Atmospheric physics Definition and 10 Discussions

Within the atmospheric sciences, atmospheric physics is the application of physics to the study of the atmosphere. Atmospheric physicists attempt to model Earth's atmosphere and the atmospheres of the other planets using fluid flow equations, chemical models, radiation budget, and energy transfer processes in the atmosphere (as well as how these tie into boundary systems such as the oceans). In order to model weather systems, atmospheric physicists employ elements of scattering theory, wave propagation models, cloud physics, statistical mechanics and spatial statistics which are highly mathematical and related to physics. It has close links to meteorology and climatology and also covers the design and construction of instruments for studying the atmosphere and the interpretation of the data they provide, including remote sensing instruments. At the dawn of the space age and the introduction of sounding rockets, aeronomy became a subdiscipline concerning the upper layers of the atmosphere, where dissociation and ionization are important.

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  1. xpell

    I What are the most energetic lightning "superbolts" ever measured?

    Hi! I would be interested in properly referenced data about the most powerful / energetic lightning bolts on Earth to get a good idea about their maximum possible order of magnitude (maybe depending on location?) Both direct measurements or indirect but well-founded estimates (e.g. satellite...
    • xpell
    • Thread
    • atmospheric physics earth sciences electricity lightning meteorology
    • Replies: 3
    • Forum: Other Physics Topics
  2. sacrovalle

    Recommendations on introductory reading to ionosphere phenomena

    Hello everyone! I'm currently an Aerospace major student entering my third year of college, studying in northern Mexico. After enrolling in a summer school by Mexico's national space weather lab, I have been offered an opportunity to participate in the development of an ionosonde antenna in my...
  3. S

    I What purpose does the delta notation serve in this context?

    In a book on atmospheric physics I'm reading, the author begins a derivation by examining a fluid element of volume V = δxδyδz. In this context, what purpose is delta δ serving? Is it just a placeholder for an unspecified volume in the x, y, and z directions, or is it referring to an...
  4. Chatterton

    Exoplanet color theory

    Is there a guide, based on existing evidence, that I could use to infer realistically how color would be affected on alien worlds due to factors like star class, luminosity, atmospheric composition, etc? I'm planning to develop a not-too-too-distant future scenario where all the stars in...
  5. E

    Studying What are Possible Thesis Topics for Atmospheric Physics?

    Can you suggest possible master thesis topics relating to atmospheric physics? I have a bachelor's degree in physics and I mostly comfortable in numerical and theoretical physics. Since this field is somewhat new to me, I need to have a number of options on what topics to choose from. Thank you...
  6. T

    Atmospheric Physics: Brunt Vaisala frequency question

    Homework Statement Gravity Waves. Consider a pattern of motion in which fluid elements move at an angle θ to the vertical. Show that for an atmosphere where the Brunt-Vaisala frequency is ωB the elements will oscillate with a frequency ν = N cos θ. Homework Equations , -Brunt Vaisala...
  7. U

    How much will the atmospheric carbon dioxide change?

    Homework Statement Suppose ##10^{14} kg## of carbon dioxide was released into the atmosphere and absorbed completely, what is the percentage change of carbon dioxide concentration? Take initial atmospheric mass mixing ratio to be ## 5.7 \times 10^{-4} kg/kg##. Homework Equations The Attempt...
  8. E

    Modeling of Low Latitude Ionospheric Irregularities

    I'm studying Modelling of Low Latitude Ionospheric Irregularities by A. K. Singh et al., at a research level. I really need help on the explanation of this paper as several messages to the authors has left no replies. Link to the paper...
  9. T

    Questions about rainbows

    I'm interested in rainbows. I'm talking about good old fashioned arc/halo rainbows like those you see in the sky. Sometimes you see rainbows from lawn sprinklers. How small would the smallest rainbow arc conceivably possible to view be? Could I make a rainbow at night using a sprinkler with a...
    • Tristanthompson
    • Thread
    • atmosphere atmospheric physics light prism rain rainbow rainbows spectrum visible spectrum white light
    • Replies: 9
    • Forum: Other Physics Topics
  10. laramman2

    Calculating thickness

    Homework Statement Is there any way we can measure the thickness of an exposed PTFE membrane air sampling filter? An unexposed filter (from the filter datasheet) has a thickness of 40μm. We have 5 ambient air exposed filters with the following mass concentrations: 1μg/m3 (filter 1), 20.1 μg/m3...
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