1. Wednesday/Thursday 1/22-1/23/2014
Atmosphere and Weather Unit
Layers of the Atmosphere
Biogeochemical Cycles
Carbon Cycle
Nitrogen Cycle
Water Cycle
Weather
So the FINAL EXAM in May will cover…
Biogeochemical Processes
Ecology
Agenda: *Notes: Layers of the Atmosphere *Goldilocks Lab and Write up due Friday 1/17/2014 for 40 Points

2. Atmospheric Processes – The Water (Hydrological) Cycle
Moisture:
Most water in atmosphere comes from oceans
Most precipitation falling over land its way back to oceans
2/3 of the water in the oceans evaporates back to the atmosphere in the Water Cycle

3. Atmospheric Processes – The Water (Hydrological) Cycle
Heat:
Oceans hold & are a source of heat
Ocean currents transfer heat toward the North & South Poles (convection).
This transfer of heat toward the poles contributes to different types of weather & climates.

4. Energy Heat Transfer
Most of the energy that reaches Earth comes from the sun (solar energy)
What happens to the solar energy when it reaches Earth?
First reaches Earth’s atmosphere
Some gets absorbed by gases, such as ozone (O3) & water vapor (H2O) greenhouse gases
Some gets reflected back to space by clouds & Earth’s surface
Some gets absorbed by land masses or oceans

5. Energy Heat Transfer Processes
Solar/heat energy gets transferred between Earth’s surface & atmosphere by
Conduction
Convection
Radiation

6. Energy Heat Transfer Processes
Conduction – process by which heat energy is transmitted through direct contact with neighboring molecules
Air & water are poor conductors of heat energy
Most conduction occurs at Earth’s surface
During the day, solar energy heats the Earth’s surface
Heat energy is then conducted to the molecules of air just above the surface

7. Energy Heat Transfer Processes
Convection – process by which heat energy is transmitted by transporting groups of molecules from one place to another
Can occur in fluids, such as air & water

8. Energy Heat Transfer Processes
Convection –
Which molecules are moving faster & are more spread apart? Hot air or cold air?
Heated molecules move faster & more spread apart compared to less heated (cooler) molecules
Warmer air masses are therefore less dense (less molecules in a space)
Therefore, warmer air masses rise
Cooler air masses are more dense (more molecules in a space), so they fall back toward the Earth’s surface

9. Energy Heat Transfer Processes
Convection –
Cycle of rising warm air & sinking cold air – convection cell
Distribute heat & moisture from equator toward the poles
Create large wind patterns
Produce & transport large storm systems (I.e, hurricanes)

10. Energy Heat Transfer Processes
Radiation – process by which heat energy is transferred by electromagnetic waves
What are the forms of electromagnetic radiation?
Which form of EM radiation has the longest wavelength?
Which form of EM radiation has the shortest wavelength?
What does the wavelength of radiation tell us about a form of radiation?
Which form of EM radiation has more energy, radio waves or gamma rays?
What form of EM radiation from the sun affects humans the most?
Is this the only form of EM radiation that reaches the Earth’s surface?