Section 1.2 Topics in meteorology
There are number of key concepts that we will explore as we consider the behavior of the Earth's atmosphere. This includes
The fundamental concepts of temperature and pressure and the structure and chemical composition of the Earth's atmosphere,
The energy cycle of the Earth's atmosphere and how it drives weather and climate patterns; energy transfer, differential solar heating at high and low latitudes, seasonal effects, and the greenhouse effect,
The behavior of water in the atmosphere and its central role in shaping weather conditions; relative humidity and dew point, cloud and fog formation, and precipitation,
The forces that drive atmospheric winds, from local storm system to global circulation patterns
Systems that drive weather changes in the mid-latitudes, including air masses, fronts, and mid-latitude cyclones,
Weather forecasting and modeling, and the tools used to characterize atmospheric conditions,
Severe weather systems and associated phenomena, including thunderstorms, tornadoes, lightning, and hail,
Tropical weather systems, including hurricanes and typhoons, and atmospheric-ocean interactions, and
The climate of the Earth, from the distant past to the present day, and anthropogenic effects on climate.