ESS210B
Prof. Jin-Yi Yu
Part 1: Probability Distributions
qProbability
Distribution: The probability that a randomly selected value falls with certain limits (for
example, between values and b).
qNormal
Distribution: this is one of the most important distribution in geophysics. Most geophysical
variables (such as wind, temperature, pressure, etc.) are distributed normally about
their means.
Mean
Standard
Deviation
(Figure from
Panofsky and Brier 1968)