Geography 2310A/B- Midterm Exam Guide - Comprehensive Notes for the exam ( 17 pages long!)

• School: Western University
• Department: Geography
• Course: Geography 2310A/B
• Professor: Mark Moscicki

Document Summary

Atmospheric science: defi(cid:374)itio(cid:374): a ge(cid:374)eral ter(cid:373) for the stud(cid:455) of the stru(cid:272)ture a(cid:374)d d(cid:455)(cid:374)a(cid:373)i(cid:272)s of earth(cid:859)s atmosphere. Scales: weather and climate phenomena are categorized into two types of scales: spatial and temporal. Observing the atmosphere: weather conditions are observed by satellites, radar, radiosondes, and trained professionals, data are recorded on surface weather maps and reported to the public. The atmosphere: the atmosphere provides many benefits, pro(cid:448)ides prote(cid:272)tio(cid:374) fro(cid:373) the su(cid:374)(cid:859)s har(cid:373)ful ultra(cid:448)iolet (uv) radiation, transports heat from the tropics to the poles, moderates temperatures to support life. Composition of the atmosphere: nitrogen (n): 78%; oxygen (o): 21%; trace gases: 1% Important trace gases include: carbon dioxide (co2), water vapour (h2o), methane (ch4), ozone (o3) With a barometer: **air pressure always decreases with increasing height. It is commonly measured in hectopascals (hpa) or millibars (mb: conversions, 1 hectopascal = 1 millibar, 10 hectopascals = 1 kilopascal.