1. Atmospheric Characteristics

2. Weather vs. Climate Weather:
Constantly changing, refers to the state of the atmosphere at any given place and time.
Climate:
Observations that have been based over many years. (Describes a place or region)

3. Properties that we measure
For both Weather and Climate
Rainfall
Air Temperature
Humidity
Type/Amount of Precipitation
Air Pressure
Speed/Direction of Wind

5. Composition of the Atmosphere
Major Components:
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Argon/Carbon Dioxide
Variable Components:
Water Vapor
Dust Particles
Ozone

6. Water Vapor The source of all clouds and precipitation.
Absorbs heat and energy given off by Earth.

7. Ozone Q.) What does it do? How do you know?
A.) Protect us from harmful rays; allows for all the different types of life to be on our planet.

8. Air Pollutants Three types:
1.) Primary – Emitted from and identifiable source.
2.) Secondary – Not directed into the air.
3.) Photochemical – Reactions by sunlight.

9. Height of the Atmosphere
Q.) Where does the atmosphere end and space begin?
A.) It thins as you travel up until there are to few gas particles to protect.

10. Structure of the Atmosphere
Pressure Change:
The weight of the air above
Heavy to light
Temperature Change:
Hot to cold

11. Layers of the Atmosphere
Four Layers:
Troposphere: Temp goes down when altitude goes up.
Stratosphere: Ozone is here, Temp increases.
Mesosphere: Temp goes down
Thermosphere: Temp increases/little amount of atmosphere.

12. Earth Movements! Earth Motions:
1.) Rotation: Spinning around on the axis (day)
2.) Revolution: Around the orbit (year)

13. Earth’s Orientation Cause for different seasons:
Summer Solstice (June 21 – 22)
Autumnal Equinox (September )
Winter Solstice (December 21 – 22)
Vernal (Spring) Equinox (March 21 – 22)

15. Heating the Atmosphere

16. Heat vs. Temperature
Heat: Energy transferred from one object to another; a difference in temperature.
Temperature: The measure of the average energy in an individual object.

17. Energy Transfer (Heat)
Three ways:
1.) Conduction
2.) Convection
3.) Radiation

18. Conduction The transfer of heat through matter by activity
I.E. – Molecules hitting each other!
Heat flows from high to low!

19. Convection
Heat transfer: mass movement or circulation within a substance
Ex. Water boiling in a pot

20. Radiation Can travel through space! Four Laws:
1.) All object emit radiant energy.
2.) Hotter emits more than cold.
3.) Hottest bodies shortest wavelengths.
4.) Absorb and emit radiation.

21. Electromagnetic Waves
The sun is the ultimate source of energy!
Different waves have different wavelengths

22. Solar Radiation Three different results:
1.) Energy absorbed by an object
2.) Energy is not contributed to the object.
3.) Energy can bounce of an object.

23. Reflection vs. Scattering
Reflection: Light bounces off an object
Scattering: Weather rays that travel in different directions.

24. Absorption Clouds absorb solar energy and heat up the atmosphere
Greenhouse Effect: When air stays heated to help maintain life on Earth

25. Temperature Controls
Book page 488 (charts)

26. What is it?
Any factor that causes temperature to vary from place to place and from time to time.
Differences in receipt of solar radiation (variation in the angle of solar rays, length of day, latitude)
Other factors include:
Heating of Land and Water
Altitude
Geographic Position
Cloud Cover
Ocean Currents

27. Land and Water Land Water Heats more rapidly and higher temps
Cools more rapidly and to lower temps
Higher temp variations
Water
Heats and cools slowly and has more regulated temperatures

28. Geographic Position Costal Location – Windward = wind blows onto shore
Cool summers and mild winters
California Coast
Leeward = wind blows toward ocean
More continental patterns of weather
New York Coast

29. Altitude
Elevation from sea level

30. Cloud Cover and Albedo Albedo and cloud cover relate Day Night
Clouds have a high albedo and reflect back a large portion of the sunlight back into space.
Influences temp in the lower atmosphere
Night
Clouds act as a blanket keeps solar radiation in
Cloudy nights are warmer then clear nights

31. Isotherms Allows to study global temperature patterns
Effects of he controlling factors of temp
Especially latitude
Distribution of land and water
Ocean currents
Trend east to west and shows a decrease in temps from the tropics to the poles

32. Water in the Atmosphere

33. The Key!
Water Vapor
Causes condensation and precipitation

34. Sates of Water
Three:
1.) Solid
2.) Liquid
3.) Gas

36. Terms to Know
Latent heat: Used to melt ice that does not produce a temperature change. (Hidden)
Evaporation – Liquid to gas
Condensation – Water vapor changes to liquid

37. Sublimation vs. Deposition
Solid right to a gas
Vapor directly to a solid

38. Humidity How much water vapor is in the air. Types: Saturation
Relative Humidity
Dew Point
Measuring Humidity

39. Saturation When warm air contains more water vapor than cold air
Ex. Water leaving will equal water in the atmosphere

40. Relative Humidity
A ration of the actual water vapor content compared to the amount of water vapor air can hold.
Lower air temp = increase RH
Raising air temp = decrease in RH

41. Dew Point
The temp at which a parcel of air would need to be cooler to reach saturation.

42. Measuring Humidity
Hygrometer – most common way to measure humidity

43. Cloud Formation

44. Temperature Change
Adiabatic Temp Change – When air is allowed to expand (cools); compresses (warms)
Dry = Cooling and Heating
Wet = Latent Heat + cooling and heating

45. Lifting the Air? Types: Orographic Lifting Frontal Wedging Convergence
Convective Lifting

46. Orographic Lifting
Elevated terrains act as barriers
Ex. Mountains

47. Frontal Wedging Front – Warm air and cool air combine
Helps to keep North American wet!

48. Convergence When the atmosphere flows together it rises.
Ex. Florida peninsula has lots of thunderstorms in the afternoon

49. Convective Lifting The heating and lifting of air, creating thermals.
Ex. Birds use them, hang gliders use them

50. Air Stability Stable air remains in place. Unstable air tends to rise.
Ex. Hot air balloon

51. Measurements Radiosondes – collects weather data in the atmosphere.
Measures the environmental lapse rate.

52. Temperature Inversion
Air temperature increases with height.
On nights when the cold air is inverted to the top and warm air to the bottom.

53. Stable vs. Unstable Stable = little to no weather.
Unstable = lots of weather

54. Condensation The air has to be saturated for condensation to form.
Condensation Nuclei – a surface for water vapor to attach too.