CH1-introduction--2-15-05.pdf

Atmospheric Science AN INTRODUCTORY SURVEY c° Not to be reproduced in any form without written permission from both authors. Atmospheric Science AN INTRODUCTORY SURVEY John M. Wallace Peter V. Hobbs University of Washington Contents 1 Introduction and overview 1 1.1 Scope of the subject and recent highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1.2 Some definitions and terms of reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 1.3 A brief survey of the atmosphere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 1.3.1 Optical properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 1.3.2 Mass and composition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 1.3.3 Vertical structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 1.3.4 Winds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 1.3.5 Precipitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 1.4 What’s next? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 1.5 Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 i ii CONTENTS Chapter 1 Introduction and overview 1.1 Scope of the subject and recent highlights Atmospheric science is a relatively new, applied discipline that is concerned with the structure and evolution of the planetary atmospheres, and with the wide range of phenomena that occur within them. To the extent that it focuses mainly on the earth’s atmosphere, atmospheric science can be regarded as one of the earth or geo-sciences, each of which represents a particular fusion of elements of physics, chemistry, and fluid dynamics. The historical development of atmospheric sciences, particularly during the 20th century, has been driven by the need for more accurate weather forecasts. In popular usage the term meteorologist, a synonym for atmospheric scientist, means weather forecaster. During the past century, weather forecasting has evolved from an art that relied solely on experience and intuition, into a science that relies on numerical models based on the conservation of mass,