Brandon's Guide to Meteorology


This will cover as many topics concerning weather and meteorology as is humanly possible, each in a general sense, but to a collegiate level of comprehension. The goal in mind is to prepare the taught to both have a new-found appreciation for the subject matter, and be inspired to appropriately teach and share all things meteorology to others.

Topics:
    The topics discussed will be in order from the Sun-Earth interrelation down to precipitation and storm type and weather forecasting in general.

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More Guide to Meterology Stories

What is Meteorology

What is Meteorology

Definitions of key concepts and explanations of their origin. How do we get 'weather'. What separates the Earth from other planets in terms of weather? Read more »

The Atmosphere

The Atmosphere

The Earth's atmosphere and composition, and how it relates to weather. The circulation of water in the atmosphere. Air pressure and density. Layers of the atmosphere. Read more »

Seasons

Seasons

Why the Earth has seasons. The Earth's axial tilt and it's annual revolution around the Sun. Why some have four seasons, and others have only two. Seasonal effects on daily living. Seasonal variations. Read more »

Temperature and Energy

Temperature and Energy

Heat transfer in the atmosphere. Radiation and temperature. The Earth's atmospheric energy budget. "Global Warming and the "Greenhouse Effect". Read more »

Humidity

Humidity

Relative humidity. Partial Pressures and saturation vapor pressure. Dewpoint and humidity. Specific humidity and mixing ratio. Effects of increased humidity on the human body. Heat index. Read more »

Condensation, Clouds, and Stability

Condensation, Clouds, and Stability

Nighttime moisture. Condensation nuclei. Haze and fog. Clouds, cloud type, and cloud classification. Unusual clouds. Stability and cloud development. Read more »

Precipitation

Precipitation

The Hydrologic cycle. How precipitation forms in the atmosphere. Ice-Crystal process. Rain, snow, sleet freezing rain, ice pellets, and hail. Liquid-Ice equivalents. Read more »

Winds

Winds

Reasons for wind and the forces that influence it. Upper-air wind vs. Surface winds. Jet Streams. Wind and pressure. Convergence and Divergence. Read more »

Air Masses and Fronts

Air Masses and Fronts

Air masses in North America. Air mass classification. Fronts and front types: Warm, cold, stationary, and occluded fronts. Types of weather associated with certain air masses and fronts. Read more »

Mid-Latitude Cyclones, Thunderstorms, and Hurricanes

Mid-Latitude Cyclones, Thunderstorms, and Hurricanes

Cyclogenesis. Advection. Vertical structure of strong frontal systems. Development and life cycle of thunderstorms. Formation and classification of hurricanes. Read more »

Severe Weather Elements

Severe Weather Elements

Properties of a severe thunderstorm. Supercells. Lightning and lightning formation. Creation of hail. Downdrafts and microbursts. Tornadoes development and classification. Read more »

Sky Optics and Observations

Sky Optics and Observations

Light scattering and absorption. White clouds, blue sky, red sun, and blue moons. Lightning and rainbows. Halos, sundogs, coronas, etc. Dispersion, reflection, refraction, and diffraction phenomena. Read more »

Weather Forecasting

Weather Forecasting

Assembling weather data. Determining movement of weather systems. Topographic effects of weather. Computer models and ensembles. Modern challenges to forecasting. Read more »

Weather

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Current Temp 43.0 °F
Fair
Wind : South at 9.2 MPH (8 KT)
Humidity : 59 %
Pressure : 1021.1 mb
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