Warm-Up

1. Warm-Up • What is the study of the atmosphere and the processes that produce weather and climate called? (Think very first vocabulary set for this class.) • Why is it important to study the atmosphere? (Give at least 5 reasons)

2. Warmup • Please write a three sentence review of the movie: • What did you like? • What did you learn? • What would you change about the video?

3. Weather and Climate The Atmosphere 2.5.1Summarize information from charts and graphs regarding layers of the atmosphere, temperature, chemical composition, and interaction with radiant energy.

4. Objectives • I will be able to: • Describe the composition of the atmosphere • Describe the layers of the atmosphere • Describe how the sun and earthinteract.

5. Weather and Climate… what’s the difference? • Weather is always changing and refers to the state of the atmosphere at a given time and place • Climate is based on the observations of weather conditions over many years and helps us describe a region • To understand weather and climate, we first need to understand what our atmosphere is made of

6. The Composition of the Atmosphere • How old is the earth? _______ • Over this period of time the composition of the atmosphere has changed dramatically • “Air” is not a single gas, it is a mixture of gases

7. The Composition of the Atmosphere • The most abundant gas in the atmosphere is nitrogen • The second most abundant is oxygen • Together make up 99% of clean, dry air • Carbon dioxide is important for absorbing energy in the atmosphere • Water vapor is the source of all clouds and precipitation and absorbs heat given off by Earth

8. Composition of the Atmosphere • Ozone: a form of oxygen with three oxygen atoms bonded together instead of just two (that’s the O2 we breathe) • Results from oxygen absorbing radiation (energy) from the sun • The ozone layer is crucial for life on Earth because it absorbs potentially harmful radiation • The ozone layer allows life on Earth to exist

9. The Composition of the Atmosphere • We just finished talking about the oceans, which contain water. • Liquids are one type of fluid • Gases are also fluids • Most of the properties of our atmosphere that influence weather, climate, and life as we know it, come from the fluid nature of the atmosphere • Check it out!

10. The Structure of the Atmosphere • The atmosphere thins very quickly as you travel away from Earth’s surface • The atmosphere is divided vertically into 4 layers based on temperature

11. The Structure of the Atmosphere • Layers of the atmosphere • The lowest = troposphere • Temperature decreases as altitude increases • Most important weather phenomena occur here • 2nd = stratosphere • 3rd = mesosphere • Top = thermosphere

12. Diagram of the atmosphere structure • Using page 274 as your guide, diagram the layers of the atmosphere, including the boundaries between each layer • For each layer, you must write at least 2 facts about that layer

13. Atmospheric Basics Solar Fundamentals The Sun is the source of all energy in the atmosphere. • This energy is transferred to Earth and throughout the atmosphere through conduction, convection & radiation.

14. Atmospheric Basics Solar Fundamentals • Conduction is the transfer of energy that occurs when molecules collide. • Through conduction, energy is transferred from the particles of air near Earth’s surface to the particles of air in the lowest layer of the atmosphere. • For conduction to occur, substances must be in contact with one another. • Conduction affects only a very thin atmospheric layer near Earth’s surface.

15. Atmospheric Basics Solar Fundamentals • Convection is the transfer of energy by the flow of a heated substance. • Pockets of air near Earth’s surface are heated, become less dense than the surrounding air, and rise. • As the warm air rises, it expands and starts to cool. • When it cools below the temperature of the surrounding air, it increases in density and sinks. • Convection currents are among the main mechanisms responsible for the vertical motions of air, which in turn cause different types of weather.

16. Atmospheric Basics Solar Fundamentals • Radiationis the transfer of energy through space by visible light, ultraviolet radiation, and other forms of electromagnetic waves. • The Sun is shining on, and therefore warming, some portion of Earth’s surface at all times. • While Earth is absorbing solar radiation, it is also continuously sending energy back into space.

