Atmosphere

Topic: Atmosphere Layers Topic: Atmosphere Layers  Objectives: –I will know what an atmosphere is –I will know atmospheric composition –I will know how air pressure changes with altitude –I will know the 4 layers of our atmosphere and that these layers are based upon temperature changes

Atmosphere  Simply put, an atmosphere is a mixture of gases that surrounds a planet  Below is earth’s thin atmosphere and Mar’s thin Carbon Dioxide rich atmosphere  Our Atmosphere keeps us warm; without it, our planet would be a lot cooler

What is an Atmosphere?  A mixture of gases that surrounds a planet

Atmosphere Composition  Take a breath!  How much oxygen did you just take in?  What other gases did you inhale?  Every time you breathe, you take in about a 21% oxygen and 79% Nitrogen  Other gases include very small amounts include: argon, water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and hydrogen, and smog 78% Nitrogen 21% Oxygen 1% Carbon Dioxide, Water Vapor, Methane

What Gases make up Earth’s Atmosphere?  Earth atmosphere is made up of: –____ % Nitrogen(N 2 ) –____% Oxygen(O 2 ) – 1% argon, carbon dioxide(CO 2 ), water vapor, hydrogen and methane Answer Bank down % Nitrogen 21% Oxygen 1% Carbon Dioxide, Water Vapor, Methane

Air Pressure  Gravity keeps our atmosphere and air from drifting out into space  Think of air pressure it as the weight of the air pushing down on us  Where do you think air pressure is greatest, at sea level, or high up on the top of a mountain?  Let’s Graph it and find out!!!!! Above 10 Kilometers the Air become very thin and Air pressure drops off

What is Air Pressure?  The weight of the air in the atmosphere pressing ____ on the Earth  Air pressure is greatest at sea level Answer Bank down 78 21

Troposphere Stratosphere Mesosphere Thermosphere Our weather takes place in the troposphere Planes fly in the troposphere (O 3 ) The ozone layer is found The stratosphere Ozone Blocks out Harmful Ultra Violet (UV) Radiation Meteorites burn up in the Mesosphere Space Shuttle and Aurora Light are in the Thermosphere Atmosphere Layers The earth is divided up into 4 distinct layers Each layer is based on temperature changes

Troposphere Mesosphere Thermosphere Temperatures decrease With elevation in the Troposphere Temperatures decrease With elevation in the Mesosphere Temperatures increase With elevation in the Thermosphere All the way to space Stratosphere Temperatures increase With elevation in the Stratosphere The boundary between each layer is characterized by a temperature change as We get higher in elevation

What are the 4 layers of our atmosphere? Troposphere km high, contains our weather and 75% of our air (air pressure is greatest) Temperatures decrease Stratosphere km high, Contains Ozone layer, Absorbs UV radiation, Temperatures increase Mesosphere km high, Temperatures decrease Meteors burn up Thermosphere- 85km up to space Temperatures increase, Space shuttle exists here

Summarize:  Earth’s atmosphere is divided up into layers that are based upon their _______  The ____ layer is found in the stratosphere  Please draw and fill In the air composition pie graph to the right:  Draw and label the 4 layers of the atmosphere, starting with the bottom layer and working your way up: Answer Bank Mesosphere Ozone Troposphere Temperature Stratosphere Oxygen Thermosphere Nitrogen 1% Other stuff

Topic: Energy In Our Atmosphere Topic: Energy In Our Atmosphere  Objectives: –I will know how much radiation form the sun is either absorbed or reflected by our earth –I will understand how the earth’s transfers heat by convection due to the unequal heating between the equator and poles

Heat!  We all have a basic understanding of what heat is  If we touch something hot, it has heat!  Ouch!  Radiation is one form of energy, but heat is anther form of energy  Heat always wants to move from something hot, to something cold!

Heat  Heat is the energy that flow from an object with a higher temperature to an object with a lower temperature  When an object has no heat, this object is cold  So, when radiation is being absorbed by our earth, it heats up through conduction or convection we heat

What is Heat?  Heat is the energy that flows from an object with a ____temperature to an object with a _____temperature  Heat is transferred through conduction and convection Answer Bank Bump equator 30 unequally Higher 50 Flow Ultraviolet weather Lower poles 20

Conduction  The surface of the earth absorbs radiation, causing the molecules to rub into one another – Conduction  Conduction is the transfer of energy that occurs when molecules bump into one another  If you have ever walked bare feet on hot asphalt, on a hot summer day you know how hot the surface can get  Your feet heat up because of conduction, that is, hot molecules bump into molecules on your feet  The air above the asphalt is heated in exactly the same way, hot asphalt molecules bump into air molecules transferring heat and energy

