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NATS101 Section 4 Web Site: atmo.arizona/courses/fall09/nats101s4/index.html

Explore the layers of the Earth's atmosphere, the composition of gases, greenhouse effects, and atmospheric phenomena like weather and climate. Learn about air pressure, altitude effects, and the importance of storms in atmospheric dynamics.

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NATS101 Section 4 Web Site: atmo.arizona/courses/fall09/nats101s4/index.html

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  1. NATS101 Section 4 Web Site: • http://www.atmo.arizona.edu/courses/fall09/nats101s4/index.html • How to find this site? • Go to http://www.atmo.arizona.edu • Click courses • Click NATS101 - Zeng • Bookmark this site • Check the website frequently for new announcements • “Refresh (Reload)” the page every time you visit, to • make sure it displays the latest information

  2. Chapter 1: The Earth’s Atmosphere • Overview of the Earth’s atmosphere • Vertical structure of the atmosphere • Weather and climate Q: You can live for a few minutes only: a) without air b) without water c) without food

  3. Overview of the Earth’s Atmosphere • when the earth is scaled to the size • of an apple, 99% of atmosphere is • no thicker than the skin on an apple • Water vapor molecules are invisible: • clouds; • sink: condensation/deposition • source: evaporation/sublimation • transpiration Fig.1.2

  4. Composition of the Atmosphere • permanent gases • Nitrogen source: decaying of plant and animal matter sink: soil bacteria; ocean plankton • Oxygen source: plant photosynthesis (sun + CO2 + H2O lead to sugar and O2) sink: organic matter decay breathing (take in O2, release CO2)

  5. Q: which is the most important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere? a) water vapor; b) carbon dioxide; c) methane, d) ozone 380 ppm = 380/106 = 380 * 10-4/102 = 0.038% Table 1-1, p. 3

  6. Composition of the Atmosphere • Carbon dioxide and the greenhouse gases • ozone • aerosols • pollutants • Ozone at high altitudes (stratosphere) is “good”;ozone at low altitudes (troposphere) is “bad.” Fig. 1.4

  7. Q: List three sources and two sinks of CO2 in the atmosphere Stepped Art Fig. 1-3, p. 4

  8. The Early Atmosphere • the first atmosphere: hydrogen, helium • outgassing and the second atmosphere water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrogen • evolution of the atmosphere: carbon dioxide and oxygen • The evolution of life and the atmosphere are closely linked.

  9. Vertical Structure of the Earth’s Atmosphere Radiosonde launched twice a day to measure temperature, humidity, wind, and pressure of the lowest 30 km above surface Q: where is the balloon launched in Tucson? a) airport; b) Mt. Lemmon, c) UA campus

  10. A Brief Look at Air Pressure and Air Density • air density: mass per unit volume • air pressure: air weight above a level • sea-level pressure • Surface pressure: 1013 mb = 1013 hPa = 29.92 in.Hg Q: Baseballs travel farther in higher-altitude air (Denver) than they do in lower-altitude air: true or false?

  11. Fig. 1-7, p. 8

  12. Q: what is the percentage of O2 at the top of Mt. Everest compared with sea level? a) 13% b) 23% c) 33% d) 43% Fig. 1-8, p. 9

  13. Layers of the Atmosphere • vertical temperature profile • Troposphere lapse rate: 6.5degC/1km; temperature inversion • Stratosphere O3 absorption • mesosphere • Thermosphere O2 absorption

  14. The Ionosphere • electrified regions of the atmosphere • D, E and F regions • radio waves • When the radio was invented by G. Marconi in the early 20th century, it was not known how radio waves traveled long distances through the atmosphere.

  15. Fig. 1-11, p. 13

  16. Weather and Climate • Satellites • Radar • Radiosonde • Aircraft • Weather station • See ATMO web site

  17. Elements of Weather • air temperature • air pressure • humidity • clouds • precipitation • visibility • wind • Certain weather elements, likeclouds, visibility and wind, areof particular interest to pilots.

  18. Climate • average weather • extremes Q: What is the difference between weather and climate?

  19. A Satellite’s View of the Weather • geostationary satellites • Atmospheric observation from satellites was an important technological development in meteorology. Otherimportant developments include computers, internet, and Doppler radar.

  20. Storms of all Sizes • midlatitude cyclonic storms • hurricanes and tropical storms • thunderstorms • tornadoes • Storms are very exciting, but they also play an important role in moving heat and moisture around throughout the atmosphere.

  21. Fig. 1.17 Fig. 1.15

  22. A Look at a Weather Map • wind speed and direction • cyclones and anticyclones • fronts • Wind direction is defined in the opposite way asocean currents: a southerly current means water is moving towards the south.

  23. Q: What is the wind direction in Chicago? a) southerly, b) northerly, c) easterly, d) westerly Fig. 1-13, p. 17

  24. Weather and Climate in our Lives • wind chill, frostbite and hypothermia • heat exhaustion and heat stroke • cold spells, dry spells and heat waves • severe thunderstorms and flash floods • The mathematical formula for determining the windchill temperature has recently been revised due to newexperiments.

  25. Fig. 1-16, p. 19

  26. Fig. 1.19 Fig. 1-18, p. 20

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