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Layers of the
Atmosphere
Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere
Exosphere

Troposphere
It is the lowest layer of the atmosphere.
Almost all weather occurs in this layer and this
is the layer where planes usually fly.
Starts at Earths surface and is around 20km
high.
The temperature is about 17C

Stratosphere
The second layer of the atmosphere is the
stratosphere.
The stratosphere is very dry and so doesnt
contain many clouds.
The stratosphere extends around 50km down to
anywhere from 6-20km above the Earth surface
The temperature is about -15C at the top of the
stratosphere.

Mesosphere
This is the third layer of the atmosphere.
Here different gases mix together and
meteors vapourise.
This layer extends from about 50km to 85km
above the earths surface.
The temperature is about -90C.

Thermosphere
This is the fourth layer of atmosphere.
Space shuttles orbit in this layer.
It is about 90km to 5,000km above our planet.
Temperatures can reach 500C.

Exosphere
This the last layer of our atmosphere.
Here atoms and molecules are released into
space.
It is over 5,000km above our planet.
The temperature can reach thousands of
Celsius.

Chemical Composition
The Earths atmosphere is a complex mixture
of gases: nitrogen (N2) (about 78% by
volume), oxygen (O2) (about 21% by volume)
and argon (Ar) (about 0.9% by volume) with
small and varying amounts of water vapor
(H2O) (0 to 4% by volume) and still smaller
amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane
(CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), ozone (O3) and
dozens of other gases at still smaller
concentrations

Chemical Composition
The protection afforded by the atmosphere is
very important for life on Earth. The
atmosphere shields the Earths surface and its
myriad forms of life from biologically
damaging high-energy cosmic radiation. In
addition, ozone, found mostly in the
stratosphere, absorbs ultraviolet radiation
from the Sun, shielding the Earths surface
from this biologically damaging radiation.

What is Weather +
Climate
Weather is the hour-by-hour, day-by-day conditions
of the atmosphere.
Climate is the the average weather conditions
over a long period of time.

Factors affecting Weather

Temperature
Precipitation
Air pressure
Wind speed and direction
Sunshine
Humidity
Cloud Cover

Temperature
Temperature is
measured in degrees
centigrade by a
maximum and minimum
thermometer. During the
day, the mercury or
alcohol expands and in
the night the mercury or
alcohol contracts.

Precipitation
Rainfall (a type of
precipitation) is measured in
mm by a rain gauge. The
water collected can be poured
into a measuring cylinder and
then can be recorded.

Air Pressure
Air pressure is measured
in millibars (mb) on a
barometer. As the
pressure changes the
cylinder rises causing the
lever to move and the pen
to draw on the rotating
drum.

Wind Speed
Wind speed is measured in
miles per hour or knots and
is measured using an
anemometer. A wind meter
can also be used.

Wind Direction
Wind direction is measured
by a wind vane which turns
in the direction the wind is
coming from. Most of
Britains winds come from
the south-west. These are
called prevailing winds.

Sunshine
Sunshine is measured
using a Campbell
Stokes sunshine
recorder. A note is
made of how much
sunshine there is
everyday.

Sunshine

Humidity
Humidity is measured by a
hygrometer in milliliters per
cubic centimeters. However
some hygrometers measure
humidity in percentages.

Effects of Humidity
Animals and plants
Humidity is one of the fundamentalabiotic
factorsthat defines any habitat, and is a
determinant of which animals and plants
can thrive in a given environment.
Human comfort
Humans are sensitive to humid air
because the human body uses
evaporative cooling as the primary
mechanism to regulate temperature.

Effects of Humidity
Electronics
Many electronic devices have humidity
specifications, for example, 5% to 95%. At
the top end of the range, moisture may
increase the conductivity of
permeableinsulatorsleading to malfunction.
Building construction
Traditional building designs typically had
weakinsulation, and it allowed air moisture
to flow freely between the interior and
exterior

Cloud Cover
Cloud cover is measured
in oktas. Each okta
represents one-eighth of
the sky covered by
cloud.

Stevenson Screen
A Stevenson Screen is a store
where weather instruments
are kept. It is white to reflect
sunlight and slatted to allow
air to circulate. It is placed on
grass away from buildings
and trees.

Types of Clouds
Cumulus, Stratus and Stratocumulus
Altocumulus and Altostratus
Cirrocumulus, Cirrus, Cirrostratus and
Cumulonimbus

The lowest clouds

The lowest clouds in the atmosphere are stratus,
cumulus and stratocumulus. These clouds are
around 6,000 feet high. Stratus clouds are horizontal
layers and cumulus clouds are cotton-like in
appearance. Stratocumulus is a cross between
them.

