Chapter 1: The Atmosphere, Weather, and Climate

• The atmosphere is a mixture of gas molecules, small suspended particles of solid and liquid, and falling precipitation.

• Meteorology is the study of the atmosphere and the processes that cause what we refer to as “weather.”

• Weather refers to the short-term phenomena.

• Climate refers to the long-term patterns.

• Climatology is the long-term study of the atmosphere and the processes that cause what we refer to as “climate.”

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Thickness of the Atmosphere

• Although the density of the atmosphere decreases rapidly with height, the top of the atmosphere is undefined.

• Overall, the majority of atmospheric mass is contained in a thin layer near the surface.

• Relatively speaking, the earth’s atmosphere is very thin when compared to the earth’s diameter.

• The atmosphere is more than 99 percent contained within the first 60 miles from the earth’s surface.

• The heterosphere lies above the hemisphere and is populated primarily by variable gases

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