1. Energy in our Atmosphere
Our energy comes from the Sun in the form of waves…electromagnetic waves
It reaches Earth in the form of visible light, infrared & UV radiation

2. 3 Things happen to the Sun’s energy:
1. Absorbed
2. Reflected
3. Scattered

3. Absorbed by... Water vapor & other gases clouds dust particles
land & water where it is changed into heat

4. Reflected...
Back into space by clouds, dust, gas molecules

5. Scattered...
Is the reflection of light in all directions

6. What happens to the energy turned into heat in our atmosphere?
It’s transferred through:
radiation
conduction
convection

7. Radiation
Direct transfer of heat by EM waves
Ex: heat from a campfire

8. Conduction
Transfer of heat from one substance to another substance that is touching
Ex: feet on hot sand

9. Convection Transfer of heat by the movement of fluid air liquid
Ex: hot air traveling through vents from the furnace

10. All 3 heat the troposphere
Convection causes most of the heating

11. What causes the wind to blow?
the horizontal movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
differences in air pressure which are caused by unequal heating in the atmosphere

12. How are winds described?
By their speed & direction
Ex: Northeasterly wind blowing at approx. 10miles per hour
Wind speed is measured with an anemometer
Wind direction is measured with a weather vane

13. 2 types of winds:
Local
Global

14. Local Winds Winds that blow over short distances
caused by unequal heating of Earth’s surface within a small area

15. Global Winds
Winds that blow steadily from specific directions over long distances
caused by unequal heating of Earth’s surface between the poles & the equator

17. Where do the global winds blow?
Coriolis Effect
the way Earth’s rotation makes the winds curve. Creates both wind belts & calm areas
Northern Hemisphere-global winds curve to the right
Southern Hemisphere-global winds curve to the left

19. Wind Belts:
Trade Winds
Prevailing Westerlies
Polar Easterlies

20. Trade Winds
blow from the horse latitudes toward the equator

21. Prevailing Westerlies
winds that blow away from the equator towards the poles

22. Polar Easterlies
Winds that blow away from the poles

23. Calm Areas:
Doldrums
Horse latitudes

24. Doldrums
Regions near the equator with little to no wind

25. Horse Latitudes
Calm areas of falling air at 30ºN and S latitudes

26. What about water in the atmosphere?
Water Cycle
movement of water between the atmosphere & Earth’s surface

28. Evaporation
Process by which water molecules in water escape into the air as water vapor
water into gas

29. Transpiration
Evaporation of water from plants

30. Condensation
Process by which molecules of water vapor in the air become liquid water
gas into liquid

31. Precipitation
Any form of water that falls from clouds & reaches Earth’s surface
Common types:
rain
sleet
snow
freezing rain
hail

32. What about the clouds?
3 types:
cumulus
stratus
cirrus

33. Cumulus
Clouds that look like fluffy, cotton balls usually indicate fair weather

34. Stratus
Clouds that form in flat layers usually covering all or most of the sky

35. Cirrus
Wispy, feathery clouds that form at high levels