The Atmosphere and Meteorology

1
The Atmosphere and Meteorology

• Chapter 11 12

2
11.1 Atmospheric Basics

• Describe the compositition of the atmosphere.
• Compare and contrast various layers of the
  atmosphere.
• Identify three methods of transferring energy
  throughout the atmosphere.

3
Atmosphere
11.1

• A combination of many gases make up Earths
  atmosphere.

4
Atmosphere (continued)
11.1

• The atmosphere is composed mostly of nitrogen and
  oxygen, with traces of other gases such as carbon
  dioxide and water vapor.

In fact it contains more nitrogen and oxygen than
any other substance.
5
Atmosphere (continued)
11.1

• The source of rain, clouds, and snow is water
  vapor.

6
Atmospheric Layers
11.1

• Stratosphere is the part of the atmosphere
  containing the ozone layer
• This layer is important because it contains
  ozone, which blocks harmful ultraviolet radiation
  from the Sun.

• The layer in which most weather and pollution
  occurs is the troposphere.

7
Atmospheric Layers
11.1
Exosphere is the atmospheres outermost layer

• Ionosphere is the layer within the thermosphere
  which is filled with electrically charged
  particles

• The mesosphere is the layer between the
  stratosphere and thermosphere.

8
Troposphere vs. Stratosphere
11.1
Both are the lower layers of the atmosphere.

• The troposphere is the lowest layer of the
  atmosphere. The troposphere contains most of the
  mass of the atmosphere. It is characterized by a
  general decrease in temperature with height.

• The stratosphere is the layer above the
  troposphere. The stratosphere, which contains the
  ozone layer, gradually increases in temperature
  with height.

• Troposphere

• Stratosphere

9
Energy Transfer
11.1

• The sun shines on and warms Earths surface
  directly in a method of energy transfer known as
  radiation.

Image not shown to scale
10
Energy Transfer (Continued)
11.1

• The three methods of energy transfer are
  conduction, convection, and radiation.

within and between bodies of matter, due to a
temperature gradient.
collective movement of ensembles of molecules
within fluids (i.e. liquids, gases) NOT IN SOLIDS
energetic particles or energetic waves travel
through a medium or space.
11
Section Break
12
11.2 State of the Atmosphere

• Describe the various properties of the atmosphere
  and how they interact.
• Explain why atmospheric properties change with
  changes in altitude.

13
Air Density
11.2

• The density of air decreases as altitude
  increases.

14
Humidity
11.2

• The amount of water vapor in a given volume of
  air is its humidity.

15
Dew Point
11.2

• When the temperature in the atmosphere reaches
  the dew point, condensation occurs.

16
Change in Troposphere
11.2

• Both temperature and pressure generally decrease
  with height in the troposphere.

17
Heat vs. Temperature
11.2

• Heat is the transfer of energy that occurs
  because of a difference in temperature.

• Temperature is the measurement of how rapidly or
  slowly molecules move around.

Both are related to energy in an area (location).

• Heat

• Temperature

18
Temperature Inversion
11.2

• A temperature inversion is an increase in
  temperature with height in the atmosphere.

19
Video Break
Iphone sent through the Atmosphere
20
Section Break
21
11.3
Moisture in the Atmosphere

• Explain how clouds are formed.
• Identify the basic characteristics of different
  cloud groups.
• Describe the water cycle.

22
Condensation nuclei
11.3

• Condensation nuclei are particles of atmospheric
  dust around which cloud droplets form.

23
Coalescence
11.3

• Cloud droplets collide to form larger droplets in
  a process called coalescence.

24
Clouds
11.3

• Clouds form when warm, moist air rises, expands,
  and cools.
• As the air reaches its dew point, water vapor in
  the air condenses around condensation nuclei into
  cloud droplets.
• A collection of millions of cloud droplets forms
  a visible cloud.

25
Orographic lifting
11.3

• In orographic lifting, clouds form when moist
  winds encounter mountains.

26
 Clouds
11.3
Cirrus high , thin, made of ice crystals
Cumulus lower, fluffy fair weather clouds
Stratus low, layer
27
 Clouds (Continued)
11.3
Cumulonimbus storm clouds, may reach up to
Stratosphere
28
Sunrise 10/17/2006 off Rt. 21 Photograph taken by
S. Koziol
29
Water Cycle
11.3

• The constant movement of water between the
  atmosphere and Earths surface is the water
  cycle.

30
Section Break
31
Best of Chapter 12

• Analyze how imbalances in the heating of Earths
  surface create weather.
• Compare and Contrast weather and climate.

32
Weather
12

• Current, short-term variations in the atmosphere
  are referred to as weather.

33
Station Models
12

• A record of weather data for a particular site at
  a particular time is a station model.

34
Atmospheric Imbalances
12

• Imbalances in Earths heat energy help to create
  weather.

35
Polar and tropical regions
12

• Polar and tropical regions maintain fairly
  constant average temperatures because the
  continual motion of air and water reallocates
  heat energy throughout Earth.

36
Jet Stream
12

• The Jet Stream is a narrow bands of fast,
  high-altitude westerly winds.

37
Low-pressure
12

• Low-pressure systems are usually associated with
  cloudy and rainy weather.

38
High-pressure
12

• High-pressure systems are associated with fair,
  dry and stable weather.

39
Weather vs. Climate
12

• Weather refers to current atmospheric conditions.

• Climate refers to long-term weather patterns for
  an area.

Both refer to the conditions of the atmosphere.

• Weather

• Climate

Climate is what you expect, weather is what you
get.