atmospheric science
Air and climate
Atmospheric science is the study of Earth's atmosphere—its composition, structure, and behavior.
The field encompasses meteorology (weather), climatology (long-term patterns), and the physics and chemistry of air.
Atmospheric scientists study phenomena from local fog to global climate change: She pursued atmospheric science after becoming fascinated with hurricanes.
Rising planetary temperatures
- climate changePlanetary atmospheric transformation
- greenhouse effectAtmospheric heat retention mechanism
- carbon dioxideRespiration byproduct, photosynthesis fuel
- methaneSimplest alkane fuel
ice ages · glaciation · sea level rise · El Niño · La Niña · feedback loops · albedo · Milankovitch cycles
Instrument gauging atmospheric pressure
- thermometerHeat-measuring instrument
- anemometerInstrument measuring air velocity
- radiosondeBalloon-borne meteorological telemetry device
- weather stationAtmospheric conditions measurement facility
jetstream · front · cyclone · anticyclone · isobar · pressure system · humidity · dewpoint
Atmospheric UV filter
- nitrogenElement seven, colorless gas
- oxygenElement eight, colorless gas
- argonUnreactive element eighteen
- water vaporH₂O in gaseous state
CFCs · ozone depletion · photochemistry · stratospheric ozone · air quality · pollutants · emissions · carbon monoxide
Violent weather with lightning
- tornadoViolent rotating windstorm
- hurricaneViolent tropical windstorm
- blizzardViolent prolonged snowstorm
- monsoonSeasonal tropical wind pattern
lightning · hailstorm · squall · gale · drizzle · sleet · cumulus · nimbus
Minute airborne solids or droplets
- PM2.5Microscopic air pollution particles
- sulfatesSO₄-containing compounds
- nitratesNitrogen-oxygen salt compounds
- nucleationInitial cluster formation
scattering · absorption · smog · haze · dust · volcanic ash · Mie scattering · visibility
Software replicating real systems
- satellite imageryEarth views from orbit
- radarRadio-wave object detection
- supercomputersExtremely powerful computing machines
- initial conditionsState at time zero
probability · uncertainty · forecast accuracy · nowcasting · verification · reanalysis
global warming
Rising planetary temperatures
- climate changePlanetary atmospheric transformation
- greenhouse effectAtmospheric heat retention mechanism
- carbon dioxideRespiration byproduct, photosynthesis fuel
methane · ice ages · glaciation · sea level rise · El Niño · La Niña · feedback loops · albedo · Milankovitch cycles · paleoclimatology
barometer
Instrument gauging atmospheric pressure
- thermometerHeat-measuring instrument
- anemometerInstrument measuring air velocity
- radiosondeBalloon-borne meteorological telemetry device
weather station · jetstream · front · cyclone · anticyclone · isobar · pressure system · humidity · dewpoint · precipitation
ozone layer
Atmospheric UV filter
- nitrogenElement seven, colorless gas
- oxygenElement eight, colorless gas
- argonUnreactive element eighteen
water vapor · CFCs · ozone depletion · photochemistry · stratospheric ozone · air quality · pollutants · emissions · carbon monoxide · nitrogen oxides
thunderstorm
Violent weather with lightning
- tornadoViolent rotating windstorm
- hurricaneViolent tropical windstorm
- blizzardViolent prolonged snowstorm
monsoon · lightning · hailstorm · squall · gale · drizzle · sleet · cumulus · nimbus · stratus
particulates
Minute airborne solids or droplets
- PM2.5Microscopic air pollution particles
- sulfatesSO₄-containing compounds
- nitratesNitrogen-oxygen salt compounds
nucleation · scattering · absorption · smog · haze · dust · volcanic ash · Mie scattering · visibility
computer models
Software replicating real systems
- satellite imageryEarth views from orbit
- radarRadio-wave object detection
- supercomputersExtremely powerful computing machines
initial conditions · probability · uncertainty · forecast accuracy · nowcasting · verification · reanalysis
atmospheric sciencegeology
Study of Earth's composition
oceanography · geoscience · marine science · hydrology · seismology
atmospheric sciencespace science
Study of celestial phenomena
astronomy · astrophysics · planetary science · cosmology · astrochemistry
science, scientist, atmosphere, scientific, sciences, atmospheric, scientists, biosphere, scientifically