Welcome! Jr. Meteorologist! Why do we need to study weather? How would you like to attend an outdoor picnic in the rain? Do you like to know when a severe storm is coming? We get this information from television, radio, newspapers, and weather radios. We receive this information from trained individuals called meteorologists. A meteorologists is a scientist who studies the atmosphere and its changes in order to predict daily weather.

Weather and Climate What is the weather like today? Is it like this EVERY day? Why? Or why not? Prediction: What is the difference between WEATHER and CLIMATE?

The Layers of the Atmosphere The layers of the atmosphere are defined by changes in temperature. For example, -sphere means “ball,” which suggests that each layer of the atmosphere surrounds the Earth like a hollow ball. Tropo- means “turning” or “change,” and the troposphere is the layer where gases turn and mix. Strato- means “layer,” and the stratosphere is the sphere where gases are layered and do not mix very much. Meso- means “middle,” and the mesosphere is the middle layer. Finally, thermo- means “heat,” and the thermosphere is the sphere where temperatures are highest. Read only

Layer by Layer The troposphere is the first layer above the surface and contains half of the Earth's atmosphere. Weather occurs in this layer.

The Atmosphere BIG IDEA: Earth’s atmosphere is a mixture of gases that distributes heat and enables life to exist on Earth.

What makes up DRY air in the atmosphere? 78% nitrogen--used to make protein 21% oxygen (from photosynthesis)—processes that use oxygen: cellular respiration (plants and animals) oxidation (like rust, tarnish) combustion* --1% other gases (argon, carbon dioxide, other)

What makes up air (atmosphere)?

Weather Weather is constantly changing, and it refers to the state of the atmosphere at a given time and place

In other words… In other words…what it’s like OUTSIDE, right HERE, right NOW

Measureable properties of weather air temperature humidity type and amount of precipitation air pressure speed and direction of wind

Climate – The long-term environmental conditions across a large area and long time. Climate, however, is based on the average, year-after-year conditions of temperature, precipitation, winds, and clouds in an area.

Climate helps describe a place or region

What is the difference between WEATHER and CLIMATE? Reading Check: What is the difference between WEATHER and CLIMATE?

What affects weather and climate? There are two major factors that affect the overall environment and climate… The tilt of the Earth in relation to it’s orbit around the Sun - The direction of that tilt that changes as the Earth travels around the Sun

First, some basic vocabulary… Revolution – one ORBIT, or trip around the Sun. This takes the Earth 365 ¼ days Rotation – one SPIN of the Earth on it’s axis. This takes about 24 hours…one DAY.

This tilt means that the Sun’s energy doesn’t hit the Earth equally. Earth’s TILT The Earth is not vertical (straight up-and-down) in relation to it’s orbital path, it’s tilted 23 ½ degrees from vertical. This tilt means that the Sun’s energy doesn’t hit the Earth equally.

Earth’s TILT This tilt results in uneven heating of the Earth’s surface. “Direct” sunlight “Indirect” sunlight

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