Weather and Climate The Atmosphere

Weather and Climate The Atmosphere
2.5.1Summarize information from charts and graphs regarding layers of the atmosphere, temperature, chemical composition, and interaction with radiant energy.

Objectives I will be able to:
Describe the composition of the atmosphere Describe the layers of the atmosphere Describe how the sun and Earth interact

The Atmosphere

What does the atmosphere have in common with Shrek the Ogre?
downloaded frPicture om www. shrek.com

The atmosphere is divided into five layers
The atmosphere is divided into five layers. It is thickest near the surface and thins out with height until it eventually merges with space. 1) The troposphere is the first layer above the surface and contains half of the Earth's atmosphere. Weather occurs in this layer. 2) Many jet aircrafts fly in the stratosphere because it is very stable. Also, the ozone layer absorbs harmful rays from the Sun. 3) Meteors or rock fragments burn up in the mesosphere. 4) The thermosphere is a layer with auroras. It is also where the space shuttle orbits. 5) The atmosphere merges into space in the extremely thin exosphere. This is the upper limit of our atmosphere.

Layers of the atmosphere:
separated by the variation of temperature patterns.

Handy Dandy Earth Science Reference Tables:
How High? 80miles 50miles 25miles 15miles

And in Km’s? 140km 115km 80km 50km 30km

Gets warmer- atoms moving faster
Gets colder as you get higher Avg. temp at ground is 15°C Gets warmer as you get higher Temps get colder as you get higher

TROPOSPHERE STRATOSPHERE MESOSPHERE THERMOSPHERE EXOSPHERE IONOSPHERE
# GAS MOLECULES PER AREA LAYER TEMPERATURE STRUCTURE IMPORTANT CHARACTERISITICS TROPOSPHERE 9 km at poles 16 km at tropics Closest layer to earth STRATOSPHERE MESOSPHERE THERMOSPHERE EXOSPHERE IONOSPHERE

# GAS MOLECULES PER AREA LAYER TEMPERATURE STRUCTURE IMPORTANT CHARACTERISITICS TROPOSPHERE 9 km at poles 16 km at tropics Closest layer to earth Temperature decreases as altitude increases. +120 F to -60 F STRATOSPHERE MESOSPHERE THERMOSPHERE EXOSPHERE IONOSPHERE

# GAS MOLECULES PER AREA LAYER TEMPERATURE STRUCTURE IMPORTANT CHARACTERISITICS TROPOSPHERE 9 km at poles 16 km at tropics Closest layer to earth Temperature decreases as altitude increases. +120 F to -60 F Densest layer, most gases found here. Contains weather and life. Jets travel near the top of this layer STRATOSPHERE MESOSPHERE THERMOSPHERE EXOSPHERE IONOSPHERE

# GAS MOLECULES PER AREA LAYER TEMPERATURE STRUCTURE IMPORTANT CHARACTERISITICS TROPOSPHERE 9 km at poles 16 km at tropics Closest layer to earth Temperature decreases as altitude increases. +120 F to -60 F Densest layer, most gases found here. Contains weather and life. Jets travel near the top of this layer STRATOSPHERE Up to 50 km thick MESOSPHERE THERMOSPHERE EXOSPHERE IONOSPHERE

# GAS MOLECULES PER AREA LAYER TEMPERATURE STRUCTURE IMPORTANT CHARACTERISITICS TROPOSPHERE 9 km at poles 16 km at tropics Closest layer to earth Temperature decreases as altitude increases. +120 F to -60 F Densest layer, most gases found here. Contains weather and life. Jets travel near the top of this layer STRATOSPHERE Up to 50 km thick Temperature increases as altitude increases. MESOSPHERE THERMOSPHERE EXOSPHERE IONOSPHERE

# GAS MOLECULES PER AREA LAYER TEMPERATURE STRUCTURE IMPORTANT CHARACTERISITICS TROPOSPHERE 9 km at poles 16 km at tropics Closest layer to earth Temperature decreases as altitude increases. +120 F to -60 F Densest layer, most gases found here. Contains weather and life. Jets travel near the top of this layer STRATOSPHERE Up to 50 km thick Temperature increases as altitude increases. Ozone layer found here (creates the heat). Makes the sky blue (scatters light) Jet stream MESOSPHERE THERMOSPHERE EXOSPHERE IONOSPHERE

