1. (Discussion – The Structure and Composition of the Atmosphere)
Monday March 26, 2018
(Discussion – The Structure and Composition of the Atmosphere)

2. The Launch Pad 1/2 Monday, 3/26/18
List three important facts about the Cryosphere.
The cryosphere has a wide overlap with the atmosphere.
swamps
The cryosphere plays a significant role in the global climate and in climate model response to global changes.
The cryosphere plays a role in the rock cycle
groundwater

3. The Launch Pad 2/2 Monday, 3/26/18
List three important facts about glaciers.
A glacier is a thick mass of ice that forms over land from the compaction and re-crystallization of snow.
swamps
A glacier shows evidence of past or present flow.
Alpine glaciers, ice sheets, ice caps, and Piedmont glaciers are all types of glaciers.
groundwater

4. Announcements Remediation for Quiz 13 runs through this Wednesday!
We will take Quiz 14 on Thursday!

5. QUIZ 13 3/7 3/21 N/A S1 F3 Assignment Wednesday
Summative or Formative #
Date Issued
Gone Missing Day
Last Day Accepted
QUIZ 13 S1
3/7
Wednesday
Worksheet – The Cryosphere F3
3/21
N/A
Hold for eResearch Paper

6. The Atmosphere Structure and Composition

7. Vocabulary The Structure and Composition of the Atmosphere
atmospheric pressure
millibars
troposphere
environmental lapse rate
tropopause
stratosphere
mesosphere
thermosphere
variable components of the air
aerosols

8. The Structure of the Atmosphere
The atmospheric pressure is the pressure exerted by the weight of air in the atmosphere of Earth (or that of another planet). In most circumstances atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure caused by the weight of air above the measurement point.
The average sea level pressure is about 14.7 pounds per square inch, or inches of mercury, about millibars.
Atmospheric pressure decreases with increasing altitude.
One-half of the Earth’s atmosphere is below 3.5 miles in altitude.
Ninety percent of our atmosphere is below 10 miles.

9. Atmospheric Pressure Variation with Altitude
Figure 16.6

10. The Structure of the Atmosphere
Earth’s atmosphere can be layered based upon temperature.
The troposphere is the bottom layer.
As you ascend into the atmosphere, temperature decreases with altitude, which is referred to as the environmental lapse rate.
A dry lapse rate of 5.5°F/1,000 ft. is often used to calculate temperature changes in air not at 100% relative humidity. A wet lapse rate of 3°F/1,000 ft. is used to calculate the temperature changes in air that is saturated (i.e., air at 100% relative humidity).
The troposphere’s thickness varies, but is on average height about 12 km.
The outer boundary of the troposphere is called the tropopause.

11. Cumulonimbus cloud with classic “anvil” shape as it reaches the tropopause.

12. The Structure of the Atmosphere
Earth’s atmosphere can be layered based upon temperature.
The stratosphere extends from an altitude of about 12 km up to about 50 km.
Temperature increases at the top of the stratosphere.
The stratosphere’s outer boundary is named the stratopause.
The mesosphere begins at an altitude of about 50 km and climbs up to about 80 km.
Here the temperature decreases again.
The outer boundary of the mesosphere is named the mesopause.

13. The Structure of the Atmosphere
Earth’s atmosphere can be layered based upon temperature.
Above the mesosphere is the thermosphere, which has no well- defined upper limit.
Just a tiny fraction of our atmosphere’s mass is in this region, with gases moving at high speeds.

14. Thermal Structure of the Atmosphere
Figure 16.8

15. Composition of the Atmosphere
Air is a mixture of certain gases – the major gas components of clean, dry air are:
Nitrogen (N2) – 78%
Oxygen (O2) – 21%
Argon and other gases – 0.962%
Carbon dioxide (CO2) – 0.038%
CO2 absorbs heat energy from the Earth.

16. Proportional Volume of Gases That Compose Dry Air
Figure 16.4

17. Composition of the Atmosphere
Variable components of the air include:
Water vapor
up to about 4% of the air’s volume
forms clouds and precipitation
absorbs heat energy from Earth
Aerosols
tiny solid and liquid particles
water vapor can condense on solids
reflect sunlight
help color sunrise and sunset

18. This satellite image from November 11, 2002, shows two examples of aerosols. First, a large dust storm is blowing across northeastern China toward the Korean Peninsula. Second, a dense haze toward the south is human-generated air pollution.

19. Dust in the air can cause sunsets to be especially colorful.

20. A severe air pollution episode at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
A severe air pollution episode at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Weather influences the lives of people a great deal. It is also important to remember that people have a significant impact on the atmosphere.

21. Major primary pollutants
Major primary pollutants. Percentages are calculated on the basis of weight.