ALL WEATHER HAPPENS IN THE TROPOSPHERE THE SUN’S RADIANT ENERGY IS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR DRIVING THE EARTH’S WEATHER THE SUN’S EFFECT ON THE ATMOSPHERE

THE ATMOSPHERE The atmosphere is different layers of air that surround the Earth; It contains a mixture of gases: -nitrogen (N)-78%; -oxygen (O)-21% Water vapor and other gases (carbon dioxide)-1% The study of earth’s atmosphere and the weather that takes place is called meteorology; Scientists who study the earth’s atmosphere are called meteorologists.

THE LAYERS OF ATMOSPHERE The troposphere-is the layer closest to the Earth; ALL WEATHER OCCURS HERE (it extends 7-8 miles above the Earth); The stratosphere; The mesosphere; The thermosphere.

THE ANGLE OF INCIDENCE The angle of incidence is influenced by the rotation of the Earth as it revolved around the Sun; The effect of the angle of incidence or the angle at which the Sun’s rays strike the Earth, results in an uneven heating of the Earth’s surface. -the uneven heating of the earth’s surface by the Sun is the catalyst for much of this weather.

HEATING AND COOLING OF THE EARTH Is a natural part of weather and climate; Water heats and cools more slowly than rocks, sand and soil; Temperatures in land regions are much more influenced by the earth’s seasons;

WEATHER Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a particular time and place in a region; The interaction of water, air and sun causes the weather; Air masses moving across the earth cause different weather phenomena to take place; The equator is always heated more by the sun than the North and South Poles; The uneven heating of the Earth causes warm air masses to form at the Equator and cold air masses to form at the Poles; The warm air masses tend to move toward the poles, while the cold air masses tend to move toward the equator; When these air masses meet and move against each other, clouds and precipitation may occur.