# GAS MOLECULES PER AREA LAYER TEMPERATURE STRUCTURE IMPORTANT CHARACTERISITICS TROPOSPHERE 9 km at poles 16 km at tropics Closest layer to earth Temperature decreases as altitude increases. +120 F to -60 F Densest layer, most gases found here. Contains weather and life. Jets travel near the top of this layer STRATOSPHERE Up to 50 km thick Temperature increases as altitude increases. Ozone layer found here (creates the heat). Makes the sky blue (scatters light) Jet stream MESOSPHERE Temperature decreases as altitude increases +93 F to -120 F THERMOSPHERE EXOSPHERE IONOSPHERE

# GAS MOLECULES PER AREA LAYER TEMPERATURE STRUCTURE IMPORTANT CHARACTERISITICS TROPOSPHERE 9 km at poles 16 km at tropics Closest layer to earth Temperature decreases as altitude increases. +120 F to -60 F Densest layer, most gases found here. Contains weather and life. Jets travel near the top of this layer STRATOSPHERE Up to 50 km thick Temperature increases as altitude increases. Ozone layer found here (creates the heat). Makes the sky blue (scatters light) Jet stream MESOSPHERE Temperature decreases as altitude increases +93 F to -120 F No reflection of sun’s rays here THERMOSPHERE EXOSPHERE IONOSPHERE

# GAS MOLECULES PER AREA LAYER TEMPERATURE STRUCTURE IMPORTANT CHARACTERISITICS TROPOSPHERE 9 km at poles 16 km at tropics Closest layer to earth Temperature decreases as altitude increases. +120 F to -60 F Densest layer, most gases found here. Contains weather and life. Jets travel near the top of this layer STRATOSPHERE Up to 50 km thick Temperature increases as altitude increases. Ozone layer found here (creates the heat). Makes the sky blue (scatters light) Jet stream MESOSPHERE Temperature decreases as altitude increases +93 F to -120 F No reflection of sun’s rays here THERMOSPHERE HOT! EXOSPHERE IONOSPHERE

# GAS MOLECULES PER AREA LAYER TEMPERATURE STRUCTURE IMPORTANT CHARACTERISITICS TROPOSPHERE 9 km at poles 16 km at tropics Closest layer to earth Temperature decreases as altitude increases. +120 F to -60 F Densest layer, most gases found here. Contains weather and life. Jets travel near the top of this layer STRATOSPHERE Up to 50 km thick Temperature increases as altitude increases. Ozone layer found here (creates the heat). Makes the sky blue (scatters light) Jet stream MESOSPHERE Temperature decreases as altitude increases +93 F to -120 F No reflection of sun’s rays here THERMOSPHERE HOT! Temperature increases as altitude increases Up to 1200 C EXOSPHERE IONOSPHERE

# GAS MOLECULES PER AREA LAYER TEMPERATURE STRUCTURE IMPORTANT CHARACTERISITICS TROPOSPHERE 9 km at poles 16 km at tropics Closest layer to earth Temperature decreases as altitude increases. +120 F to -60 F Densest layer, most gases found here. Contains weather and life. Jets travel near the top of this layer STRATOSPHERE Up to 50 km thick Temperature increases as altitude increases. Ozone layer found here (creates the heat). Makes the sky blue (scatters light) Jet stream MESOSPHERE Temperature decreases as altitude increases +93 F to -120 F No reflection of sun’s rays here THERMOSPHERE HOT! Temperature increases as altitude increases Up to 1200 C Aurora takes place here (sun particles interacting with magnetic field) EXOSPHERE IONOSPHERE

