Seasons and Atmosphere

The study of weather, climate, and atmospheric processes 2

Weather is constantly changing and it refers to the state of the atmosphere at any given time and place Climate is based on observations of weather that have been collected over many years to help describe a place or region 3

Greenhouse Gas Effect** Atmosphere Purpose: provides a suitable living environment for organisms as it absorbs only small amounts of UV rays Greenhouse Gas Effect** 4

Nitrogen – 78% Oxygen – 21% CO2 < 1% Argon < 1% Main Components 5

The Thermosphere: Upper layer of the atmosphere Temperature increases with height Auroras occur here The Mesosphere Above the stratosphere Temperature decreases with height Mesopause: boundary of the mesosphere 6

Temperature remains constant, then gradually starts to increase The Stratosphere Temperature remains constant, then gradually starts to increase Contains the ozone layer The Troposphere - the bottom layer Temperature decreases with an increase in altitude. Where weather occurs 7

• Ozone filters and absorbs harmful UV radiation by the sun • Ozone is a form of oxygen that combines three oxygen atoms into each molecule (O3) • Ozone filters and absorbs harmful UV radiation by the sun 9

Precipitation is any form of water that falls from a cloud. When it comes to understanding atmospheric processes, water vapor is the most important gas in the atmosphere *

The three states of matter solid, liquid, and gas (plasma is the fourth) *

Factors: Heating of land Heating of water Altitude Geographic position Cloud cover Ocean currents 12

Water – takes longer to heat up and cool down Land heats and cools more rapidly during higher temperatures than water Water – takes longer to heat up and cool down 13

Coastal Area Climates The oceans heat up slowly but retain the heat for a longer period of time. Sea Breezes blow inland bringing rain and cools the land in the summer. In the winter, the coastal climates are warmer and generally wet and mild.

Temperatures are lower than on a clear day Nighttime Cloud Cover Daylight Cloud Cover Temperatures are lower than on a clear day Nighttime Cloud Cover Temperatures are higher than on a clear night 16

Isotherms - lines on a weather map that connect points that have the same (iso) temperatures (therm) 17

Heat transfer from HOT to COLD objects Conduction The transfer of heat through matter by molecular activity Transfer by touching 18

Convection The transfer of heat by a mass movement or circulation within a substance Radiation Travels out in all directions Solar energy reaches earth by radiation 19

amount of water vapor in air Ratio of the air’s actual water-vapor content compared with the amount of water vapor air can hold at that temperature and pressure. *

Lowering air temperature =increase in relative humidity Raising air temperature = decrease in relative humidity *

Dew point is the temperature to which a parcel of air would need to be cooled to reach saturation. *