BASIC WEATHER THEORIES

ATMOSPHERE
- Composed about 78% of nitrogen and 21% oxygen

LAYERS:

TROPOSPHERE
- Layer extending from the surface to an average altitude of about 36,000 feet.
- BOUNDARY LAYER [boundary layer of troposphere and stratosphere]: TROPOPAUSE

STRATOSPHERE
- which has much the same composition as the troposphere and extends to a height of
approximately 160,000 feet.

MESOSPHERE
- lies between the thermosphere and the stratosphere
- “Meso” means middle, and this is the highest layer of the atmosphere in which the gases are all
mixed up rather than being layered by their mass. The mesosphere is 22 miles (35 kilometers) thick.

THERMOSPHERE
- has little practical influence over weather

TEMPERATURE UNITS FORMULA:

(°C)= (Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (°F) - 32) * 5/9.
(°F) = (Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) * 9/5) + 32.

ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION
The unequal heating of the earth’s surface is the reason why this circulation exists.
ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION HAPPENS BECAUSE OF HEAT EXPANSION
FACTORS AFFECTING HEAT:
1. ANGLE OF SUN’S RAYS
2. TYPES OF CLOUD COVER
3. THE SURFACE BEING HEATED [ALBEDO]
• albedo is a measure of the reflectivity of the earth’s surface
• high albedo = cool surface
• Lower albedo = warmer surface because it’s going to absorb most of the heat
Solid - absorbs heat fast; releases heat fast
Liquid - absorbs heat slowly; releases heat fast
Gas - absorbs heat neutrally; releases heat neutrally
4. THE SEASON

HOW IS HEAT TRANSFERRED?

1. CONDUCTION transfer of heat energy via direct contact
2. CONVECTION transfer of heat energy in vertical motion
3. RADIATION transfer of heat energy using electromagnetic energy e.g. Microwave
4. ADVECTION transfer of heat energy in horizontal motion

HOW DOES THIS CIRCULATION HAPPEN?

CONVECTION
is the process where cold dense air moves downward and replaces the warm less dense air that’s
moving upward.
THREE-CELL CIRCULATION PATTERN OF CONVECTION:
- HADLEY
- FERREL
- POLAR CELL
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
The unequal heating of the surface not only modifies air density and creates circulation patterns, it
also causes changes in pressure.
ISOBARS
connect points of equal pressure. Isobars also help to identify pressure systems, which are
classified as highs, lows, ridges, troughs, and cols.
ISA [INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ATMOSPHERE]
hypothetical standard atmosphere defined by ICAO
- MSL [mean sea level] PRESSURE:
29.92 in Hg [inches of mercury]
1013.2 [milibars] or hPa [hectopascals]
14.7 psi [pounds per square inch]

- MSL [mean sea level] TEMPERATURE:

15°C / 59 °F
1225g/m3 air density

- LAPSE RATE
pressure lapse rate: 1 in Hg/1000ft
temperature lapse rate: 2°C [or -3.5°F] / 1000ft
The closer the Isobars the greater the pressure. Conversely, the farther the Isobars are, the weaker
the pressure is.
high is a center of high pressure surrounded on all sides by lower pressure.
low is an area of low pressure surrounded by higher pressure.
ridge is an elongated area of high pressure
trough is an elongated area of low pressure
col can designate either a neutral area
Since differences in Atmospheric Pressure exist, now we have the movement of air.

PRESSURE GRADIENT
or change in pressure over distance.
Air generally flows from the cool, dense air of highs into the warm, less dense air of lows. The speed
of the resulting wind depends on the strength of the pressure gradient. A strong gradient tends to
produce strong wind, while a weak gradient results in lighter winds.

If pressure gradient force were the only force affecting the movement of air, wind would always blow
directly from the higher pressure area to the lower pressure area. However, as soon as the air
begins to move, it is deflected by a phenomenon known as Coriolis force.

LOW is area of lower pressure at the surface HIGH is an area of high pressure at the surface

TROUGH elongated area of low pressure RIDGE elongated area of high pressure
COL
- Neutral area
- Light winds

CORIOLIS FORCE a resulting force that is caused due to the earth rotation.
In the Northern Hemisphere the force deflects everything to the right.
While in the Southern Hemisphere, the forces deflected everything to the left.
Remember that High Pressure system has the movement of Inward – DOWNWARD – outward
Low pressure system is the opposite, it has the movement of Inward – UPWARD – outward. The
moment the air goes OUTWARD; it will still be deflected to its right
Pressure gradient and Coriolis forces work in combination to create wind. Pressure gradient force
causes air to move from high pressure areas to low pressure areas. As the air begins to move,
Coriolis force deflects it to the right in the northern hemisphere. This results in a clockwise flow
around a high pressure area. The deflection continues until pressure gradient force and Coriolis
force are in balance, and the wind flows roughly parallel to the isobars which we call Geostrophic
Winds
However within about 2,000 feet of the ground, friction caused by the earth's surface slows the
moving air. This frictional force reduces the Coriolis force.
At high altitudes, wind blows in uniform motion, parallel to Isobars, but closer to the ground, they
don’t due to frictional force.

WIND PATTERNS

GLOBAL WIND PATTERNS this is true at high altitudes. This is why we have the North East trade
winds or Amihan, and South east trade winds which is Habagat.

LOCAL WIND PATTERNS at lower altitudes, the earth radiates heat and this causes the differences
in pressure in a rather smaller scale.
sea breeze (day) - land is usually warmer than water during the day. a wind that blows from cool
water to warmer land. As afternoon heating increases, the sea breeze can reach speeds of 10 to 20
knots

land breeze (night) At night, land cools faster than water, blows from the cooler land to the warmer
water.
Valley breeze (day) As mountain slopes are warmed by the sun during the day, the adjacent air also
is Heated. Cold air from the bottom of the valley pushes winds upwards to the top.

Mountain breeze (night) At night, the high terrain cools off and eventually becomes cooler than the
air over the valley. Prior to sunrise, speeds of 5 to 15 knots are common with greater speeds at the
mouth of the valley, sometimes exceeding 25 knots.

KATABATIC WINDS any downslope wind