Met7: Weather Introduction (v1.0)

 Now we know that the temperature of the earth has been increasing since about 1970 and the overwhelming scientific consensus is that it is due to human activity. Now I move on to the weather. We have seen changes to the frequency and strength and paths of hurricanes and tornados, and prevailing trade winds. Changes to trade winds changes the location and degree of flooding and draughts. We have seen more wildfires. But before looking into these phenomena, we need to understand the science of weather. In the Met4 essay I laid out some key factors influencing weather where an important one is earth’s temperature. Let me repeat it here.

Three key concepts.

• The atmosphere is heated from below. The earth’s surface temperature and variation of temperature with height plays a very important role in weather.

• The oceans get their primary energy from radiation and are a huge reservoir of energy. About 90% of the water vapor in the air comes from evaporation from water bodies like oceans. The rate of evaporation for a given surface area depends on temperature. The ocean’s high heat capacity and water vapor in the air plays a very important role in weather.

• Earth is a sphere. Therefore, it is important to note that radiation is not equally distributed across the earth - tropics get much more than the poles. This creates a temperature difference between the equator and poles. Temperature differences cause pressure differences and pressure differences cause wind. The equator to pole temperature difference is the primary driver of atmospheric circulation.

The rest of the essays in this series are on this topic.

I may not be able to tie changes in a weather phenomenon to changes in temperature. We will see what emerges. But I hope to tie a weather phenomenon to temperature where applicable. 

Future essays are on hold at this time. 

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