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Learn about the structure of the atmosphere and the different cloud types. Understand the difference between weather and climate.
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Unit Three – The Atmosphere and Climate Taken from Earth Science written by Lutgens& Tarbucks Created by: S. Koziol 6/3/2013 – ?/?/2013
Chapter 16 - Weather The major element of weather and climate are air temperature, air pressure, wind speed , precipitation, humidity.
Thermosphere Structure of the Atmosphere The four layers of the atmosphere from the top down are: Mesopause Mesosphere Stratopause Stratosphere Tropopause Troposphere Earth’s Surface
Thermosphere Structure of the Atmosphere How is the structure determined? Mesopause Mesosphere Stratopause Stratosphere Tropopause Troposphere Earth’s Surface
Thermosphere Structure of the Atmosphere • The bottom layer of atmosphere in which we live is called the troposphere: • most weather • Most of the pollution • greatest % mass of the atmosphere Mesopause Mesosphere Stratopause Stratosphere Tropopause Troposphere Earth’s Surface
Chapter 16 – The Atmosphere (continued) Most weather occurs in the Troposphere. Even though strong thunderstorms sometimes reach the stratosphere (or tropopause).
Chapter 16 – The Atmosphere (continued) The value of the normal lapse rate is 6.5 C degrees per kilometer
Chapter 16 – Weather vs. Climate Weather is a word used to denote the state of the atmosphere at a particular place over a short period of time.
Climate The generalization of atmospheric conditions over a long period of time is referred to as climate.
Climate (continued ) Climate is: • a historical agglomeration of weather data • dependent on daily observations • a statistical rendering of the earth's atmosphere
Climate consists of all of the following: expected atmospheric conditions statistical properties of the atmosphere long-term behavior of the atmosphere Climate (continued )
Chapter 16 – Please remember. Regarding meteorological conditions , climate is what you expect, and weather is what you get.
Chapter 17 Moisture , Clouds & Precipitation Sunrise 10/17/2006 off Rt. 21 Photograph taken by S. Koziol
Chapter 17 Moisture , Clouds & Precipitation A cloud is best described a visible aggregates of minute water droplets or tiny crystals of ice suspended in the air. Sunrise 10/17/2006 off Rt. 21 Photograph taken by S. Koziol
Chapter 17 - Clouds Clouds are classified on the basis of their form and height.
Cloud Forms (3 main classes) Cirrus (high) Cumulus (middle) Stratus (low)
Cloud Forms (high) Cirrus are thin and wispy clouds, they are high and are always composed entirely of ice crystals.
Cloud Forms (middle) Cumulous or (middle clouds) are composed of liquid droplets. Altocumulus (shown here in early stages of development)
Cloud Forms(low) Stratus clouds are best described as sheets or layers that cover much or all of the sky Nimbostratus Stratocumulus clouds are considered low clouds.
Cloud Forms (cumulonimbus) Cumulonimbus clouds which can span nearly the entire troposphere This is the cloud type most associated with hail.
Chapter 17 Clouds (continued) The term nimbus means “rainy cloud.”
Cloud Forms High – cirrus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus Middle – altostratus, altocumulus Low – stratus, stratocumulus, nimbostratus Clouds with extensive vertical development – cumulous & cumulonimbus
Chapter 17 - Humidity The general term for the amount of water vapor in air is humidity
Chapter 17 Pressure and Temperature Changes When air expands, it will cool
Chapter 17 – Air Pressure The force exerted by the weight of the air above is called air pressure.
Chapter 17 – Standard Air Pressure Standard sea-level pressure (1 atm) is: 29.92 inches of Hg 760 mm Hg 101.325 kPa
Chapter 18 - Wind Air that flows horizontally with respect to Earth’s surface is referred to as wind. Variations in air pressure from place to place are the principal cause of wind.
Chapter 18 High-pressure Centers of high pressure are called anticyclones
Chapter 18 – Low-pressure A low-pressure system often brings cloudiness and precipitation.
Chapter 18 – General Movement The general movement of low-pressure centers across the United States is from west to east.
Chapter 18 - Coriolis The deflective force of Earth’s rotation on all free-moving objects is called the Coriolis effect.
Chapter 19 - Air Mass An immense body of air characterized by a similarity of temperature and moisture at any given altitude is referred to as an air mass. The area in which an air mass acquires its characteristic properties of temperature and moisture is called its source region.
Chapter 19 - Fronts The boundary that separates different air masses is called a front.
Chapter 19 – Fronts (continued) Warmer , less dense air is always forced aloft along a front.
Chapter 19 – Cold Fronts When cold air is actively advancing into a region occupied by warmer air, the boundary is called cold front. When cold air is actively advancing into a region occupied by warmer air, the boundary is called cold front.
Chapter 19 – Cold Fronts (continued) Cold fronts advance more rapidly than warm fronts
Chapter 19 – Warm Fronts When the surface position of a front moves so that warm air occupies territory formerly covered by cooler air, it is called a warm front.
Chapter 20 – Climate & Weather The description of aggregate weather conditions of a place or region is termed climate.
Chapter 20 – Climate (continued) Earth’s Climate systems consists of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, solid Earth, biosphere and cryosphere and involves the exchanges of energy and moisture that occurs among the five parts.
Chapter 20 – Climate – (continued) The two most important elements in climate description are temperature and precipitation.
Chapter 20 – Mean Surface Temperature If CO2 (carbon dioxide) levels reach projected levels, models predict that by the year 2100 mean global surface temperatures will increase by 1.1 to 6.4°C
Chapter 20 – Earth’s Response Models indicate that the temperature response in polar regions due to global warming triggered by carbon dioxide and trace gasses could be as much as two to three times greater than the global average.
Chapter 20 – Earth’s Response Greenhouse warming could cause a rise in sea level.
Chapter 20 – Earth’s Response Possible consequence of greenhouse warming: • more frequent and intense hurricanes • rising sea levels • shifts in the paths of large scale cyclonic storms • increase of heat waves and droughts
Chapter 20 - Homeostasis Homeostasis is the property of a system that regulates its internal environment and tends to maintain a stable, relatively constant condition of properties such as temperature.
