1. Section 2: Properties of the Atmosphere
Atmospheric properties such as temperature, air pressure, and humidity describe weather conditions. K
What I Know W
What I Want to Find Out L
What I Learned

2. Essential Questions
What are the three main properties of the atmosphere and how do they interact?
Why do atmospheric properties change with changes in altitude?
Properties of the Atmosphere
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3. Vocabulary Review New density temperature inversion humidity
saturation
relative humidity
dew point
latent heat
Properties of the Atmosphere
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4. Temperature
Particles have more kinetic energy when they are moving faster, so the higher the temperature of a material, the faster the particles are moving.
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Properties of the Atmosphere

5. Temperature Measuring temperature
Temperature can be measured in degrees Fahrenheit, degrees Celsius, or in kelvins.
Properties of the Atmosphere
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6. Air Pressure
Air pressure is the pressure exerted on a surface by the weight of the atmosphere above the surface.
The units for pressure are N/m2.
Air pressure is often measured in units of millibars (mb), where 1 mb equals 100 N/m2.
Properties of the Atmosphere
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7. Air Pressure Density of air
The density and pressure of the layers of the atmosphere decrease as altitude increases.
Properties of the Atmosphere
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8. Air Pressure Pressure-temperature-density relationship
In the atmosphere, the temperature, pressure, and density of air are related to each other.
Properties of the Atmosphere
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9. Air Pressure Pressure-temperature-density relationship
Temperature, pressure, and density are all related to one another.
If temperature increases, but density is constant, the pressure increases.
If the temperature increases and the pressure is constant, the density decreases.
Properties of the Atmosphere
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10. Air Pressure Temperature inversion
A temperature inversion is an increase in temperature with height in an atmospheric layer.
Properties of the Atmosphere
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11. Air Pressure Temperature inversion
If the land does not radiate thermal energy to the lower layers of the atmosphere, such as on a cold, clear, winter night when the air is calm, the lower layers of air become cooler than the air above them.
A temperature inversion can lead to fog or low-level clouds.
In some cities, a temperature inversion can worsen air-pollution problems.
Properties of the Atmosphere
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12. Air Pressure Wind The movement of air is commonly known as wind.
In the lower atmosphere, air generally moves from regions of higher density and pressure to regions of lower density and pressure.
Properties of the Atmosphere
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13. Air Pressure
Wind
Near Earth’s surface, wind is constantly slowed by the friction that results from contact with surfaces including trees, buildings and hills.
Higher up from Earth’s surface, air encounters less friction and wind speeds increase.
Properties of the Atmosphere
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14. Humidity
Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere at a given location on Earth’s surface.
Properties of the Atmosphere
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15. Humidity Relative humidity
Saturation occurs when the amount of water vapor in a volume of air has reached the maximum amount possible for that temperature.
The amount of water vapor in a volume of air relative to the amount of water vapor needed for that volume of air to reach saturation is called relative humidity.
Properties of the Atmosphere
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16. Humidity Relative humidity
The dew point is the temperature to which air must be cooled at constant pressure to reach saturation.
The extra thermal energy contained in water vapor compared to liquid water is called latent heat.
Properties of the Atmosphere
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17. Humidity Condensation level
A process in which temperature changes without the addition or removal of thermal energy from a system is called an adiabatic process.
Adiabatic heating occurs when air is compressed, and adiabatic cooling occurs when air expands.
Properties of the Atmosphere
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18. Humidity Condensation level
At equilibrium, evaporation and condensation occur at equal rates, so the amount of water in the liquid form remains constant.
Properties of the Atmosphere
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19. Add link to BrainPOP from ConnectED here.
Humidity
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20. Humidity Condensation level
Condensation occurs at the lifted condensation level (LCL). Air above the LCL is saturated and thus cools more slowly than air below the LCL.
Properties of the Atmosphere
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21. Review Essential Questions Vocabulary
What are the three main properties of the atmosphere and how do they interact?
Why do atmospheric properties change with changes in altitude?
Vocabulary
temperature inversion
humidity
saturation
relative humidity
dew point
latent heat
Properties of the Atmosphere
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