ABSTRACT

The energy that drives our weather systems comes from the sun in the form of solar radiation. The sun radiates waves of electro-magnetic energy and high-energy particles into space. This type of energy can pass through a vacuum and through gases. The Earth intercepts the radiation energy and, as these energy waves pass through the atmosphere, they are absorbed, scattered and refl ected by gases, air molecules, small particles and cloud masses (see Figure 2.2 ).