Met7: Weather Introduction (v1.1)

We have established that the average temperature of the Earth has been rapidly increasing since roughly 1970, and we have reviewed the overwhelming scientific consensus proving that this warming is driven by human activity.

With those global climate mechanisms understood, we can begin to turn our attention to the atmospheric engine itself: the weather.

Globally, we are witnessing pronounced shifts in the frequency, intensity, and paths of hurricanes and tornadoes. We are observing changes in our prevailing trade winds—which directly alter the geographic location and severity of extreme flooding and prolonged droughts. We are also experiencing a marked increase in devastating wildfires. However, before we can parse these complex events, we must first understand the fundamental physical science that drives all weather.

As laid out in our earlier exploration of foundational concepts, three unchanging physical realities dictate how our atmosphere behaves. It is worth repeating them here, as they form the bedrock of all meteorology:

1. The atmosphere is heated from below. Sunlight passes through the air to warm the surface of the Earth. Therefore, the surface temperature and the rate at which temperature varies with height (the lapse rate) control the stability of our skies.

2. The oceans are massive thermal reservoirs. Sourced by solar radiation, the global oceans hold immense reserves of energy. Roughly 90% of the water vapor in our air evaporates from these immense water bodies, with the exact rate of evaporation depending heavily on temperature. The ocean’s high heat capacity and this airborne moisture act as the primary fuel for weather systems.

3. The Earth is a sphere. Because our planet is round, solar radiation is never equally distributed. The tropics receive a massive surplus of energy compared to the poles. This permanent geographic temperature difference causes pressure differences—and pressure differences cause the air to move, creating wind. This equator-to-pole temperature gradient is the ultimate primary driver of all global atmospheric circulation.

Connecting Weather to Temperature

The overarching goal of any subsequent weather analysis is to explore how these parameters interact. While it may not always be scientifically possible to draw a straight, simple line tying every individual change in a specific weather phenomenon directly to rising global baseline temperatures, we will evaluate the mechanics objectively and trace those thermal connections wherever the physics supports it.

📢 Status Update: The subsequent essays detailing specific weather phenomena are currently on hold. For more context on the trajectory of this project, please see the update posted here: Appeal for Help on Climate Science.