Guided Notes: Atmosphere Layers of the Atmosphere

Transcription

1 Guided Notes: Atmosphere Layers of the Atmosphere Atmosphere: Absorbs solar radiation, Burns up meteors, transports and recycles water, and other chemicals, and moderates climate Main Components:

2 o Meteorology is the study of: Weather Climate Ex. Ex. o Air Density: Cold air is dense than warm air. Low Pressure Pressure Systems High Pressure Global Winds: o The atmosphere itself o It moves air to the poles and air toward the equator o Jet streams are: Air Masses are bodies of air that take on the of the area they cover (land and water) Fronts are the regions separating two.

3 Warm Front Type Definition Symbol Cold Stationary Occluded Water Vapor in the Atmosphere o Precipitation is: Humidity Relative Humidity o Saturation is when air contains the quantity of water vapor that it can hold at a given and. air contains more water vapor than air Dew Point is: 1. Condensation Nuclei: 2. Coalescence: 3. Precipitation: Clouds are classified by: Cloud Formation

4 Interpreting Weather Models and Maps We can find all of the following through reading a weather model: Temperature, Dew Point, Cloud Cover, Present Weather, Wind Speed, Wind Direction, Location, and Atmospheric Pressure (mb) Temperature: Current Weather: Dew Point: Cloud Cover: Pressure: Wind Speed: Wind Direction:

5 What s Taking Place in the Weather Model to the Left? Pressure Differences Isobars: Pressure Gradient: Closely Spaced Isobars: Widely Spaced Isobars: Think about it: What causes our seasons? Why is weather different in different seasons?

6 Severe Weather Thunderstorms o Thunderstorms: Generates and o Gusty Winds, heavy rains, hail o 45, 000 a day across the world! o Lightening: results from the build up and discharge of electric energy between charged ground and clouds. o Thunder: the sound of rapidly gases usually associated with lightning Stages of Thunderstorm Development: 1. Cumulus Stage 2. Mature Stage 3. Dissipating Stage Tornados Take the form of a rotating column of called a o Uplift turns vortex Pressure lower than o Air rushes in to pressure Hurricanes Whirling that produce winds of at least o Called in the U.S. Development-Late : Warm to provide heat and moisture

7 Parts of a Hurricane o Eye: o Eye Wall o Spiral Rain Bands Hurricane Intensity measured on the Hurricane Watch Hurricane Warning World Climates The Koppen Climate Classification System o Most commonly used for classification of o Uses mean monthly and annual and Tropical Temperate Polar Dry Highland

8 Studying Climate Change Ice Cores Pollen Analysis To predict what will happen in the future, scientists use Both factors and factors are influencing climate! The Greenhouse Effect-A warming of Earth o Major gases: o Makes life as we know it possible on Earth! Natural Processes that Change Climate Volcanic Eruptions Ocean Circulations Solar Activity Earth s Motions CO 2 Fluctuations El Nino and La Nina

9 Human Effect on Climate Change Global Climate Change= o Climate changes naturally, but recent rapid changes are thought to be due to human activities Earth s depends on how much of the sun s enters the atmosphere and how much escapes back into o Atmospheric gases that absorb the radiation are o This warms the Earth s surface and is called the o Rising of greenhouse gases in recent decades has resulted in global warming, an increase in Global Warming Human Impact on Climate Changes CO2 Burning of Fossil Fuels Deforestation Halocarbon Gases Sea Level Rise Ocean Acidification

10 Air Pollution Air Pollution= Natural sources of air pollution include Human caused air pollution includes: o Point source: Example: o Nonpoint Source: Example: o Primary Pollutants: Example: o Secondary Pollutants: Example: Acid Precipitation= o Reactants of pollutants with water, oxygen, and oxidants to form acids that fall on surface as precipitation o Can fall many miles from where originated! Think about it: What are some ways we can reduce air pollution?