1. WHAT IS THE ATMOSPHERE?

2. The atmosphere is a layer of gases that surrounds the Earth and extends from Earth’s surface into outer space. WHAT IS THE ATMOSPHERE?

3. Earth’s atmosphere is made up of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other gases, as well as particles of liquids and solids. WHAT IS THE ATMOSPHERE?

4. There is a column of air above you all the time. The weight of the air in the atmosphere causes air pressure. Air Pressure

5.  Air pressure decreases as altitude increases. Air Pressure and Altitude

6.  The density of air decreases as altitude increases. Air at sea level has more gas molecules in each cubic meter than air at the top of a mountain. Altitude and Density

7. The atmosphere is divided into four main layers: the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, and the thermosphere. The thermosphere is further divided into the ionosphere and the exosphere. Layers of the Atmosphere

8. TROPOSPHERE – lowest level of the atmosphere.  Where most of the air is found.  Where weather happens.  5 -10 miles thick. LAYERS OF THE ATMOSPHERE

9. STRATOSPHERE – second level of the atmosphere, 20 miles thick.  Made of ozone.  Absorbs UV radiation and so it is warm. LAYERS OF THE ATMOSPHERE

10. MESOSPHERE – third level of the atmosphere.  Made of thin and lighter gases.  Where meteorites burn up. LAYERS OF THE ATMOSPHERE

11. THERMOSPHERE – highest level of the atmosphere.  Gases are heated up by the Sun so has high temperature.  Contains the ionosphere - charged particles create Northern Lights. LAYERS OF THE ATMOSPHERE

12. Changing Temperatures  The graph shows how temperatures in the atmosphere change with altitude. Use it to answer the questions that follow.

13. The Sun is the source of nearly all energy on Earth. HEAT IN THE ATMOSPHERE

14. The Sun is the source of nearly all energy on Earth. HOW DOES THE SUN’S ENERGY GET TO EARTH? HEAT IN THE ATMOSPHERE

15. The Sun is the source of nearly all energy on Earth. HOW DOES THE SUN’S ENERGY GET TO EARTH? Energy travels from the Sun by radiation – energy in the form of waves (heat, light, UV radiation). HEAT IN THE ATMOSPHERE

16. HOW MUCH OF THE SUN’S ENERGY REACHES EARTH’S SURFACE? HEAT IN THE ATMOSPHERE

17. HOW MUCH OF THE SUN’S ENERGY REACHES EARTH’S SURFACE?  About 50 % of the Sun’s energy is absorbed by Earth’s surface. HEAT IN THE ATMOSPHERE

18. HOW MUCH OF THE SUN’S ENERGY REACHES EARTH’S SURFACE?  About 50 % of the Sun’s energy is absorbed by Earth’s surface.  About 15% is absorbed by the atmosphere. HEAT IN THE ATMOSPHERE

19. HOW MUCH OF THE SUN’S ENERGY REACHES EARTH’S SURFACE?  About 50 % of the Sun’s energy is absorbed by Earth’s surface.  About 15% is absorbed by the atmosphere.  About 35% is reflected back into space. HEAT IN THE ATMOSPHERE

20. HOW IS THE ATMOSPHERE WARMED UP?  Most of the heat in the atmosphere comes from conduction (touching) Earth’s surface. HEAT IN THE ATMOSPHERE

21. HOW IS THE ATMOSPHERE WARMED UP?  Most of the heat in the atmosphere comes from conduction (touching) Earth’s surface.  Convection currents (rising warm air) also heat the atmosphere. HEAT IN THE ATMOSPHERE

26. HOW DO TEMPERATURE INVERSIONS FORM?  In late winter, the Sun is low in the sky, days are shorter, less solar energy. The ground does not warm up very much. TEMPERATURE INVERSIONS

27. HOW DO TEMPERATURE INVERSIONS FORM?  In late winter, the Sun is low in the sky and does not warm up the ground very much.  Because the ground is cold, air near the ground cools off and cannot rise, it sinks down. TEMPERATURE INVERSIONS

28. HOW DO TEMPERATURE INVERSIONS FORM?  The air above the valley is warmer because it does not touch cold ground.  If there is no wind to mix things up, this cold air builds up in valleys or bowls, like the Salt Lake Valley. TEMPERATURE INVERSIONS

