Atmospheric Sciences

Atmospheric sciences 1

Atmospheric sciences

Atmospheric sciences

Atmospheric physicsAtmospheric dynamics (category)Atmospheric chemistry (category)

Meteorology

Weather (category) (portal)Tropical cyclone (category)

Climatology

Climate (category)Climate change (category)

Global warming (category) (portal)

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Atmospheric sciences is an umbrella term for the study of the atmosphere, its processes, the effects other systemshave on the atmosphere, and the effects of the atmosphere on these other systems. Meteorology includes atmosphericchemistry and atmospheric physics with a major focus on weather forecasting. Climatology is the study ofatmospheric changes (both long and short-term) that define average climates and their change over time, due to bothnatural and anthropogenic climate variability. Aeronomy is the study of the upper layers of the atmosphere, wheredissociation and ionization are important. Atmospheric science has been extended to the field of planetary scienceand the study of the atmospheres of the planets of the solar system.Experimental instruments used in atmospheric sciences include satellites, rocketsondes, radiosondes, weatherballoons, and lasers.The term aerology (from Greek , ar, "air"; and -, -logia) is sometimes used as an alternative term for thestudy of Earth's atmosphere. Early pioneers in the field include Lon Teisserenc de Bort and Richard Assmann.[2]


Atmospheric chemistry

Main article: Atmospheric chemistryAtmospheric chemistry is a branch of atmosphericscience in which the chemistry of the Earth'satmosphere and that of other planets is studied. It is amultidisciplinary field of research and draws onenvironmental chemistry, physics, meteorology,computer modeling, oceanography, geology andvolcanology and other disciplines. Research isincreasingly connected with other areas of study suchas climatology.The composition and chemistry of the atmosphere is ofimportance for several reasons, but primarily becauseof the interactions between the atmosphere and livingorganisms. The composition of the Earth's atmospherehas been changed by human activity and some of thesechanges are harmful to human health, crops and ecosystems. Examples of problems which have been addressed byatmospheric chemistry include acid rain, photochemical smog and global warming. Atmospheric chemistry seeks tounderstand the causes of these problems, and by obtaining a theoretical understanding of them, allow possiblesolutions to be tested and the effects of changes in government policy evaluated.

Atmospheric dynamicsSee also: Synoptic scale meteorologyAtmospheric dynamics involves the study of observations and theory dealing with all motion systems ofmeteorological importance. Common topics studied include diverse phenomena such as thunderstorms, tornadoes,gravity waves, tropical cyclones, extratropical cyclones, jet streams, and global-scale circulations. The goal ofdynamical studies is to explain the observed circulations on the basis of fundamental principles from physics. Theobjectives of such studies incorporate improving weather forecasting, developing methods for predicting seasonaland interannual climate fluctuations, and understanding the implications of human-induced perturbations (e.g.,increased carbon dioxide concentrations or depletion of the ozone layer) on the global climate.[3]

Atmospheric physicsMain article: Atmospheric physicsAtmospheric physics is the application of physics to the study of the atmosphere. Atmospheric physicists attempt tomodel Earth's atmosphere and the atmospheres of the other planets using fluid flow equations, chemical models,radiation balancing, and energy transfer processes in the atmosphere and underlying oceans. In order to modelweather systems, atmospheric physicists employ elements of scattering theory, wave propagation models, cloudphysics, statistical mechanics and spatial statistics, each of which incorporate high levels of mathematics andphysics. Atmospheric physics has close links to meteorology and climatology and also covers the design andconstruction of instruments for studying the atmosphere and the interpretation of the data they provide, includingremote sensing instruments.In the United Kingdom, atmospheric studies are underpinned by the Meteorological Office. Divisions of the U.S.National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) oversee research projects and weather modelinginvolving atmospheric physics. The U.S. National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center also carries out studies of thehigh atmosphere.


The Earth's magnetic field and the solar wind interact with the atmosphere, creating the ionosphere, Van Allenradiation belts, telluric currents, and radiant energy.

Climatology

Regional impacts of warm ENSO episodes (El Nio).

Main article: ClimatologyIn contrast to meteorology, which studies short termweather systems lasting up to a few weeks, climatologystudies the frequency and trends of those systems. Itstudies the periodicity of weather events over years tomillennia, as well as changes in long-term averageweather patterns, in relation to atmospheric conditions.Climatologists, those who practice climatology, studyboth the nature of climates local, regional or globaland the natural or human-induced factors that causeclimates to change. Climatology considers the past andcan help predict future climate change.

Phenomena of climatological interest include theatmospheric boundary layer, circulation patterns, heattransfer (radiative, convective and latent), interactionsbetween the atmosphere and the oceans and landsurface (particularly vegetation, land use andtopography), and the chemical and physicalcomposition of the atmosphere. Related disciplinesinclude astrophysics, atmospheric physics, chemistry, ecology, physical geography, geology, geophysics, glaciology,hydrology, oceanography, and volcanology.