Conduction and Heat Transfer

What is Conduction?  Conduction is the transfer of energy that occurs when molecules ____ into one another Answer Bank Bump equator 30 unequally Higher 50 Flow Ultraviolet weather Lower poles 20

Convection  Convection is the transfer of heat by the flow of a heated material  Only occurs with gases and liquids  When gases and liquids are warmed, their molecules move apart, increasing its volume and decreasing its density, causing it to rise  Eventually, gas or liquid will start to cool, causing it to fall back down and the cycle repeats itself

What is Convection?  Convection is the transfer of heat by the _____of a heated material such as a gas or liquid Answer Bank Bump equator 30 unequally Higher 50 Flow Ultraviolet weather Lower poles 20

Energy in our Atmosphere  Radiation enters our atmosphere from the sun  Radiation is the transfer of energy in the form of electromagnetic waves  Examples include: Radio waves, Microwaves, Infrared, Light, X-Rays, UV, and Gamma waves  Radiation can be harmless or even dangerous

What is Radiation?  Radiation is energy in the form of Electromagnetic____  Ex: Radio waves, Infrared, Light, X-rays, _____waves, Answer Bank Bump equator 30 unequally Higher 50 Flow Ultraviolet weather Lower poles 20 waves

Solar Radiation  Some solar radiation is reflected by our atmosphere and some is absorbed as heat

100% radiation from the sun 50% radiation Is absorbed by the Surface, land and sea & is converted to heat 20% radiation Is absorbed by the Atmosphere & Clouds & is converted to heat 30% is reflected back into space -10% by clouds & atmosphere -20% by land & sea

What happens to incoming solar Radiation from the sun? If 100 % is entering our atmosphere then: –__% is absorbed by land and sea –__% is absorbed by the atmosphere and clouds –__% is reflected back into space by our atmosphere(5%), clouds(20%), and the land sea surface(5%) Answer Bank Bump equator 30 unequally Higher 50 Flow Ultraviolet weather Lower poles 20

Unequal Heating  The sun heats up our earth unequally or uneven  Solar radiation is more direct and concentrated equator  Solar Radiation is weakest and more spread out at the poles  This creates a temperature imbalance—hot equator and cold poles

Solar Radiation is weakest and more spread out at the poles Solar Radiation is weakest and more spread out at the poles Solar radiation is more direct and concentrated equator Because the earth is round, Solar radiation becomes weaker as you move farther from the equator Because the earth is round, Solar radiation becomes weaker as you move farther from the equator Unequal Heating: Flash Light Demo As a result the earth becomes heated unequally, Hot temperatures near the equator, and Cold temperatures at the poles This creates a convection current Where Heated air rises at the equator And sinks at the poles—Wind & Weather Is a result of this unequal heating

 The earth is heated ______ by radiation from the sun  Convection is the transfer of heat from the _____ (warm region) to the ____ (cold region)  Wind and ______develops as a result of this heat transfer How does earth transfer heat from the equator to the poles? Answer Bank Bump equator 30 unequally Higher 50 Flow Ultraviolet weather Lower poles 20

30% is reflected Back into ____ Summary The earth is heated ____The earth is heated ____ As a result, convection transfers heat from the ______ to the_____As a result, convection transfers heat from the ______ to the_____ This drives our ____and weatherThis drives our ____and weather 50% is absorbed By ____ 20% is absorbed By ____ 100% solar radiation from the sun Answer Bank Land & sea Unequally Equator wind Atmosphere & clouds Space poles

Topic: Wind Systems Topic: Wind Systems  Objectives: –I will know the difference between sea and land breezes –I will understand the coriolis effect – I will know the difference between he global wind patterns

Daily Winds  Land and Water absorb heat differently  During the day land heats up faster than water through conduction, causing the air above it to rise  Cold air over the ocean fills in, creating a convection current  This creates a wind that flows from the Sea to Land – A sea Breeze

Sea Breeze  During the day a sea breeze develops due to Uneven heating of land and water during the day; wind moves from water to land

Land Breeze  During the night, the opposite happens, and a land breeze develops due to Uneven heating of land and water; wind moves from water to land

Sea/Land Breeze Animation

What is the difference between a Sea and Land breeze?  a Sea Breeze develops during the _____ due to uneven heating of land and water; wind moves from water to_____  A Land Breeze develops at ____due to uneven heating of land and water; wind moves from land to _____ Answer Bank day Land Uneven sea night