29. WHAT POLLUTANTS ARE FOUND IN THE BAD AIR OF INVERSIONS?  Most serious pollutant is PM 2.5 – fine particles equal or smaller than 2.5 micrometers. TEMPERATURE INVERSIONS

30. WHAT POLLUTANTS ARE FOUND IN THE BAD AIR OF INVERSIONS?  Most serious pollutant is PM 2.5 – fine particles equal or smaller than 2.5 micrometers.  Other pollutants can include ozone, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide. TEMPERATURE INVERSIONS

31. WHAT POLLUTANTS ARE FOUND IN THE BAD AIR OF INVERSIONS?  PM 2.5 particles can lodge in the lungs and cause breathing problems, especially for the young, the elderly, and those with respiratory problems like asthma. TEMPERATURE INVERSIONS

32. WHAT POLLUTANTS ARE FOUND IN THE BAD AIR OF INVERSIONS?  Ozone and sulfur dioxide can also irritate the lungs and cause breathing problems. TEMPERATURE INVERSIONS

33. WHAT POLLUTANTS ARE FOUND IN THE BAD AIR OF INVERSIONS?  Carbon monoxide enters the blood and binds to hemoglobin (the oxygen carrier in your blood), preventing oxygen from getting to your cells. TEMPERATURE INVERSIONS

34. WHERE DOES PM 2.5 COME FROM?  AUTOMOBILES - 57% of PM 2.5, and also the source of most ozone and carbon monoxide. TEMPERATURE INVERSIONS

35. WHERE DOES PM 2.5 COME FROM?  AUTOMOBILES - 57% of PM 2.5, and also the source of most ozone and carbon monoxide.  INDUSTRY – 11%, and largest source of sulfur dioxide. TEMPERATURE INVERSIONS

36. WHERE DOES PM 2.5 COME FROM?  AUTOMOBILES - 57% of PM 2.5, and also the source of most ozone and carbon monoxide.  INDUSTRY – 11%, and largest source of sulfur dioxide.  HOMES AND BUSINESSES - 32%, from wood burning and frying food. TEMPERATURE INVERSIONS

37. HOW ARE CLOUDS FORMED? CLOUDS

38. HOW ARE CLOUDS FORMED?  To form clouds, you need three things: CLOUDS

39. HOW ARE CLOUDS FORMED?  To form clouds, you need three things:  Water vapor in the air. CLOUDS

40. HOW ARE CLOUDS FORMED?  To form clouds, you need three things:  Water vapor in the air.  Cooling – water vapor must condense back to water. Pressure or temperature must go down. CLOUDS

41. HOW ARE CLOUDS FORMED?  Water vapor in the air.  Cooling –water vapor must condense back to water. Pressure or temperature must go down.  Condensation nuclei – condensing water needs something to stick to. CLOUDS

42.  The water cycle is the constant movement of water from the atmosphere to the surface of the Earth and back again.  WHAT DRIVES THE WATER CYCLE? WHAT IS THE WATER CYCLE?

43.  Energy from da Sun drives the water cycle, evaporates water. WHAT IS THE WATER CYCLE?

44.  Heat evaporates water in the ocean and other reservoirs (places where water is stored). WHAT IS THE WATER CYCLE?

45.  Heat evaporates water in the ocean and other reservoirs (places where water is stored).  Water vapor condenses in clouds. WHAT IS THE WATER CYCLE?

46.  Heat evaporates water in the ocean and other reservoirs (places where water is stored).  Water vapor condenses in clouds.  This water falls as precipitation. WHAT IS THE WATER CYCLE?

47.  Heat evaporates water in the ocean and other reservoirs (places where water is stored).  Water vapor condenses in clouds.  This water falls as precipitation.  The water ends up as runoff, going back into the ocean and reservoirs. WHAT IS THE WATER CYCLE?

48.  Reservoirs are not just lakes and rivers. WHAT IS THE WATER CYCLE?

49.  Reservoirs are not just lakes and rivers.  Water can be stored underground between or in layers of rock – called an aquifer. WHAT IS THE WATER CYCLE?

50.  Reservoirs are not just lakes and rivers.  Water can be stored underground between or in layers of rock – called an aquifer.  Most drinking water comes from wells pumping water from an aquifer. WHAT IS THE WATER CYCLE?