# GAS MOLECULES PER AREA LAYER TEMPERATURE STRUCTURE IMPORTANT CHARACTERISITICS TROPOSPHERE 9 km at poles 16 km at tropics Closest layer to earth Temperature decreases as altitude increases. +120 F to -60 F Densest layer, most gases found here. Contains weather and life. Jets travel near the top of this layer STRATOSPHERE Up to 50 km thick Temperature increases as altitude increases. Ozone layer found here (creates the heat). Makes the sky blue (scatters light) Jet stream MESOSPHERE Temperature decreases as altitude increases +93 F to -120 F No reflection of sun’s rays here THERMOSPHERE HOT! Temperature increases as altitude increases Up to 1200 C Aurora takes place here (sun particles interacting with magnetic field) EXOSPHERE Satellites Low earth orbit IONOSPHERE

# GAS MOLECULES PER AREA LAYER TEMPERATURE STRUCTURE IMPORTANT CHARACTERISITICS TROPOSPHERE 9 km at poles 16 km at tropics Closest layer to earth Temperature decreases as altitude increases. +120 F to -60 F Densest layer, most gases found here. Contains weather and life. Jets travel near the top of this layer STRATOSPHERE Up to 50 km thick Temperature increases as altitude increases. Ozone layer found here (creates the heat). Makes the sky blue (scatters light) Jet stream MESOSPHERE Temperature decreases as altitude increases +93 F to -120 F No reflection of sun’s rays here THERMOSPHERE HOT! Temperature increases as altitude increases Up to 1200 C Aurora takes place here (sun particles interacting with magnetic field) EXOSPHERE Satellites Low earth orbit IONOSPHERE Most distant layer from earth

# GAS MOLECULES PER AREA LAYER TEMPERATURE STRUCTURE IMPORTANT CHARACTERISITICS TROPOSPHERE 9 km at poles 16 km at tropics Closest layer to earth Temperature decreases as altitude increases. +120 F to -60 F Densest layer, most gases found here. Contains weather and life. Jets travel near the top of this layer STRATOSPHERE Up to 50 km thick Temperature increases as altitude increases. Ozone layer found here (creates the heat). Makes the sky blue (scatters light) Jet stream MESOSPHERE Temperature decreases as altitude increases +93 F to -120 F No reflection of sun’s rays here THERMOSPHERE HOT! Temperature increases as altitude increases Up to 1200 C Aurora takes place here (sun particles interacting with magnetic field) EXOSPHERE Satellites Low earth orbit IONOSPHERE Most distant layer from earth -1000 C

# GAS MOLECULES PER AREA LAYER TEMPERATURE STRUCTURE IMPORTANT CHARACTERISITICS TROPOSPHERE 9 km at poles 16 km at tropics Closest layer to earth Temperature decreases as altitude increases. +120 F to -60 F Densest layer, most gases found here. Contains weather and life. Jets travel near the top of this layer STRATOSPHERE Up to 50 km thick Temperature increases as altitude increases. Ozone layer found here (creates the heat). Makes the sky blue (scatters light) Jet stream MESOSPHERE Temperature decreases as altitude increases +93 F to -120 F No reflection of sun’s rays here THERMOSPHERE HOT! Temperature increases as altitude increases Up to 1200 C Aurora takes place here (sun particles interacting with magnetic field) EXOSPHERE Satellites Low earth orbit IONOSPHERE Most distant layer from earth -1000 C Last layer to catch the sun’s rays after sunset.

Essential Question So…. How is the atmosphere like Shrek the Ogre?

The Composition of the Atmosphere
How old is the earth? _______ Over this period of time the composition of the atmosphere has changed dramatically “Air” is not a single gas, it is a mixture of gases

The most abundant gas in the atmosphere is nitrogen The second most abundant is oxygen Together make up 99% of clean, dry air Carbon dioxide is important for absorbing energy in the atmosphere Water vapor is the source of all clouds and precipitation and absorbs heat given off by Earth

Composition of the Atmosphere
Ozone: a form of oxygen with three oxygen atoms bonded together instead of just two (that’s the O2 we breathe) Results from oxygen absorbing radiation (energy) from the sun The ozone layer is crucial for life on Earth because it absorbs potentially harmful radiation The ozone layer allows life on Earth to exist

We just finished talking about the oceans, which contain water. Liquids are one type of fluid Gases are also fluids Most of the properties of our atmosphere that influence weather, climate, and life as we know it, come from the fluid nature of the atmosphere

Atmospheric Basics Solar Fundamentals The Sun is the source of all energy in the atmosphere. This energy is transferred to Earth and throughout the atmosphere through conduction, convection & radiation.

