CHAPTER ONE- SECTION 1- THE AIR AROUND YOU

Key Concepts: 1. What is the composition of Earth’s Atmosphere? 2. How is the atmosphere important to living things?

WEATHER IS THE CONDITION OF EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE AT A PARTICULAR TIME AND PLACE.

THE ATMOSPHERE IS THE ENVELOPE OF GASES THAT SURROUND THE EARTH. THE ATMOSPHERE IS MADE UP OF NITROGEN, OXYGEN, CARBON DIOXIDE, WATER VAPOR, AND MANY OTHER GASES, AS WELL AS PARTICLES OF LIQUIDS AND SOLIDS.

OZONE IS A FORM OF OXYGEN THAT HAS THREE OXYGEN ATOMS IN EACH MOLECULE INSTEAD OF THE USUAL TWO.

WATER VAPOR IS WATER IN THE FORM OF A GAS AND IT IS INVISIBLE. THE ATMOSPHERE CONTAINS OXYGEN NECESSARY FOR LIFE. AND IT HELPS KEEP IN WARMTH WHICH KEEPS WATER IN its LIQUID STATE.

Greenhouse Effect: infrared rays cannot pass through the atmosphere and back out into space. Co2 and other gasses absorb these rays. This forms a type of heat blanket around the Earth. The Co2 acts like glass in a greenhouse that traps the heat. As time goes on, scientists believe the temperature will go up.

CHAPTER ONE- SECTION 2 AIR PRESSURE Key Concepts: What are some of the properties of air? What instruments are used to measure air pressure? How does increasing altitude affect air pressure and density

AIR HAS MASS- SO IT ALSO HAS OTHER PROPERTIES, INCLUDING DENSITY AND PRESSURE.

AIR PRESSURE IS THE RESULT OF THE WEIGHT OF A COLUMN OF AIR PUSHING DOWN ON AN AREA. IT GOES THROUGH THE ENTIRE ATMOSPHERE. A BAROMETER IS AN INSTRUMENT USED TO MEASURE AIR PRESSURE.

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF BAROMETERS: MERCURY BAROMETER IS A GLASS TUBE OPEN AT THE BOTTOM AND CONTAINS MERCURY. ANEROID BAROMETER HAS AN AIRTIGHT METAL CHAMBER THAT IS SENSITIVE TO AIR PRESSURE.

ALTITUDE KNOWN AS ELEVATION IS THE DISTANCE ABOVE SEA LEVEL, THE AVERAGE LEVEL OF THE SURFACE OF THE OCEANS. AIR PRESSURE DECREASES AS ALTITUDE INCREASES. AS AIR PRESSURE DECREASES, SO DOES DENSITY.

CHAPTER ONE SECTION THREE: LAYERS OF THE ATMOSPHERE Key Concepts: What are the four main layers of the atmosphere? What are the characteristics of each layer?

CHAPTER 2: WEATHER FACTORS SECTION 2: HEAT TRANSFER Key Concepts: How is temperature measured? In what three ways is heat transferred? How is heat transferred in the troposphere? Answers:

Heat Energy: absorbs, stores, and recycles the sun’s radiant energy which warms the earth. When the sun’s energy reaches the atmosphere, part of it is reflected back into space, and part of it is scattered throughout the atmosphere. The cause for this is the rays hitting water droplets and dust particles. Ultraviolet radiation can cause skin cancer and sunburn. This is why the ozone layer is important because it absorbs these harmful rays. These rays can be helpful in hospitals and food processing plants by killing bacteria.

CHAPTER 2: WEATHER FACTORS SECTION 2: HEAT TRANSFER 1.Conduction: the direct transfer of heat energy from one substance to another. As air above the Earth’s surface comes into contact with the warm ground, the air is warmed.

1.Convection: the transfer of heat energy in a fluid (gas or liquid). When air is heated, it is less dense and rises. Cooler, dense air from above sinks, then heats, and rises. Unequal heating causes convection currents.

1.Radiation: the transfer of heat energy through a vacuum or empty space. When radiant energy reaches the Earth, it is changed into heat.

Temperature Temperature is a degree of hotness or coldness the can be measured using a thermometer. It's also a measure of how fast the atoms and molecules of a substance are moving. Temperature is measured in degrees on the Fahrenheit, Celsius, and Kelvin scales.

Angles: the sun’s rays do not hit the Earth’s surface at the same angle. The most direct rays produce the greatest heat. The equator gets the most direct rays and as a result has the most radiant energy and temperature. The angle is 90 degrees. Thus, the poles have angle less than 90 and have less energy and lower temperatures.

CHAPTER 1 SECTION 4 AIR QUALITY Key Concepts: What are the major sources of air pollution? What causes smog and acid rain? What can be done to improve air quality?

POLLUTANTS ARE HARMFUL SUBSTANCES IN THE AIR, WATER, OR SOIL. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, IT IS SAID TO BE POLLUTED. SOME AIR POLLUTANTS HAPPEN NATURALLY, BUT MANY TYPES OF AIR POLLUTION ARE THE RESULT OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES. THE BURNING OF FOSSIL FUEL CAN CAUSE SMOG AND ACID RAIN.

SMOG IS THE COMBINATION OF THE WORDS SMOKE AND FOG. THIS CAN HAPPEN WHEN COAL SMOKE COMBINES WITH WATER DROPLETS IN HUMID AIR. THIS WAS VERY COMMON IN COAL MINING AREAS.

PHOTOCHEMICAL SMOG IS FORMED BY THE ACTION OF SUNLIGHT ON POLLUTANTS SUCH AS HYDROCARBONS AND NITROGEN OXIDES. THEY CAN BE A BROWNISH MIXTURE OF OZONE AND OTHER POLLUTANTS. IT CAN IRRITATE YOUR EYES.

ACID RAIN IS RAIN THAT CONTAINS MORE ACID THAN NORMAL RAIN. IT FORMS WHEN NITROGEN OXIDES AND SULFUR OXIDES COMBINE WITH WATER IN THE AIR TO FORM NITRIC ACID AND SULFURIC ACID. IF ACID RAIN REACHES THE EARTH’S SURFACE IT CAN DAMAGE BUILDINGS AND EVEN AFFECT LIFE IN BODIES OF WATER.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) HAVE PASSED A NUMBER OF LAWS AND REGULATIONS TO REDUCE AIR POLLUTION.