Page 287 - Fundamentals of Air Pollution

17

The Physics of the

Atmosphere

As indicated in previous chapters, the atmosphere serves as the medium
through which air pollutants are transported and dispersed. While being
transported, the pollutants may undergo chemical reactions and, in addi-
tion to removal by chemical transformations, may be removed by physical
processes such as gravitational settling, impaction, and wet removal.
This chapter provides an introduction to basic concepts of meteorology
necessary to an understanding of air pollution meteorology without specific
regard to air pollution problems. The relationship of meteorology to air
pollution is discussed in the following four chapters.

I. SUN, ATMOSPHERE SYSTEM, AND HEAT BALANCE

All of the energy that drives the atmosphere is derived from a minor
star in the universe—our sun. The planet that we inhabit, earth, is 150
million km from the sun. The energy received from the sun is radiant
energy—electromagnetic radiation. The electromagnetic spectrum is shown
in Fig. 17-1. Although this energy is, in part, furnished to the atmosphere,
it is primarily received at the earth's surface and redistributed by several

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