Atmospheric Basics Solar Fundamentals Conduction is the transfer of energy that occurs when molecules collide. Through conduction, energy is transferred from the particles of air near Earth’s surface to the particles of air in the lowest layer of the atmosphere. For conduction to occur, substances must be in contact with one another. Conduction affects only a very thin atmospheric layer near Earth’s surface.

Atmospheric Basics Solar Fundamentals Convection is the transfer of energy by the flow of a heated substance. Pockets of air near Earth’s surface are heated, become less dense than the surrounding air, and rise. As the warm air rises, it expands and starts to cool. When it cools below the temperature of the surrounding air, it increases in density and sinks. Convection currents are among the main mechanisms responsible for the vertical motions of air, which in turn cause different types of weather.

Atmospheric Basics Solar Fundamentals Radiation is the transfer of energy through space by visible light, ultraviolet radiation, and other forms of electromagnetic waves. The Sun is shining on, and therefore warming, some portion of Earth’s surface at all times. While Earth is absorbing solar radiation, it is also continuously sending energy back into space.

Follow up questions What is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere? What is the second most abundant gas in the atmosphere? Together, these two comprise what percentage of atmospheric gases? What is the lowest layer of the atmosphere? The layers of the atmosphere are divided based upon what property? In which layer of the atmosphere are most important weather phenomena?

What is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere?
What is the lowest layer of the atmosphere?

List the layers of the atmosphere from lowest to the ground to highest?
In which of these layers do most important weather phenomena occur?

Objectives Describe the movement of heat due to differences in temperature Analyze the absorbance and reflectance of the sun’s energy on Earth Analyze temperature variations over land and water

Heating of the Atmosphere
Heat vs. temperature Heat is the energy transferred from one object to another due to differences in temperatures. Bottom line: heat is transferred between objects because of differences in temperature

The heating of the atmosphere comes from solar energy The solar energy is transferred to Earth through radiation When radiation hits an object, three things happen 1. some radiant energy is absorbed 2. some radiant energy is transmitted through substances like water and air 3. some radiant energy bounces off the object without being absorbed or transmitted

How much of the Sun’s energy that reaches Earth’s atmosphere is reflected back into space? (add together the amount that is backscattered to space, the amount reflected from clouds, and the amount reflected by the land-sea surface) How much of the Sun’s energy is absorbed by Earth’s atmosphere and clouds? How much of the Sun’s energy is absorbed by the land and sea?

If we did not have gases to absorb solar radiation, Earth would not be a place where we could live This heating of the lower layer of the atmosphere from radiation absorbed by heat absorbing gases is called the greenhouse effect … so just like plants grow better in a greenhouse, all life on Earth is able to flourish because of the greenhouse effect

The temperatures we experience are due to the amount of heating of the atmosphere above us and the ground and water around us. Land heats and cools more rapidly than water Land also reaches higher and lower temperatures than water The temperature of the land and water influences the temperature of the air above it This explains why inland areas experience greater temperature variations than cities near large bodies of water

Think about it! City A is located on the Outer Banks of NC and City B is located inland. Which city would experience greater variations in temperature and why?

Check-in Questions What causes the transfer of energy in the from of heat from one object to another? What is the greenhouse effect? How does it affect life on Earth? Complete this chart Complete the following sentence: Land heats ______________ than water. As a result of what you said in #4, where are temperature variations greater? (over land or over water) Amount of the Sun’s energy that reaches Earth’s atmosphere that is reflected back into space Amount of the Sun’s energy absorbed by Earth’s atmosphere and clouds Amount of the Sun’s energy absorbed by the land and sea

Which of the following is true?
Land heats less rapidly than water Land heats more rapidly than water Land reaches higher temperatures than water Both b. and c. What causes heat to be transferred from one object to another? On average, how much of the sun’s energy that reaches the outer atmosphere is reflected back into space?

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