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Atmospheric Forces

Unit 3_Meterology

How long can you....


-without food?
-without water?
-without air?
-without atmosphere?

Earth Atmosphere
Unique no other planet in our solar systems
has conditions and heat needed to sustain life.
Earths motion and energy from sun produce
a variety of weather. Why do we care about
that?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6jIMkPwahQ

Atmosphere
Atmos = vapor (greek)
The layer of gases that surround the Earth.
-Contain of chemical elements and
compounds commonly called air.
-Protects the Earths surface from the
suns radiation and helps regulate the
temperature.

Past Atmosphere
Ammonia
Methane

NH3
CH4
H2O
N2 O2 CO2

Todays atmosphere
Nitrogen: 78%
Oxygen: 21%

Composition of the Atmosphere

Nitrogen & Oxygen=99% of volume


Carbon Dioxide absorbs energy

Nitrogen Cycle

Oxygen Cycle

Carbon Cycle

Water Cycle

Layers of Atmosphere
4 main layers divided based on
temperature.
Density decreases as
altitude increases
(sometimes: the air thins
as you travel away from Earth).

Layers of the Atmosphere

Textbook p. 518-520

Write at least 2 facts about each layer


Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere (ionosphere and exosphere)

Look at the key and label those items also on your drawing

Troposphere
tropein (greek) to change, circulate or
mix

closest to Earths Surface, nearly all the


weather is here. Heated from the Earth
surface by convection.
We live here.

Stratosphere
strat - layers
Above troposphere. Temperature increases
as you do. Cold and thin layer.
Most of the ozone in this layer
Strong eastward winds called jet stream

Think AIRPLANE

Ozone Layer
Form of oxygen (O3).
Ozone layer absorbs harmful ultraviolet
radiation (UV) from the sun.
CFCs ( chlorofluorocarbon) change the O3 to O2.

Ozone
How many ozone atoms does one CFC
molecule destroy?
100,000 ozone molecules

Mesosphere
meso=middle
Middle layer of the atmosphere
Coldest temperatures
Protects earth from meteoroids

Thermosphere
Thermos (greek) heat
4th layer above the mesosphere. Warmest
layer.
2 parts: ionosphere and exosphere

Auroras here

Ionosphere
lower part of the thermosphere.

Atmosphere ionized because of solar radiation.


The suns energy so strong it breaks apart
the molecules.

Radio waves bounce back (or reflected back) to


earth surface.

Auroras
Interactions between solar radiation and
ionosphere (lower part of the thermosphere).
Latin meaning sunrise or the Roman goddess
of dawn.
Northern & Southern Lights

Exosphere
Exo (greek) = outside, beyond

closest to outer space upper part of the


thermosphere.
Indefinite altitude, atmosphere bends into
space.
Artificial satellites are here.

GPS and Satellites


Global Position System-satellite navigation
system
Satellites objects placed in space

The Atmosphere
contains layers based
on
temperature

???

which is affected
by

altitude

Have you ever...


had your ear pop while in an elevator?
had your ears pop while on a plane?

Why?

Atmospheric Pressure
Weight of the air on Earths
surface.

Pressure is a measure of force


over a certain area.
Instruments used to measure:
barometer.
Essential to weather forecasting

The Atmosphere
contains layers based
on
temperature

???

which is affected
by

altitude

When have you noticed a change in air


pressure?

What do you see?

What do you see?

What do you think?


Why does the air
pressure not squash us?

Lets test this out


Demonstrate how temperature change affects air pressure.

Based on what you know about air


pressure do you believe air pressure
can affect the weather?

Earth-Sun Relationships
All energy that drives weather and climate comes
from the sun.
Earth absorbs only a tiny bit of energy given off by
sun.
Solar energy is not distributed evenly.
Latitude
Time of day
Season

Uneven heating = winds and currents

Solar Energy
Earths atmosphere is heated by the transfer of
energy from the sun.
Some of the heat is absorbed by atmosphere,
land and oceans. Some of the heat is
reflected.

Heat

Thermal Energy Transfer


Thermal energy transfer is heat moving from a
warmer object to a cooler object.

How is Heat Transferred?


There are THREE ways heat can move.
Conduction
Convection
Radiation

Radiation
Transfer of heat through waves.
All forms of energy that travel through space as
waves.

All energy that reaches Earth from sun is in the


form of electromagnetic spectrum.

Examples of RADIATION
1. Fire
2. Heat Lamps
3. Sun

Conduction
Transfer of heat through contact.

Have you ever


Touched a metal spoon sitting in a pan of boiling
water only to be surprised by HOW hot it is??

