Published on: 2017-02-24
Estimated time to complete: .50 - .75 h
Includes audio: no
Topic Area(s)
Environment and Society
Description:
This lesson provides an overview of basic weather processes, beginning with how the distribution of incoming solar energy helps to establish Earth’s atmospheric circulations. Learners will gain an understanding of the differences between weather and climate, and how Earth’s winds tend to have dominant patterns determined by region. An introduction to atmospheric stability, clouds, precipitation processes, and thunderstorm characteristics is also included, along with an introduction to weather impacts affecting aviation operations.
Objectives:
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
- Summarize the key aspects of weather vs. climate and climate zones
- Describe the main global circulations influencing Earth’s weather and climate
- Describe the basics of parcel theory and atmospheric instability
- Explain how precipitation forms, including collision/coalescence and the Bergeron-Findeisen process
- Identify various cloud types based on visual appearance and altitude
- Describe the occurrence and life cycle of thunderstorms in the tropics and subtropics
- Identify the hazards associated with thunderstorms
- List the key weather factors important for aviation meteorology and their role in aviation operations
Keywords
global circulation, hadley cell, ferrel cell, polar cell, walker circulation, jet stream, polar jet, subtropical jet, ITCZ, SPCZ, Intertropical Convergence Zone, Southern Pacific Convergence Zone, weather, climate, climate zones, Koppen-Geiger classification, atmospheric stability, radiosonde, lapse rate, temperature, dewpoint, inversion, tropopause, clouds, cumulonimbus, stratus, cumulus, stratocumulus, nimbostratus, altostratus, altocumulus, cirrocumulus, cirrus, cirrostratus, low clouds, mid clouds, high clouds, cloud height, remote sensing, satellite, precipitation, collision-coalescence, Bergeron-Findeisen, snow, sleet, freezing rain, rain, thunderstorms, climatology, lightning, flooding, flood, flash flood, waterspout, tornado, aviation weather, visibility, turbulence, icing