17. Check-ins • What is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere? What is the second most abundant gas in the atmosphere? Together, these two comprise what percentage of atmospheric gases? • What is the lowest layer of the atmosphere? • The layers of the atmosphere are divided based upon what property? • In which layer of the atmosphere are most important weather phenomena?

18. Exit Ticket • What is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere? • What is the lowest layer of the atmosphere?

19. Warm-up • List the layers of the atmosphere from lowest to the ground to highest? • In which of these layers do most important weather phenomena occur? • http://hint.fm/wind/

20. Objectives • Describe the movement of heat due to differences in temperature • Analyze the absorbance and reflectance of the sun’s energy on Earth • Analyze temperature variations over land and water

21. Heating of the Atmosphere • Heat vs. temperature • Heat is the energy transferred from one object to another due to differences in temperatures. • Bottom line: heat is transferred between objects because of differences in temperature

22. Heating of the Atmosphere • The heating of the atmosphere comes from solar energy • The solar energy is transferred to Earth through radiation • When radiation hits an object, three things happen • 1. some radiant energy is absorbed • 2. some radiant energy is transmitted through substances like water and air • 3. some radiant energy bounces off the object without being absorbed or transmitted

23. Heating of the Atmosphere • Take a look at Figure 12 on page 486 to answer the following questions • How much of the Sun’s energy that reaches Earth’s atmosphere is reflected back into space? (add together the amount that is backscattered to space, the amount reflected from clouds, and the amount reflected by the land-sea surface) • How much of the Sun’s energy is absorbed by Earth’s atmosphere and clouds? • How much of the Sun’s energy is absorbed by the land and sea?

24. Heating of the Atmosphere • If we did not have gases to absorb solar radiation, Earth would not be a place where we could live • This heating of the lower layer of the atmosphere from radiation absorbed by heat absorbing gases is called the greenhouse effect • … so just like plants grow better in a greenhouse, all life on Earth is able to flourish because of the greenhouse effect

25. Heating of the Atmosphere • The temperatures we experience are due to the amount of heating of the atmosphere above us and the ground and water around us. • Land heats and cools more rapidly than water • Land also reaches higher and lower temperatures than water • The temperature of the land and water influences the temperature of the air above it • This explains why inland areas experience greater temperature variations than cities near large bodies of water

26. Think about it! • City A is located on the Outer Banks of NC and City B is located inland. Which city would experience greater variations in temperature and why?

27. Check-in Questions • What causes the transfer of energy in the from of heat from one object to another? • What is the greenhouse effect? How does it affect life on Earth? • Complete this chart • Complete the following sentence: Land heats ______________ than water. • As a result of what you said in #4, where are temperature variations greater? (over land or over water)

28. Warm up • Which of the following is true? • Land heats less rapidly than water • Land heats more rapidly than water • Land reaches higher temperatures than water • Both b. and c. • What causes heat to be transferred from one object to another? • On average, how much of the sun’s energy that reaches the outer atmosphere is reflected back into space?

29. Moisture, Clouds and Precipitation Chapter 18

30. Warm Up 12/1/10 • Which heats faster: land or water? • What causes the transfer of energy (heat) from one object to another? • Heat moves from objects with warm temperature to cooler temperatures. • So – in which direction would heat move in each of these situations: (draw arrows) • Penguin icy water • Pavement the sun • Ice water • What is the greenhouse effect? • On average, how much of the sun’s energy that reaches Earth’s outer atmosphere is reflected back into space? • Which has greater temperature variation: land or water?

31. Objectives • Today I will be able to: • Evaluate the most important gas in the atmosphere. • Compare and contrast saturation and relative humidity.

32. Key Points - Moisture • Water vapor is the most important gas for understanding atmospheric processes. • Water vapor makes up 0-4 % of atmospheric gases. • Air that has reached its water vapor capacity is said to be saturated. • Warm, saturated air contains more water vapor than cold air. • Relative humidity is the ratio of air’s water-vapor content to its capacity to hold water vapor at that same temperature.

