Meteorology, Weather, and Climate

Atmospheric chemical processes can influence meteorological phenomena. One of the most obvious examples of this influence is the formation of rain droplets around pollutant particles in the atmosphere. 

Weather refers to relatively short-term variations in the state of the atmosphere as expressed by temperature, cloud cover, precipitation, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, and wind. Longterm weather eonditions are called climate. Weather is driven by redistribution of energy in the atmosphere. A particularly important aspect of this redistribution is the energy released when precipitation forms, which is the main driving force behind thunderstorms and tropical storms. 

dry air moves from a region I of high pressure to one of low pressure, sinks, and becomes warm, dry air that can pick up additional moisture 

Water precipitates from rising cool air, drying it / and releasing energy 

FIGURE 6.5 Circulation patterns involved in the movement of air masses and water uptake and release of solar energy as latent heat in water vapor. 

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Local, regional, and global distribution of important trace gases and aerosols and their variabilities on time scales of minutes to hours to days, particularly in light of their various impacts, such as on human health, ecosystems, the meteorological weather, and climate. 

Distinguish among the terms meteorology, weather, and climate. 

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