Think back to what you know about metals and


nonmetals. What conducts heat better, metal or
nonmetal? Why?

EXAMPLE OF CONDUCTION
A piece of cheese melts as heat is transferred
from the meat to the cheese (Contact)

Convection
Transfer of heat through a medium.
because of uneven temperature and density

Density less dense rises

Explaining Convection
Convection
currents cause
the cooler breezes
you experience by
a large body of
water.
These currents
also cause the
movement of
magma within the
earth.

3 ways heat are transferred


Conduction
Transfer of heat through contact/touch

Convection
Transfer of heat through a medium (air or water)

Radiation
Transfer of heat through waves (sun)

The Atmosphere and Solar Radiation

Greenhouse Effect
The warming of the Earth when gases absorb
infrared radiation.

some gases trap thermal


energy

Greenhouse
Sunlight goes through glass
Objects absorb some radiant
energy
Objects radiate thermal energy
(heat)
Glass prevents energy from
escaping
Warms the Greenhouse

Greenhouse Gases
Carbon Dioxide,
Water Vapor,
Methane,
Nitrous Oxide

Human Impact

Altitude

Heating of
Land and
Water

Latitude
and
Season

Geographic
Position

Factors that
Affect
Temperature

Ocean
Currents

Cloud
Cover

Latitude and Season


Latitude main factor that affects how much
sunlight you get.
Seasons depend on the tilt of Earths axis.

Altitude
The higher the
altitude of a
location, the
cooler.

Land and Water


Land heats and cools more rapidly than water,
temperature variations are greater over land
than over water.
Which one is located near water?

Geographic Position
Examples:
Mountains can act as a barrier for temperature.
Marine effects (water) usually warmer in the winters, and

cooler in the summers.

Ocean Currents
Where winds blow from the ocean onto the land
v. winds blowing towards the ocean.

Cloud Cover
Reflect or absorb heat

Albedo
The amount (%)
reflected off the
surface.

Why melting ice affects temperature?

Mirage
Warm air near surfaces bends light.

Altitude

Heating of
Land and
Water

Latitude
and
Season

Geographic
Position

Factors that
Affect
Temperature

Ocean
Currents

Cloud
Cover

Thermometer
1596 Galileo Galilei and the first thermoscope
Galileo's instrument did not do this, but merely indicated temperature
differences. His instrument should rightly be called a thermoscope.

1612 Santorio Santorio - the first thermometer


The Italian, Santorio Santorio (1561-1636). Santorio's instrument was an air
thermometer. Its accuracy was poor as the effects of varying air pressure on
the thermometer were not understood at that time.

1714 The first mercury thermometer


Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686-1736) was the first person to make a thermometer
using mercury. The more predictable expansion of mercury combined with
improved glassworking techniques led to a much more accurate thermometer.

Hottest and Coldest


134 degrees Fahrenheit (56.7 degrees Celsius) recorded in Death
Valley on July 10, 1913
89.2 C (128.6 F; 184.0 K), which was at the Soviet Vostok Station
in Antarctica, on July 21, 1983.

In Michigan
5146

Feb. 9, 1934

112 F (44 C)

July 13, 1936

Vanderbilt elevation 785


Mio

What you know about winds?


cool you
scatter things
uproot trees

What are winds?


moving of air

Winds
Wind moves from high to low pressure
larger the pressure difference - faster winds
move
Rising of warm air at equator & cooling of cold
air at the poles
Caused by differences in air pressure due to
unequal heating of the air.
Two types: global & local

The Coriolis Effect


The curving of moving objects because of
Earths rotation.
Northern hemisphere- deflect to right
Southern hemisphere deflected to left

The Coriolis Effect

Explanation of how it all works

Global Winds
Air that flows long distances and specific
direction.
Looping patterned called convection cells.
6 wind belts or convection cells in an specific
area.

Global Winds
2-3 facts on each type of wind p. 527-530

Trade winds
--include direction
--location
--type of wind (strong/weak?)
Doldrums
--type of wind( strong/weak?)
--location
Horse Latitude
--type of wind( strong/weak?)
--location
Westerlies
--type of wind
--direction
--how it benefits us
Easterlies
--type of wind
--location

Trade Winds
Strong
From 30 latitude to equator
E
W
many trading ships sailed on
winds

Doldrums

Warm calm winds (weak winds)


Equator
Narrow zone
Low pressure area

Problem for
Sailing no wind

Horse Latitude
30 N&S subtropical zones high pressure
very weak winds.*

sometimes had to throw horses overboard because ran out of food for them

Westerlies
Between 30 and 60 degree latitude
W
E
Strong winds good for sailors

Application
What do the westerlies have to do with the
general movement of storms we see in our
country?

