CHAPTER 34 WEATHER ELEMENTS Maritime （34章天气元素海上）.pdf

CHAPTER 34 WEATHER ELEMENTS GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ATMOSPHERE 3400. Introduction latitudes to about 10 miles at low latitudes. The standard atmosphere is a conventional vertical Weather is the state of the Earth’s atmosphere with structure of the atmosphere characterized by a standard sea- respect to temperature, humidity, precipitation, visibility, level pressure of 1013.25 hectopascals of mercury (29.92 cloudiness, and other factors. Climate refers to the average inches) and a sea-level air temperature of 15° C (59° F). long-term meteorological conditions of a place or region. The temperature decreases with height at the standard All weather may be traced to the effect of the Sun on lapse rate, a uniform 2° C (3.6° F) per thousand feet to 11 the Earth. Most changes in weather involve large-scale kilometers (36,089 feet), and above that remains constant at horizontal motion of air. Air in motion is called wind. This –56.5° C (-69.7° F). motion is produced by differences of atmospheric pressure, The jet stream refers to relatively strong (greater than which are attributable both to differences of temperature 60 knots) quasi-horizontal winds, usually concentrated and the nature of the motion itself. within a restricted layer of the atmosphere. Research has Weather is of vital importance to the mariner. The indicated that the jet stream is important in relation to the wind and state of the sea affect dead reckoning. Reduced sequence of weather. There are two commonly known jet visibility limits piloting. The state of the atmosphere affects streams. The su