Earth’s Atmosphere and Climate

The Atmosphere Atmosphere – envelope of air around Earth that allows the support of life. It extends from 0 to 600 km above Earth.

Atmosphere’s jobs 1. It absorbs energy from the sun 2. It recycles water and other elements 3. It creates a moderate climate 4. It filters the suns radiation

Layers of the Atmosphere

1. Troposphere Layer Lowest layer (called lower atmosphere) Extends from 0 to 8-15 km high Dense layer Area where weather is experienced Temperature decreases with height. From 17 to -52 degrees Celsius

2. Stratosphere Extends 50 km above troposphere Dry and less dense Upper region contains the ozone layer Ozone layer Made of O 3 molecules Filters ultraviolet radiation from the sun

3. Mesosphere Extends from 50 – 85 km above the Earth Temperature falls to around -93 Celsius

4. Thermosphere Extends km above Earth Temperatures increases due to the suns direct energy Temperatures can get up to 1,727 C This is the upper atmosphere

Atmosphere Make Up The atmosphere is made up of a mixture of gases Nitrogen Makes up 78% Oxygen Makes up 21% Trace elements

Trace Elements Make up 1 % of the atmosphere Examples: Argon, Helium, methane, ozone, carbon dioxide, Nitrous oxide, and water vapor The last five are known as the greenhouse gases These cause the greenhouse effect

Greenhouse Effect Keeps Earth from getting too hot or too cold Gases trap some of the suns energy from leaving and prevent too much of the suns energy from entering. Without this trapped heat temperatures would be 33 C colder at night ( -18 C). Life would not be able to exist

Human Involvement Human activities have increased the greenhouse gases. Burning fossil fuels releases Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere. This is the primary reason for the increase in carbon Dioxide.

Natural Involvement Plant respiration and decompositions release up to 10x more Carbon Dioxide than human activity. This used to be balanced with Carbon Dioxide absorption by the plants but no longer is. Deforestation has reduced the number of plants to absorb CO 2 while increasing the CO 2 released by decomposition. Burning fossil fuels.

Climate Characteristic condition of the atmosphere near the earths surface at a certain place on earth. Climate: The average weather of a location Includes a location general weather patterns, seasons, and extreme weather (ex. Hurricanes, droughts, tornadoes etc.)

Global Climate Influenced by energy earth receives from the sun and how it is stored and redistributed through the world atmospheres and oceans

Global Climate Oceans store more energy than the atmosphere. Energy in oceans is redistributed around the earth by system of ocean currents Heat that is transferred between the atmosphere and oceans influence regional climate.

Regional Climate influence the different biomes around the world -biome – a large geographical area of distinctive plant and animal groups that are adapted to a particular environment.

Regional Climate 3 factors influence regional climate Latitude Most important influence Equator warmer because more direct sunlight Poles much colder

Regional Climate Latitude Temperature difference between low and high latitude creates a circulation within the atmosphere (prevailing winds, jet streams) Circulation transfers heat away from equator and towards poles.

Regional Climate Air temperature and Precipitation are the other two factors that influence regional climate. Both are influenced by interactions between land, oceans, and mountain ranges. Ex. Mountains can divert winds, so the other side of the mountain doesn’t get the rains and becomes a dry climate. Gulf Stream (East Coast of US), an ocean current, influences Northwestern Europe's weather.

3 Climate Groups Based on temperature, precipitation, and latitude 1. Low-latitude climate climate controlled by equatorial tropical air masses From 0 – 30 degrees latitude Include tropical rainforests, savannas, and deserts 2. Mid-latitude climate Climate affected by both tropical air masses and polar/arctic air masses From 30 – 60 degrees latitude Include steppes, chaparrals, grasslands, and temperate deciduous forests.

3 Climate Groups Based on temperature, precipitation, and latitude 3. High-latitude climate Climate controlled by polar and arctic air masses From 60 – 90 degrees latitude Include taigas, tundra, and alpine regions 4. Aquatic biomes found throughout most latitude Include oceans, freshwater lakes and rivers

Climate Groups