33. Water in the Atmosphere • Water exists in three different forms. • What are they? • SOLID Examples: Snow, ice • LIQUID Examples: Rain, water • GAS Examples: Clouds, water vapor • How do each of these forms of water influence weather?

34. Water in the Atmosphere • When it comes to understanding atmospheric processes, water vaporis the most important gas in the atmosphere. • Why do you think water vapor is so important?

35. Water in the Atmosphere • Even though water vapor is important, it only makes up from 0 – 4% of the atmospheric gases. • When have you felt water vapor at close to 4%? • What about 0%? • How do you know? • Water vapor is the HUMIDITY that you feel in the air!

36. Water in the Atmosphere • What do you think the word “SATURATED” means? • What do you think it would mean if air is Saturated? • Air that has reached its water vapor capacity is said to be saturated.

37. Water in the Atmosphere • Warm, saturated air contains more water vapor than cold air. • When have you noticed the humidity more, in the summer or in the winter? • That’s because warm air can hold more water vapor!

38. Water in the Atmosphere • Relative humidity is the ratio of air’s water-vapor content to its capacity to hold water vapor at that same temperature. • Relative humidity indicates how near the air is to saturation, not the actual quantity of water vapor in the air. • Relative Humidity varies with temperature. • Cooling air increases its relative humidity. • Warming air decreases its relative humidity.

39. 1% :2% • 1%:4%

40. 2%: 3% (cooler) 2/3 • 2%: 4% (warm) 2/4

41. Water in the Atmosphere • Relative Humidity – • Why does lowering the air temperature cause Relative humidity to increase? • Because colder air cannot hold as much water vapor! • Why does increasing air temperature cause relative humidity to decrease? • Because warm air can hold more water vapor and it will take more water vapor for it to become saturated.

42. Check In Questions Answer the following questions: • What gas is most important for understanding atmospheric processes? • Water vapor makes up what fraction of atmospheric gases? • Which holds more water vapor: warm air or cool air? • Henderson has a humid climate. What are evidences of humidity that you have seen? • How is the humidity different from the summertime to the wintertime? • Why is the air in buildings so dry in the winter?

43. Matching- answer A, B or C for each of the situations. Situation • Water vapor is added • Air temperature decreases • Water vapor is removed • Air temperature increases Change in Relative Humidity: • Increases • No change • Decreases

44. Measuring Moisture • Invent a machine that measures Relative Humidity and Water Saturation in the air. • Draw a picture of the machine • Write a detailed description of how the machine works. • Create instructions for how to use the machine. • You will be judged based on creativity and neatness. Be specific about how it works!

45. Brownie Ticket • Air that has reached its water-vapor capacity is said to be: a. Dry b. unstable c. stable d. saturated • The ratio of air’s water content to its capacity to hold water at the same temperature is: a. Vapor pressure b. relative humidity c. specific humidity d. wet adiabatic rate • Water vapor makes up what fraction (%) of atmospheric gases?

46. Warm up 12/2 • Water vapor makes up what percentage of atmospheric gases? • What is the most important gas for understanding atmospheric processes? • What is air called that has reached its water-vapor capacity? • Which type of air can hold the most water-vapor? Cold or warm? • Explain relative humidity.

47. Lifting Air - Objectives • Today, I will be able to: - Describe how air is lifted to form clouds.

48. Key Points - Clouds • When air is compressed the air temperature rises and the air molecules move faster. • Processes that lift air include orographic lifting, frontal wedging and convergence. • Examples of condensation nuclei include dust, smoke and salt particles.

49. Lifting Air • When air is compressed the air molecules move faster and the temperature rises. • Air compression causes changes in temperature even though heat isn’t added or subtracted. • When air is allowed to expand, it cools. • When air is compressed, it heats up.

50. Lifting Air Clouds form because as you go up in elevation, it gets colder. Cold air cannot hold as much water vapor so it transforms into clouds. Cool, expanded air Warm, compressed air