Wednesday/Thursday 1/22-1/23/2014 Atmosphere and Weather Unit Layers of the Atmosphere Biogeochemical Cycles Carbon Cycle Nitrogen Cycle Water Cycle Weather So the FINAL EXAM in May will cover… Biogeochemical Processes Ecology Agenda: *Notes: Layers of the Atmosphere *Goldilocks Lab and Write up due Friday 1/17/2014 for 40 Points

Atmospheric Processes – The Water (Hydrological) Cycle Moisture: Most water in atmosphere comes from oceans Most precipitation falling over land its way back to oceans 2/3 of the water in the oceans evaporates back to the atmosphere in the Water Cycle

Atmospheric Processes – The Water (Hydrological) Cycle Heat: Oceans hold & are a source of heat Ocean currents transfer heat toward the North & South Poles (convection). This transfer of heat toward the poles contributes to different types of weather & climates.

Energy Heat Transfer Most of the energy that reaches Earth comes from the sun (solar energy) What happens to the solar energy when it reaches Earth? First reaches Earth’s atmosphere Some gets absorbed by gases, such as ozone (O3) & water vapor (H2O) - greenhouse gases Some gets reflected back to space by clouds & Earth’s surface Some gets absorbed by land masses or oceans

Energy Heat Transfer Processes Solar/heat energy gets transferred between Earth’s surface & atmosphere by Conduction Convection Radiation

Energy Heat Transfer Processes Conduction – process by which heat energy is transmitted through direct contact with neighboring molecules Air & water are poor conductors of heat energy Most conduction occurs at Earth’s surface During the day, solar energy heats the Earth’s surface Heat energy is then conducted to the molecules of air just above the surface

Energy Heat Transfer Processes Convection – process by which heat energy is transmitted by transporting groups of molecules from one place to another Can occur in fluids, such as air & water

Energy Heat Transfer Processes Convection – Which molecules are moving faster & are more spread apart? Hot air or cold air? Heated molecules move faster & more spread apart compared to less heated (cooler) molecules Warmer air masses are therefore less dense (less molecules in a space) Therefore, warmer air masses rise Cooler air masses are more dense (more molecules in a space), so they fall back toward the Earth’s surface

Energy Heat Transfer Processes Convection – Cycle of rising warm air & sinking cold air – convection cell Distribute heat & moisture from equator toward the poles Create large wind patterns Produce & transport large storm systems (I.e, hurricanes)

Energy Heat Transfer Processes Radiation – process by which heat energy is transferred by electromagnetic waves What are the forms of electromagnetic radiation? Which form of EM radiation has the longest wavelength? Which form of EM radiation has the shortest wavelength? What does the wavelength of radiation tell us about a form of radiation? Which form of EM radiation has more energy, radio waves or gamma rays? What form of EM radiation from the sun affects humans the most? Is this the only form of EM radiation that reaches the Earth’s surface?