Mid-Level Clouds
Mid-level clouds include altocumulus and
altostratus. Theses clouds range from 6,000 feet to
20,000 feet. Altocumulus clouds are dark individual
segments. Altostratus clouds are thin sheets from
which the sun can be seen through.

The Highest Clouds

The highest clouds are cirrus, cirrocumulus,
cirrostratus and cumulonimbus. They are around
20,000 feet high. Cirrus clouds look like thin wispy
stripes, cirrocumulus clouds look like fish scales,
cirrostratus clouds look like white veils and
cumulonimbus clouds are very tall, large clouds.

The Water Cycle

1. The sun causes water to form water vapour and rise up
into the atmosphere. i.e. evaporation.
2. At the same time transpiration (the transfer of water
from trees into the atmosphere) occurs.
3. As water vapour rises it begins to cool. The
temperature falls by 1C for every 100m you ascend.
At the dew point the water vapour cools to form clouds.
4. Soon the water droplets become heavy and fall as
precipitation.

Factors Affecting UKs Climate

Latitude
The Gulf Stream
South-westerly Prevailing Winds
Altitude
Distance from the Sea

Latitude
The higher the latitude, the colder it will be as
the Suns rays have to travel further through the
atmosphere to reach areas of higher latitude like
Britain.

The Gulf Stream

The Gulf Stream (North Atlantic Drift) is a water
current from the Gulf of Mexico that brings moist
warm air across the Atlantic Ocean to the west
of the British Isles.

SW Prevailing Winds
The south-westerly prevailing winds are the UKs
most common winds which travel across the
Atlantic Ocean picking up lots of moisture which
then gets dropped on the first land mass it
meets - Britain.

Altitude
The higher the altitude, the colder it is. Higher
areas like Lake District receive more rainfall
because air is forced to rise upwards and the
water vapour condenses to form clouds.

Distance to Sea
Oceans heat up and cool down much more
slowly than land. This means that coastal
locations tend to be cooler in summer and
warmer in winter than places inland which are at
the same latitudes and altitudes.

Microclimates
Shelter
Surface
Aspect
Natural Physical Features
Buildings

Shelter
Buildings, walls, hills and valleys can provide
shelter. It will feel a degree or two warmer on
the sheltered side than the side facing the wind.
This side of the
hedge is warmer.

This side is colder

as it is facing the
wind.

Surface
Dark surfaces absorb heat and are therefore
warmer than light shiny surfaces. Light surfaces
reflect heat and are therefore cooler.

Light surface
reflects heat

Dark surfaces
absorb heat

Aspect
As the sun moves through the sky, it warm
slopes that face it. In Britain, south-facing slopes
receive more sunlight than north-facing slopes
as the sun moves through the south during the
day.
This slope is
warmer

Buildings
During the day, dark buildings absorb heat and
release it in the night. Buildings also break up
the wind depending on the direction they are
facing and the prevailing wind direction.
Buildings absorb
heat.

Natural Physical Features

Rain is caught in the canopy of a forest, reducing
precipitation. In winter, it feels warmer in a
sheltered forest as the trees provide protection
from the cooling wind. In summer it feels cooler
as the trees block out the sun.
Warmer in winter and
colder in summer

Pressure Systems
Anticyclones
Depressions

Anticyclones
Anticyclones
Process
Air Masses
Isobars on Map
Weather
Seasonal Variation

Cool air sinking

Pressure

High Pressure

One air mass at time.

Isobars dispersed
Still or very light winds
Very cold in winter; hot
in summer

Depressions
Depression
Process
Air Masses
Isobars on Map
Weather
Seasonal Variation

Warm air rising

Pressure

Low pressure

Two air masses

Isobars tightly packed
Wind, cloudy skies
Wet, mild and windy
throughout the year.

Types of Rainfall
Relief Rainfall
Convectional Rainfall
Frontal Rainfall.

Relief Rainfall
1. Prevailing winds bring moist air to Britain.
2. Air is forced to rise over high areas.
3. Air cools and condenses
4. Clouds form and it starts to rain.
5. Air descends on the other side of the mountain.
6. It warms up and dries over an area to the east of
the mountains known as the rain shadow.

Relief Rainfall Diagram

Convectional Rainfall
1. The sun heats the earth.
2. The earth heats the air above it.
3. Hot air rises because it is less dense.
4. The water vapour cools at the dew point
and condenses into water droplets.
5. These water droplets join together and
then fall as rain.

Convectional Rainfall
Diagram

Frontal Rainfall
1. When a warm and cold air mass meet they
dont mix.
2. The lighter warmer air rises over the
heavier, colder air.
3. As the warm air rises condensation occurs,
clouds form and rain falls along the front.
4. First a warm front passes over, bringing rain
and warm air, then a cold front passes
bringing more rain and cold air.

Frontal Rainfall Diagram