Geography 103

Weather

Lecture 1: Introduction (Quiz 1)

1. Weather:
    The atmospheric condition of instant or short period of time.
2. Climate:
    The average atmospheric condition over a long period of time.
3. Age of the earth: 4.5 billion years.
4. Original (Primitive) air composition (volcanic eruption)
    (1). Water vapor (H₂O): 60-70%.
    (2). Carbon dioxide (CO₂): 10-15%.
    (3). Nitrogen (N₂): 8-10%.
5. Present air composition
    (1). Nitrogen: 78%.
    (2). Oxygen (O₂): 21%.
    (3). Argon (Ar): 0.9%.
    (4). Carbon dioxide: 0.036%.
    (5). Water Vapor: variable (0 - 4%).
6. Formation of Oxygen
    (1).   Photosynthetic process
            A. H₂O + CO₂ + visible light + chlorophyll ------> CH₂O + O₂
            B. CH₂O: Carbohydrate.
    (2).  Decomposition of water
            H₂O + radiation -----> H₂ +O₂
 7. History of Meteorology
    (1).   Polar-front theory
            Proposed by Jerkiness 1n 1918.
    (2).  First weather radar: 1935.
     (3). First meteorological satellite (Tiros 1): 1960.