Vertical Structure of the Atmosphere Air molecules (as well as everything else) are held near Earth by gravity. This strong, invisible force pulling down on the air squeezes (compresses) air molecules closer together, which causes their number in a given volume to increase. The more air above a level, the greater the squeezing effect or […]
Overview of Earth’s Atmosphere The universe contains billions of galaxies and each galaxy is made up of billions of stars. Stars are hot glowing balls of gas that generate energy by converting hydrogen into helium near their centers. Our sun is an average-sized star situated near the edge of the Milky Way galaxy. Revolving around
Distribution of Wind and Pressure over the surface of the earth In subtropical region, the northeast trade winds and southeast trade winds prevail in the northern and southern hemisphere respectively. They are separated near the equator by a zone of prevailing calms known as ‘doldrums’. However, the doldrums are frequently absent in one part or
General Circulation of the atmosphere The simplest observed global characteristic of the atmosphere is that the tropics are much warmer than the poles. As discussed earlier, this is a straightforward consequence of the geometry of the earth. The annually averaged incoming solar radiation per unit area of the earth’s surface is much greater at the
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Controls of Climate Climatic controls are the factors affecting the climate of a particular place. The most fundamental control of both weather and climate is the unequal heating and cooling of the atmosphere in different parts of the earth. While the earth as a whole loses as much heat to space as it gains from
Weather, Climate and Climatic Elements Weather is the instantaneous state of the atmosphere, or the sequence of the states of the atmosphere as time passes. The difference between climate and weather is usefully summarized by the popular phrase “Climate is what you expect, weather is what you get.” Weather and climate are meteorological terms that
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Distribution of Solar Radiation The unequal distribution of solar radiation over the Earth is the primary cause of weather and climate. The rate of receipt of solar energy varies with latitudes, seasons, and time of the day, i.e., the angle of the sun’s rays with the surface of the Earth. A) Distribution of Solar Radiation
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Terrestrial Radiation The absorption of solar radiation raises the temperature of the earth’s surface and atmosphere. The radiation emitted from the land and water surfaces of the earth is long-wave radiation, unlike the short-wave radiation it receives from the sun. The earth’s average temperature approaches 294 Kº, and it emits long-wave radiation within the range
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