Transcript Unit Three – The Atmosphere and Climate Taken from Earth Science written by Lutgens & Tarbucks Created by: S.

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.
Structure of the Atmosphere
Thermosphere
Mesopause
Mesosphere
Stratopause
Stratosphere
Tropopause
Troposphere
The four layers
of the
atmosphere
from the top
down are:
Structure of the Atmosphere
Thermosphere
Mesopause
Mesosphere
Stratopause
Stratosphere
Tropopause
Troposphere
How is the
structure
determined?
Based on Temperature
Structure of the Atmosphere
Thermosphere
Mesopause
Mesosphere
Stratopause
Stratosphere
Tropopause
Troposphere
The bottom layer of
atmosphere in which we
live is called the
troposphere:
• most weather
• Most of the pollution
• greatest % mass of the
atmosphere
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
(continued )
Climate consists of all of the following:
–
–
–
expected atmospheric conditions
statistical properties of the atmosphere
long-term behavior of the atmosphere
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)
Nimbostratus
Stratocumulus clouds
are considered low
clouds.
Stratus clouds are best
described as sheets or
layers that cover much or
all of the sky
Cloud Forms
(cumulonimbus)
This is the cloud type most
associated with hail.
Cumulonimbus clouds
which can span nearly
the entire troposphere
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 – Air Pressure & Wind
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
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 – Climate Change Myths ?
Climate Myth
What the science says . . .
“Climate’s changed
before”
Natural climate change proves that climate is sensitive
to an energy imbalance. As Earth accumulates heat,
global temperatures will go up. CO2 is imposing an
energy imbalance. Past climate change actually
provides evidence for our climate's sensitivity to CO2.
“It’s the Sun.”
In the last 35 years the sun has shown a slight cooling
trend. Sun and climate have been going in opposite
directions.
“Its not that bad.”
The negative impacts of global warming on
agriculture, health, economy and environment far
outweigh any positives.
“There is no
consensus”
“It’s cooling”
95% of active climate researchers actively publishing
climate papers endorse that humans are causing
global warming.
All the indicators show that global warming is still
happening.
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.