the Air
	4.4: Relative Humidity and Dew-Point Temperature
	4.5: Adiabatic Temperature Changes and Cloud Formation
	4.6: Processes That Lift Air
	4.7: The Critical Weathermaker: Atmospheric Stability
	4.8: Stability and Daily Weather
	End of Chapter: Moisture and Atmospheric Stability
5: Forms of Condensation and Precipitation
	Introduction: Forms of Condensation and Precipitation
	5.1: Cloud Formation
	5.2: Cloud Classification
	5.3: Types of Fog
	5.4: How Precipitation Forms
	5.5: Forms of Precipitation
	5.6: Precipitation Measurement
	5.7: Planned and Inadvertent Weather Modification
	End of Chapter: Forms of Condensation and Precipitation
6: Air Pressure and Winds
	Introduction: Air Pressure and Winds
	6.1: Atmospheric Pressure and Wind
	6.2: Why Does Air Pressure Vary?
	6.3: Factors Affecting Wind
	6.4: Winds Aloft Versus Surface Winds
	6.5: How Winds Generate Vertical Air Motion
	6.6: Wind Measurement
	End of Chapter: Air Pressure and Winds
7: Circulation of the Atmosphere
	Introduction: Circulation of the Atmosphere
	7.1: Scales of Atmospheric Motion
	7.2: Local Winds
	7.3: Global Circulation
	7.4: Global Distribution of Pressure and Precipitation
	7.5: The Westerlies
	7.6: Jet Streams
	7.7: Global Winds and Ocean Currents
	7.8: El Niño, La Niña, and the Southern Oscillation
	End of Chapter: Circulation of the Atmosphere
8: Air Masses
	Introduction: Air Masses
	8.1: What Is an Air Mass?
	8.2: Classifying Air Masses
	8.3: Properties of North American Air Masses
	8.4: Air-Mass Modification
	End of Chapter: Air Masses
9: Midlatitude Cyclones
	Introduction: Midlatitude Cyclones
	9.1: Frontal Weather
	9.2: Midlatitude Cyclones and the Polar-Front Theory
	9.3: Flow Aloft and Cyclone Formation
	9.4: A Modern View: The Conveyor Belt Model
	9.5: Where Do Midlatitude Cyclones Form?
	9.6: Idealized Weather of a Midlatitude Cyclone
	9.7: Anticyclonic Weather and Atmospheric Blocking
	9.8: Case Study of a Midlatitude Cyclone
	End of Chapter: Midlatitude Cyclones
10: Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
	Introduction: Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
	10.1: Thunderstorms
	10.2: Ordinary Cell Thunderstorms
	10.3: Severe Thunderstorms
	10.4: Lightning and Thunder
	10.5: Tornadoes
	10.6: Development and Occurrence of Tornadoes
	10.7: Tornado Destruction and Tornado Forecasting
	End of Chapter: Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
11: Hurricanes
	Introduction: Hurricanes
	11.1: Profile of a Hurricane
	11.2: Hurricane Formation and Decay
	11.3: Hurricane Destruction
	11.4: Tracking and Monitoring Hurricanes
	11.5: Forecasting Hurricanes
	End of Chapter: Hurricanes
12: Weather Analysis and Forecasting
	Introduction: Weather Analysis and Forecasting
	12.1: The Weather Business: A Brief Overview
	12.2: Acquiring Weather Data
	12.3: Weather Maps: Depictions of the Atmosphere
	12.4: Modern Weather Forecasting
	12.5: Other Forecasting Methods
	12.6: Weather Satellites: Tools in Forecasting
	12.7: Types of Forecasts
	12.8: The Role of the Forecaster
	12.9: Forecast Accuracy
	End of Chapter: Weather Analysis and Forecasting
13: Air Pollution
	Introduction: Air Pollution
	13.1: The Air Pollution Threat
	13.2: Sources and Types of Air Pollution
	13.3: Trends in Air Quality
	13.4: Meteorological Factors Affecting Air Pollution
	13.5: Acid Precipitation
	End of Chapter: Air Pollution
14: The Changing Climate
	Introduction: The Changing Climate
	14.1: Climate Change
	14.2: Detecting Climate Change
	14.3: Natural Causes of Climate Change
	14.4: Human Impacts on Global Climate
	14.5: Predicting Future Climate Change
	14.6: Some Consequences of Climate Change
	End of Chapter: The Changing Climate
15: World Climates
	Introduction: World Climates
	15.1: Climate Classification and Controls
	15.2: Humid Tropical Climates (A)
	15.3: The Dry Climates (B)
	15.4: Mild Midlatitude Climates (C)
	15.5: Midlatitude Climates with Severe Winters (D)
	15.6: Polar Climates (E)
	15.7: Highland Climates (H)
	End of Chapter: World Climates
16: Optical Phenomena of the Atmosphere
	Introduction: Optical Phenomena of the Atmosphere
	16.1: Interactions of Light and Matter
	16.2: Mirages
	16.3: Rainbows
	16.4: Halos, Sun Dogs, and Solar Pillars
	16.5: Other Optical Phenomena
	End of Chapter: Optical Phenomena of the Atmosphere
Backmatter
	Appendix A: Metric Units
	Appendix B: Explanation and Decoding of the Daily Weather Map
	Appendix C: Relative Humidity and Dew-Point Tables
	Appendix D: Laws Relating to Gases
	Appendix E: Newton's Laws, Pressure-Gradient Force, and Coriolis Force
	Appendix F: Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
	Appendix G: Climate Data
	Glossary
	Temperature and Precipitation Extremes
	Cloud Guide
	Credits
	Index