WEATHER LAR 301

insolation

• incoming solar radiation

• sunlight and incoming heat enters the atmosphere

• can be reflected, scattered and absorbed

types of solar radiation

• ultraviolet (UV)

• infrared

• visible light

• heat

• radio waves

• gamma

• x-rays

albedo

• the reflective capacity of an object

• light colored surfaces (like water) reflect more heat

dew point

• temperature of condensation

• used to determine the amount of water being transported in atmosphere at any time

relative humidity

ratio value - amount of moisture detected in the air compared to the amount that it could hold at that temperature

atmospheric composition

78% nitrogen

21% oxygen

1% argon

variable or combination gas

CO2 because it can absorb heat

jet stream

• a high altitude wind 

• result of the collision between Polar and Tropical sourced air masses

• results in weather fronts (cold and warm)

air always ….

• seeks equilibrium 

• cold air sinks, warm air rises

• results in low level temperature inversions 

Wet Adiabatic Lapse Rates (WALR)

• once 100% relative humidity is reached at 11,000 ft

• -3.3F/1000ft of elevation

Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate

atmosphere cools at constant rate of -5.5F/1000ft of elevation

examples of localized winds

1. sea/land breezes

2. mountain/valley winds

3. katabatic 

4. chinook (atmospheric compression)

5. santa ana winds

3 mechanisms of precipitation

1. convection

2. orographics 

3. frontal cyclonics

convection

• thunderstorms

orographics

frontal cyclonics

5 elements of storm hazard

1. wind - >74 mph 

2. rain 

3. surge 

4. waves 

5. speed of the storm