Encyclopedia of Science | Weather

• Solar energy and Earth's atmosphere
• Words to Know
• Earth, land surface, and the weather
• Weather and climate

Weather is the state of the atmosphere at any given time and place, determined by such factors as temperature, precipitation, cloud cover, humidity, air pressure, and wind. The study of weather is known as meteorology. No exact date can be given for the beginnings of this science since humans have studied weather conditions for thousands of years. Weather conditions can be regarded as a result of the interaction of four basic physical elements: the Sun, Earth's atmosphere, Earth itself, and natural land-forms on Earth.

Solar energy and Earth's atmosphere

The driving force behind all...