Atmospheres on other celestial bodies

Earth's atmosphere

All of the Solar System's planets have atmospheres. This is because theirgravity is strong enough to keep gaseous particles close to the surface. Largergas giants are massive enough to keep large amounts of the light gaseshydrogen and helium close by, while the smaller planets lose these gases intospace. The composition of the Earth's atmosphere is different from the otherplanets because the various life processes that have transpired on the planethave introduced free molecular oxygen. Much of Mercury's atmosphere hasbeen blasted away by the solar wind.[4] The only moon that has retained adense atmosphere is Titan. There is a thin atmosphere on Triton, and a traceof an atmosphere on the Moon.

Planetary atmospheres are affected by the varying degrees of energy received from either the Sun or their interiors,leading to the formation of dynamic weather systems such as hurricanes, (on Earth), planet-wide dust storms (onMars), an Earth-sized anticyclone on Jupiter (called the Great Red Spot), and holes in the atmosphere (on Neptune).At least one extrasolar planet, HD 189733 b, has been claimed to possess such a weather system, similar to the GreatRed Spot but twice as large.[5]

Hot Jupiters have been shown to be losing their atmospheres into space due to stellar radiation, much like the tails of comets. These planets may have vast differences in temperature between their day and night sides which produce


supersonic winds,[6] although the day and night sides of HD 189733b appear to have very similar temperatures,indicating that planet's atmosphere effectively redistributes the star's energy around the planet.Further information: See the individual articles on each planet or moon for information about their respectiveatmospheres.

References[1] http:/ / en. wikipedia. org/ w/ index. php?title=Template:Atmospheric_sciences& action=edit[2] (http:/ / books. google. com/ books?id=OlckxY7BA_0C& pg=PA17& lpg=PA17& dq=Assman+ stratosphere& source=bl&

ots=YN13AEOnkN& sig=zwpdSVh0OW6UUToQoFzETgIudUc& hl=en& ei=H9feTuOkCYiQiAL4qfHPCA& sa=X& oi=book_result&ct=result& resnum=6& sqi=2& ved=0CEwQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage& q=Assman stratosphere& f=false) Ultraviolet radiation in the solarsystem By Manuel Vzquez, Arnold Hanslmeier

[3] University of Washington. Atmospheric Dynamics. (http:/ / www. atmos. washington. edu/ academic/ atmosdyn. html) Retrieved on 1 June2007.

[4] Hunten D. M., Shemansky D. E., Morgan T. H. (1988), The Mercury atmosphere, In: Mercury (A89-43751 1991). University of ArizonaPress, pp. 562612

[5] (Related press release (http:/ / www. cfa. harvard. edu/ press/ 2007/ pr200713. html))[6] (Related press release (http:/ / www. nasa. gov/ vision/ universe/ starsgalaxies/ spitzer-20061012. html))

External links Atmospheric fluid dynamics applied to weather maps (http:/ / www. stuffintheair. com/ chasing-storms. html)

Principles such as Advection, Deformation and Vorticity National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Archives, documents the history of the atmospheric sciences

(https:/ / www. archives. ucar. edu/ )

Article Sources and Contributors 5

Article Sources and ContributorsAtmospheric sciences Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=614175757 Contributors: 216Kleopatra, A Voulgarakis, Ahmedfreebird, Ahoerstemeier, Barneca, Beland,Bjankuloski06en, Br'er Rabbit, Charles Matthews, CurtisSwain, Daniel Collins, DavidH, Djr32, El C, Enric Naval, Epolk, Evolauxia, Fgnievinski, Flyer22, FrVladimir, Goser, Hard Raspy Sci,IndulgentReader, Irenerejie, Isabelledeters, Itamblyn, JAn Dudk, Jason Patton, Jweiss11, Jxm, Karnesky, Lexor, Mananshah1, Mbeychok, Michael Hardy, Mysterytrey, N p holmes, NCARArchives, Nick683, Nicklott, Nithyanand, Pflatau, Pinethicket, RJHall, Rich Farmbrough, Rjwilmsi, Rossar, Shadowjams, Shizhao, SimonP, Thegreatdr, Timothy Clemans, Trappist the monk,Vextron, Vsmith, Widr, Xnyper, Yk Yk Yk, Zach 08, Zinjixmaggir, 49 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsFile:ShipTracks MODIS 2005may11.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:ShipTracks_MODIS_2005may11.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Liam Gumley,Space Science and Engineering Center, University of Wisconsin-MadisonFile:Atmosphere composition diagram.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Atmosphere_composition_diagram.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: PhillipeRekacewiczFile:El Nino regional impacts.gif Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:El_Nino_regional_impacts.gif License: Public Domain Contributors: NOAAFile:Top of Atmosphere.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Top_of_Atmosphere.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: NASA Earth Observatory

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Atmospheric Sciences