Coriolis Effect  The Coriolis Effect deflects all free moving objects such as air and water to the right north of the equator (Northern Hemisphere) and to the left south of the equator (Southern Hemisphere)

Free moving objects move in a straight line move in a straight line Non-Rotating Earth Free moving objects move in a curved line move in a curved line Rotating Earth In the northern hemisphere objects are deflected or curve to the right In the southern hemisphere objects are deflected or curve to the left

What is the Coriolis Effect?  The effect created by the ______earth that deflects all free moving objects such as air and water to the ____north of the equator (Northern Hemisphere) and to the ____ south of the equator (Southern Hemisphere) Answer Bank Rises west Left 60 East spinning Equator 30 Right 90

Global Wind Patterns  We just learned that earth transfers heat from the equator to the poles by convection  As it turn's out, our earth has predictable wind patterns that form convection cells, moving heat from the equator, all the way to the poles  These are the prevailing wind patterns!

Doldrums Hot air rises at the equator Tradewinds Between 0-30°latitude Blow from east to west Westerlies Between 30-60°latitude Blow from west to east Easterlies Between 60-90°latitude Blow from west to east

Global Winds

What are the Global winds?  _______ = hot air rises at the equator  _______ = between ° blow from east to west  _______ =between ° blow from ____ to east  _______ = between ° blow from east to west Answer Bank Rises doldrums Left East tradewinds westerlies easterlies

Summarize:  Please Draw & label:  A ______develops during the day due to uneven heating of land and water; wind moves from water to_____  A _______develops at night due to uneven heating of land and water; wind moves from land to _____ Answer Bank Sea breeze easterlies Land westerlies Land breeze Uneven tradewinds ????

Topic: Atmosphere Issues Topic: Atmosphere Issues  Objectives: –I will know what smog and how it is caused – I will know the current state of our ozone layer –I will understand how our oxygen rich atmosphere formed

Smog  Smog is a type of pollutant that affects our atmosphere  What is smog made of?  Generally smog is made up of pollutants from our car exhaust and industry pollution  These are usually unburned hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides  These pollutants mix with oxygen to and sunlight to create a brown L.A. type of smog

Causes of Smog

Smog: Getting worse or better?

What is Smog? Air pollutants from our ___ exhaust and industry pollutionAir pollutants from our ___ exhaust and industry pollution Answer Bank Car Thinner Ultraviolet photosynthesis

Smog and Ozone  Another component of smog is ozone  Ozone is generally considered a beneficial thing because it helps protect us from the sun’s deadly rays  However, ozone should be high in our atmosphere, in the stratosphere  Unfortunately, ozone makes up smog and is very damaging to our lungs and plants

Ozone (O 3 ) -- Good or Bad? Bad Ozone is found in smog Which can scar our lungs if we Breathe it Good Ozone is found up high in our atmosphere in the ozone layer Which protects us from the sun’s Harmful UV rays

Formation of Stratospheric Ozone

Holes in the Ozone Layer  Pollution and a chemical called CFC’s have created holes in the ozone layer  CFC’s are a chemical released from aerosol spray cans  This allows for more ultraviolet (UV) radiation to pass through our atmosphere  As a result skin cancer and other health problems have increased

CFC’s

What is the Ozone Layer?  layer made up of 3 oxygen atoms (O 3 ) is protects us from harmful _____ solar radiation (energy)  Pollution and CFC’s have created holes in the ozone layer Answer Bank Car Thinner Ultraviolet photosynthesis

Oxygen in our Atmosphere  (O 2 ) Oxygen is produced by Plants and microscopic algae called Phytoplankton  Through Photosynthesis, these organisms release free oxygen into our atmosphere 2.3 billion years ago  Phytoplankton and cynanobacteria released free oxygen into our atmosphere

Oxygen given off The Next Time you Breath, Thank Phytoplankton!

Oxygen given off  The Next Time you Breath, Thank Plants!

Where does Oxygen in our Atmosphere come from?  (O 2 ) Oxygen is produced by microscopic algae called Phytoplankton and cyanobacteria (stromatolites)  Through_____, these organisms release free oxygen into our atmosphere Answer Bank Car Thinner Ultraviolet photosynthesis

Summary Answer Bank oxygen 2.3 stratosphere Smog holes  Good ozone is found high up in the ______  Bad ozone is found in ____  ____ in our ozone layer are caused by air pollution  Our _____ rich atmosphere formed ___billion years ago through photosynthesis from phytoplankton and cyanobacteria 2.3 billion years