Has anyone ever noticed that flights going


from the east coast to the west coast take
longer than the reverse?

Easterlies or Polar Easterlies

Low pressure at 60 degree


E to W
Weak cold winds
Located at poles

Polar Easterlies strongest off Antarctica


cold creates high pressure

Jet Streams

VERY STRONG winds (high pressure)


Up to 500 km/ hr
Changes weather (brings cold fronts)
W to E
In upper troposphere and lower stratosphere

Global v. local winds


Global winds
Long distances
Specific direction
Local winds
Short distances
No specific direction

Local Winds
influence by geography of area
Shoreline or mountain/valley
temperature differences

Sea breeze from sea to land (during day). land is


warmer warm air rises and cool air comes in to
replace.
Land breeze- from land to sea (during the night)
water is warmer cool air from land moves to replace
warmer air over sea.

Review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G
vXPtQuQtiU

Air pollution
Pollution sources

Primary pollutant

Secondary pollutant
Problems

Air pollution cont.


Pollution sources
-factories
-volcanoes
-cars
-power plants
- oil refineries

Primary pollutant- Pollution put directly in the


air
Secondary pollutant- reaction of primary +
primary EX: smog, acid rain

Air pollution cont.


Problems:
winds move the pollution around
Acid rain
Allergies
Asthma
Hole in ozone

Clean Air Act


EPA controls how much pollution is put in the
atmosphere
Ex: Factories are required to use scrubbers to
emit less pollution

What does it mean?


The secret of a rainbow....
evidence that the air contains water.

Water droplets break up sunlight into the different colors


of the rainbow.
What are the states of water?
How do we see them?

Powerful role of water in the air

Humidity
Amount of water vapor in air.

Relative Humidity
how near the water is to saturation.
Saturation rate of evaporation = rate of
condensation .
Relative humidity changes:
Change moisture
Temperature
1.

2.

Humid air
rises - less dense than dry air.
Water molecules are lighter than N2 and O2

Dew Point
Another measure of humidity
Temperature to which a parcel of air would
need to be cooled to reach saturation.
water vapor condensing on grass - dew

Clouds
Collection of small water droplets or ice
crystals suspended in the air, which forms
when the air is cooled and condensation
occurs.

Cloud Condensation Nuclei


Types: Stratus, Cumulus, Cirrus, Fog

Warm up
What are some factors
that you think might
determine cloud
height?

Precipitation
any form of water (solid or liquid) that falls to
Earths surface from the clouds
rain, snow, sleet, hail, freezing rain

Types of Precipitation
Rain - Water vapor condenses, droplets form
and become heavy. They fall.
Snow - Water VAPOR freezes.
Hail - Water droplets are swept up within
cloud, go through the freezing layer and keep
building (frozen balls of ice).
Freezing rain - Droplets hit the frozen
ground. Freezing instantly.
Sleet - droplets go through freezing layer and
come down slushy.

Rain Trivia
Factors controlling the distribution are the belts of
converging-ascending air flow, air temperature, moisturebearing winds, ocean currents, distance inland from the
coast, and mountain ranges.
The highest amount of rainfall ever recorded in 24 hours is
182.5 centimetres (71.9 inches) in Foc-Foc, La Runion. This
occurred during tropical cyclone Denise on January 8, 1966.
The highest amount of rainfall ever recorded in one year is
25.4 meters (1000 inches) in Cherrapunji, India.

Antarctica is the driest continent on Earth.

Snow Trivia
Largest recorded snowflake is 38 cm (15 inches) wide.
Most snowflakes form usually 6 sided crystal patterns. Shape based
on temperature.
Roughly 12% of the Earths land is covered in permanent snow and
ice.
Snow is white because it reflects all the colors equally.
Greatest Seasonal Snowfall: 1,140 inches. Mt. Baker, WA. Jul 1,
1998 - Jun 1, 1999
Greatest Snow Depth record: 451 inches, Sierra Nevada
Mountains, Mar 11, 1911. (390 inches in a month - Mar 11, 1911)
465.4 inches in 1927 on Mt. Ibuki Japan.
Most Snow measured in 24 hours: 77 inches - Montague, NY 1997

Hail Trivia

According to NOAA, Kansas City hail storm on April 10, 2001


damages - estimated $2 billion.

The largest hailstone fell on June 23, 2003 in Aurora, Nebraska


and had a diameter of 7.0 inches, just under 1 lb.
The heaviest hailstone 2.25 lbs Bangladesh, 14 Apr 1986.

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