notepacket information Meteorology notepacket information

What is Meteorology? Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere…. Composition of Earth’s Atmosphere: Nitrogen Oxygen Carbon Dioxide trace water vapor

Composition and structure of Atmosphere

Make this table on the back of your note packet: Layer Altitude range Temperature range Other Troposphere   12-50 km Decreases as altitude increases thermosphere

Let’s relate these to things we know From Hellgate to: use google earth convert Kilometer to miles: 5 k = ____ mi Temperature ranges: Celsius to Fahrenheit O C = ____F 100 C = ______ F What is the conversion?

As you increase in altitude then _______________ changes? Temperature: Pressure:

The Earth’s solar budget

Earth’s greenhouse vs Venus’

Greenhouse temperature lab Based on the data and reflections from our greenhouse lab, what other variables contribute to temperature changes on a planet? Is one more important than an other? Greenhouse temperature lab

Properties of water Cohesion and adhesion The cohesion of water is due to the action of hydrogen bonds between water molecules and other polar molecules. the strength of the bonds allow water to stick to itself, and other things. One of these is why water striders can walk on the surface of the water, that is due to waters surface tension. Water absorbs and releases heat An important property of water is its capacity for energy absorption and release, which affects energy flow and temperatures. This property is collectively called water’s high specific heat capacity.

Ice floats on water Unlike most substances, the solid form of water (ice) is less dense than that of the liquid form, which allows ice to float on water. Water is one of the few substances on earth found in all three states of matter. It is unique that in its solid state it actually expands due to its crystalline structure which makes it float on the liquid form of itself. Water as a Solvent Water is often referred to as the universal solvent, because it is able to dissolve many types of substances due to its polarity.

Greenhouse Gases What are the most common greenhouse gases? How are they produced? What are the pro’s and con’s to these gases? Compare and contrast too much vs not enough?

One variable to our atmosphere

Regarding pressure and temperature Why do climbers of MT Everest need to carry oxygen to the top? Why do they need to pace themselves in the climbing process and acclimate ever few thousand feet at a base camp? Is there truly less Air/ Oxygen? Why is it harder to breath?

What makes this possible? List the variables:

Ozone What is it? How is it created? Depletion is increasing due: The chemical known as ozone is 03, earth’s protective layer from UV radiation How is it created? It is naturally created in the atmosphere, and changes due to seasons, latitude, sunspots Where is it normally found? Depletion is increasing due: increase use of CFC’s – in refrigerants, aerosols, solvents, fire extinguishers, styrofoam

Figure 2: Altitude distribution of ozone in the atmosphere Figure 2: Altitude distribution of ozone in the atmosphere. The blue curve indicates a typical altitude profile of ozone showing no depletion. The high abundance of ozone near 15 km marks the center of the normal ozone layer. The red curve was obtained over South Pole, Antarctica, in winter. The ozone layer has been severely depleted at this location as indicated by the near zero values between 14 and 20 km. Similar depletion occurs over the entire Antarctic region in late winter/early spring, causing the Antarctic "ozone hole" in satellite observations of Antarctic ozone.

What does this information mean? What is the potential affect on people in the southern hemisphere? NASA daily readings What other continents would be impacted by less ozone in this area?

Some Ozone stats: CFC’s only break down under UV light One atom of Chlorine can break down 100,000 molecules of ozone Think of the Ozone like a river, in that it is the depth in certain locations that changes and become dangerous. Since 1980, ozone levels over the poles has fallen 60%, over the northern hemisphere5-10 %