TOPICS COVERED
Introduction --> Intro./Maps   
Meteorology --> Atmosphere/Temperature Pressure/Wind Moisture/storms
Climatology --> Climatology Climate Reconstruction
Change & Warming 		Applied Climatology
ATMOSPHERE CHAPTERS -----> Atmosphere Energy Pressure Oceans Moisture Storms

Atmospheric Moisture

I. MOISTURE CONCEPTS AND TERMINOLOGY

A. General Terminology

  1. hydrologic cycle
  2. humidity
    • absolute humidity = mass of water per volume of air
    • specific humidity = mass of water per mass of air
    • relative humidity = amount of water vapor relative to amount if air were saturated
  3. dew point temperature
  4. "90 degrees and 90% humidity"
  5. instruments for measuring humidity
  6. supersaturation (absence of condensation nuclei)
  7. supercooled - video #2
B. Clouds
  1. cloud droplets
  2. cloud classification
  3. contrail ...or this one / Video: even "experts" get it wrong (begin 0:40)
  4. fog
II. STABILITY

A. Lapse Rates

  1. dry lapse rate -- 1°C/100m
  2. wet lapse rate -- .5°C/100m
  3. environmental lapse rate -- actual measured (by weather balloon) (or NCAR)
B. Stable vs. Unstable Air
  1. stable vs. unstable vs. conditionally stable air
  2. visual signs of stability / instability
III. PRECIPITATION PROCESSES, TYPES, AND DISTRIBUTION

A. Processes

  1. ice crystal formation ... video demo
  2. collision coalescence
B. Types
  1. rain, snow (virga / virga2)... vs. Phx rain shaft)
  2. sleet ("ice pellets"), freezing rain ("ice storm" ... close up)
  3. hail... can be deadly / video
    • freeze liquid = clear; freeze ice crystals = milky; = alt. rings
C. Lifting Mechanisms
  1. convective / example / time lapse
  2. orographic / time-lapse movie
  3. convergent
  4. frontal
  5. combination
D. Distribution: annual average and seasonal shift
  1. equatorial / tropics = wettest
  2. 20-30° latitude = driest (Atacama Desert, Chile)
  3. in the U.S.
    • wettest in Cascades
    • driest in interior west and southwest (rain shadow)
  4. El Nino / La Nina effects on precipitation
  5. precipitation variability : small vs. large / PHX precip
  6. drought / unusually dry? / no, normal variability

ATMOSPHERE CHAPTERS -----> Atmosphere Energy Pressure Oceans Moisture Storms