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The Atmosphere

AP Environmental Science Mr. Grant Lesson 45. The Atmosphere. Objectives:. Define the terms weather and climate . Describe the composition, structure, and function of Earth’s atmosphere. Relate weather and climate to atmospheric conditions.

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The Atmosphere

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  1. AP Environmental Science Mr. Grant Lesson 45 The Atmosphere

  2. Objectives: • Define the terms weather and climate. • Describe the composition, structure, and function of Earth’s atmosphere. • Relate weather and climate to atmospheric conditions. • TED - In 4 minutes, atmospheric chemist Rachel Pike provides a glimpse of the massive scientific effort behind the bold headlines on climate change, with her team -- one of thousands who contributed -- taking a risky flight over the rainforest in pursuit of data on a key molecule.

  3. Define the terms weather and climate. Weather: Climate:

  4. Describe the composition, structure, and function of Earth’s atmosphere. • The atmosphere consists of 78% nitrogen gas, 21% oxygen gas, and a variety of other gases in minute concentrations. • The atmosphere includes four principal layers: the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere. Temperature and other characteristics vary across these layers. Ozone is concentrated in the stratosphere.

  5. The atmosphere’s composition

  6. The atmosphere’s four layers • Atmospheric layers have different • Temperatures • Densities • Composition

  7. Atmospheric properties • Atmospheric pressure decreases with altitude

  8. Relate weather and climate to atmospheric conditions. • The sun’s energy heats the atmosphere, drives air circulation, and helps determine weather, climate, and the seasons. • Weather is a short-term phenomenon, whereas climate is a long-term phenomenon. Fronts, pressure systems, and the interactions among air masses influence weather. • Global convective cells called Hadley, Ferrel, and polar cells create latitudinal climate zones. • Hurricanes and tornadoes are types of cyclonic storms that can threaten life and property.

  9. Solar energy heats the atmosphere

  10. Solar energy creates seasons

  11. Solar energy causes air to circulate • Convection influences weather and climate

  12. The atmosphere drives weather and climate

  13. Air masses produce weather Cold fronts produce thunderstorms Warm fronts produce light rain

  14. Air masses have different pressures

  15. Thermal (temperature) inversion

  16. Circulation systems produce climate patterns and moisture distribution

  17. Global wind patterns

  18. Storms pose hazards

  19. TED Video Rachel Pike studies climate change at the molecular level -- tracking how emissions from biofuel crops react with the air to shape weather trends globally. Rachel Pike: The science behind a climate headline (4:14) In 4 minutes, atmospheric chemist Rachel Pike provides a glimpse of the massive scientific effort behind the bold headlines on climate change, with her team -- one of thousands who contributed -- taking a risky flight over the rainforest in pursuit of data on a key molecule.

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