1. Introduction to Meteorology
Unit 3

2. What are some examples of weather?

3. What is weather?
Definition: the condition of Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place.
Includes temperature, precipitation, visibility, humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed/direction, etc.
Example: at 11am on January 9, 2009 in Emerson, Georgia it was cloudy, low humidity and 39° Fahrenheit

4. What is climate?
Definition: the characteristic weather conditions in an area over a long period of time
Example: Atlanta, Georgia

5. Characteristics of the Atmosphere
What is the most common gas in the atmosphere?

6. Characteristics of the Atmosphere
Mixture of gases surround Earth
Oxygen to breathe
Protect from Sun
2 Main Components
Nitrogen released from dead plants & animals…volcanoes
Oxygen made by phytoplankton & plants

7. Atmospheric Pressure Changes with Altitude
Gravity’s force on atmosphere Air pressure and altitude

8. Air Pressure measure of force of air molecules pushing on a surface
strongest at Earth’s surface
as altitude , air pressure

9. Air Temperature Changes with Atmospheric Conditions
Temperature varies with altitude

10. Temperature Changes with Altitude
temp differences result from solar energy absorption
some areas warmer because high % solar absorbing gases

11. Altitude and Density Altitude: distance above sea level
Density: amount of mass in a given volume
Example: stuffed toy and rock
Density decreases as altitude increases MA
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12. 4 Layers of the Atmosphere prefix: tropo- “turning” strato- “layer” meso- “middle” thermo- “heat” suffix: sphere- “ball”

13. Layers of Atmosphere Troposphere Stratosphere Mesosphere Thermosphere
where we live; lowest & densest layer; great temp variation; 0 – 6 miles above the Earth
Stratosphere
above troposphere; layered/little mixing of gases; ozone layer-protects life; 6 – 31 miles above the Earth
Mesosphere
middle layer; coldest; meteor trails; 31 – 56 miles above the Earth
Thermosphere
uppermost; highest temps, doesn’t feel hot- b/c particles far apart; 56 miles above the Earth

14. Sections of Thermosphere
Exosphere
outermost; satellites orbit
Ionosphere
electrically charged particles- ions
Auroras

15. What creates a sudden change in the atmosphere?
Volcanic eruptions- put gases and ash into the atmosphere
Forest fires- increases the amount of carbon dioxide
Dust storms- puts large amounts of dust into the atmosphere

16. Math in Science
If an average cloud has a density of 0.5 g/m³ and has a volume of 1,000,000,000 m³, what is the mass of an average cloud? D = M/V

17. Ch. 15.2 Atmospheric Heating

18. Atmospheric Heating 3 ways Sun’s energy transferred thru atmosphere:
Radiation-energy transferred by electromagnetic waves
Conduction-energy transferred by direct contact
Convection-energy transferred by circulation
convection current- circular mvmt of air- warm rising/cool sinking

19. The Greenhouse Effect -Earth’s natural heating process

20. Solar Radiation
5% of the radiation from the sun is reflected by Earth’s surface
25% is reflected by the clouds and Earth’s atmosphere
20% is absorbed by clouds and the atmosphere
50% is absorbed by Earths surface

21. The Greenhouse Effect

22. Greenhouse Effect
gases (water vapor & CO2) absorb thermal energy & radiate it back to Earth
most energy escapes into space; atmosphere traps the rest
increasing levels of greenhouse gases could cause global warming

23. Math in Science
Find the average of the following temperatures: 73.2˚ F 71.1˚ F 54.6˚ F 65.5˚ F 78.2˚ F 81.9˚ F 82.1˚ F.