EARTHSC 2GG3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 9: Joule, Tropopause, Thermosphere
11 Nov 2016
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Document Summary
Energy is fundamental to an understanding of severe weather. We experience energy as a force measured in newtons (n). A newton is the force necessary to accelerate a 1kg mass at 1m/sec2 while it is in motion. Power is stated as energy divided by time, and is expressed as joules per second or watts (w). When discussing large amounts of power it is expressed in exajoules (ej) which is 108 joules. The global energy statistics indicate that more than 440ejper year. There are multiple types of energy, potential energy (stored energy perhaps due to gravity, kinetic energy (energy of motion), and heat energy. Atmosphere: the gaseous envelope that surrounds earth, made up of gas molecules, suspended particles of solid and liquid, and falling precipitation. The atmosphere causes the weather we experience everyday and is responsible for trapping th heat that keeps the earth warm enough to be habitable.
