GEOG 1112 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Barometer, Stratopause, Allotropes Of Oxygen
Document Summary
Chapter 1 | composition and structure of the atmosphere. Atmosphere: a mixture of gas molecules, small suspended particles of solid and liquid, and falling precipitation. Meteorology: the study of the atmosphere and the processes (such as cloud formation, lightning, and wind movement) that cause what we refer to as the weather . Climatology: relies on averages taken over a number of years in order to gauge typical atmospheric conditions. Scientific method: a framework for answering scientific questions. Prediction: forecast what will happen in the future. Experiment: procedure performed in a lab or computer simulation. Scientific theory: when hypotheses hold up long enough under repeated testing. Earth"s atmosphere becomes thinner at higher altitudes. Horizontal wind speeds are typically greater than vertical wind speeds. Vertical is harder to detect and forecast but determines much of the atmospheric behavior. Factors affecting the composition and vertical structure of the atmosphere. Total number of molecules in the atmosphere is constant.