EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE

1. EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE

2. Warner Bros. Movie Trailers: Twister

3. What gases are in our atmosphere? Nitrogen Oxygen Argon Bottom Graph is only the tiny sliver from top graph!!!! Carbon Dioxide Neon Helium Methane Krypton Hydrogen

4. Exosphere

6. Exosphere Highest layer of atmosphere, 640 km to 10000 km Boarder between atmosphere and outer space Hydrogen (H) and Helium (He) are the primary molecules present Some satellites orbit here.

7. Thermosphere • Height from 85 km to 640 km • Lower boundary called “Mesopause” • Name means “Heat Sphere” • Temperatures can reach over 1000 o C • Few molecules present absorb the strong solar energy and heat up • Even though temperature is very hot, it would feel COLD to us due to the low molecule density! • Temperature increases with height • International Space Station orbits here in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) • Auroras occur here!

8. Ionosphere • Inside Thermosphere • Height from 80 km to 550 km • Helps radio and television signals travel • Before satellites, this was the only way to communicate over very long distances without a wire connecting two places • Full of electrically charged particles (Ions)

9. Mesosphere • Height 50 km to 85 km • Upper boundary called “Mesopause” • Lower boundary called “Stratopause” • Coldest layer • Temperature drops with height • Can be up to minus 100 degrees C • Most meteors entering the atmosphere burn up here

10. Stratosphere • Height from 18 km to 50 km • Upper boundary called “Stratopause” • Lower boundary called “Tropopause” • Contains the Ozone Layer • Temperature increases with altitude • Due to absorption of solar radiation by Ozone Layer

11. Troposphere • Lowest layer • Surface to 18 km • Upper boundary called “Tropopause” • Temperature decreases with height • 75% of the total mass of the atmosphere is here! • Weather happens here! • All non-aquatic life lives here!

12. What is the source of all heat and weather on the Earth?

13. The SUN is the source of all heat & weather on Earth.

14. 3 Types of Energy CONVECTION Transfer of heat energy through motion of liquid or gas caused by differences in density. CONDUCTION Transfer of heat energy through collisions of the molecules of a substance. RADIATION Transfer of energy through space in the form of electromagnetic waves.

15. Three (3) types of Energy • Conduction • Convection • Radiation • Energy from the sun radiates through space to heat the atmosphere and Earth’s surface by conduction & convection

16. Energy (Heat) Transfer Energy transfer among sun, atmosphere & Earth’s surface produces weather • If more energy comes in than leaves, Earth’s temperature will increase • If more energy leaves than comes in, Earth’s temperature will decrease

17. Heat transfer • Heat in the Atmosphere • Energy from the sun heats Earth’s atmosphere and surface. • Heat moves through the atmosphere in three different ways: radiation, conduction, and convection. Energy transfer between Earth’s surface and the atmosphere creates the WEATHER Solar energy 100% 30% reflected into space (albedo) Radiate 6% to space Atmosphere absorbs 19% Conduction & convection 7% to atmosphere Radiate 15% to atmosphere Evaporation 23% to atmosphere Earth’s surface absorbs 51%

18. Insolation: incoming solar radiation click here for a youtube video

19. Humans can Change the atmosphere • Human Influence on the Atmosphere • The carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere has increased due to human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels: • coal, gasoline, and natural gas.

20. Humans can change the atmosphere • Human Impact on the Atmosphere • Biologic activity, including human activity, may influence global temperature and climate. • Air pollution – harmful particles caused by volcanoes, forest fires, and human activity. • Acid Rain – sulfur dioxide and nitrogen react with water vapor create an acid rain that kills fish and forests, and damages structures of marble and limestone. • Smog – nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons (auto exhaust) that, when triggered by solar radiation, create harmful ground-level ozone.

21. Human impact on the atmosphere • Human Impact on the Atmosphere • Ozone Depletion – a hole in the protective ozone layer created by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) UV Rays UV Rays

22. Ozone Creation CFC kill O3

23. Human impact on the atmosphere • Human Impact on the Atmosphere • Global Warming – due to increase in greenhouse gases. • Rising sea levels • Melting polar caps • Stronger storms • More storms and droughts • Relocation of crop areas Global Warming = Climate Collapse

24. Air Temperature Wind Speed INSTRUMENTATION TOMONITORTHE ATMOSPHERE Humidity Wind Direction Air Pressure

25. Instrumentation Thermometer measures temperature Barometer measures air pressure Psychrometer measures humidity

26. Air Pressure • A barometer measures air pressure • Air pressure at sea level is 760mm barometer

27. Air Pressure Changes because of… • Elevation • Temperature • Humidity

28. Elevation As elevation increases, the pressure decreases since there is less air around you Denver, CO: 835mb Sea Level: 1013mb

29. Temperature A warm air mass has low pressure & rises As temperature increases, pressure decreases because the molecules are further apart A cold air mass has high pressure & sinks

31. Humidity As humidity increases, pressure decreases because water molecules are less massive than air. Humid air rises & has low pressure Dry air sinks & has high pressure

32. Air pressure Isobar: a line that joins points with the same air pressure; lines closer together mean steeper pressure gradient

33. Explain the relationship between air pressure and Temperature Elevation Humidity

34. Winds Air flows from high pressure to low pressure, forming winds

35. Winds Air over land cools faster & heats faster than air over water • sea breeze: when winds blow inland from the ocean, because a warm low pressure area is over the land • land breeze: when winds blow off the land to the ocean because a warm low pressure area is over the ocean

36. Sea Breeze Warm low pressure zone over the land Air rises Cool high pressure zone over the sea Air sinks Wind blows from the sea to the land, filling in the gap left by rising warm air.

37. Land Breeze Cool high pressure zone over the land Air sinks Warm low pressure zone over the sea Air rises Wind blows from the land to the sea, filling in the gap left by rising warm air.

38. Draw and Label a Sea BreezeInclude—1. Air packets2. Areas of High and Low Pressure3. Direction of the wind on the shore

39. Draw and Label a Land Breeze Include—1. Air packets2. Areas of High and Low Pressure3. Direction of the wind on the shore

40. Wind Anemometer: instrument to measure wind speed

41. Factors Affecting Winds • Coriolis effect • Jet stream • Global Wind patterns

42. Coriolis Effect Coriolis effect: the tendency of an object moving freely over Earth’s surface to curve away from its path of travel, caused by E’s rotation Southern HemisphereCurve to the left Northern HemisphereCurve to the right

43. Coriolis Effect -North Winds around a high pressure zone circle clockwise Winds around a low pressure zone circle counterclockwise

45. Youtube animation at 1:29 minutes

46. What is the direction of a High Pressure system in the Northern Hemisphere?What is the direction of a Low Pressure system in the Northern Hemisphere?

47. Jet Stream aband of swiftly moving wind, moving east from west, at the top of the troposphere, unaffected by friction

48. Global WindPatterns

50. Global Wind Patterns • Intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ): low-pressure zone near equator caused by warm, rising air • trade winds: 5-20° latitudes - warm & steady winds • sub-tropical highs: 20-35° latitudes - air usually sinks - very dry w/ little wind - deserts • polar highs: high pressure regions near the poles (sinking air) - very dry