Atmospheric Processes

Abstract

Atmosphere is the most dynamic part of the terrestrial environment. It is driven by the energy received from the sun. Almost all weather phenomena mentioned in Chapter 2 result from the differences in the amount of solar energy received and utilization thereof. It is, therefore, necessary to understand as to how the energy from the sun is converted into heat and shared by the earth and the atmosphere. Thermodynamics provides quantitative relationships between heat and other forms of energy and can thus be utilized to analyze the ways in which changes in the heat content of a substance affects the dynamics of the substance. A typical thermodynamic process involves the addition of heat to a fluid causing pressure and volume to change. The laws of thermodynamics relate changes in heat content, pressure and volume. Thermodynamics has, therefore, wide applications in hydrometeorology. This chapter briefly discusses physical laws which are important for understanding variations in heat, temperature, pressure and density of air which are needed for understanding the various atmospheric processes.