EARTHS ATMOSPHERE l Warner Bros Movie Trailers Twister

EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE

l Warner Bros. Movie Trailers: Twister

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

Exosphere

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

Thermosphere l Height from 85 km to 640 km – Lower boundary called “Mesopause” l 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 l International Space Station orbits here in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) l Auroras occur here! l

Ionosphere l Inside Thermosphere l Height from 80 km to 550 km l 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 l Full of electrically charged particles (Ions)

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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. Earth’s surface absorbs 51% Radiate 15% to atmosphere Radiate 6% to space Atmosphere absorbs 19% Conduction & convection 7% to atmosphere 30% reflected into space (albedo) Evaporation 23% to atmosphere Solar energy 100% Energy transfer between Earth’s surface and the atmosphere creates the WEATHER

Insolation: incoming solar radiation click here for a youtube video

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.

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.

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

Ozone Creation CFC kill O 3

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

INSTRUMENTATION TO MONITOR THE ATMOSPHERE Air Temperature Wind Speed Humidity Wind Direction Air Pressure

Instrumentation Thermometer measures temperature Barometer measures air pressure Psychrometer measures humidity

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

Air Pressure Changes because of… l Elevation l Temperature l Humidity

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

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

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

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

Explain the relationship between air pressure and Temperature 2. Elevation 3. Humidity 1.

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

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

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

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

Draw and Label a Sea Breeze Include— 1. Air packets 2. Areas of High and Low Pressure 3. Direction of the wind on the shore

Draw and Label a Land Breeze Include— 1. Air packets 2. Areas of High and Low Pressure 3. Direction of the wind on the shore

Wind Anemometer: instrument to measure wind speed

Factors Affecting Winds Coriolis effect l Jet stream l Global Wind patterns l

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 Northern Hemisphere Curve to the right Southern Hemisphere Curve to the left

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

Youtube animation at 1: 29 minutes

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?

Jet Stream a band of swiftly moving wind, moving east from west, at the top of the troposphere, unaffected by friction

Global Wind Patterns

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

Horse Latitudes 30 -35 degrees N/S

Seasonal Winds Summer l Land hotter than ocean, so blows moist air inland l Summer monsoon: winds & rain Winter l Ocean hotter than land, so blows dry air to sea l Winter monsoon: winds & no rain

Temperature maps Colored to show temperatures l Often have ISOTHERMS - lines that connect places with the same temperature l

Santa Ana Winds

Seasonal Monsoon Winds of Bangladesh Monsoons of Bangladesh (NASA)

Earth’s Early Atmosphere -Cyanobacteria: were bluegreen algae thought to be one of the earliest forms of life on Earth appearing about 3. 5 billion years ago -These organisms were partially responsible for altering the Earth’s atmosphere increasing the oxygen content

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