Download Atmosphere - Mater Academy Charter Middle/ High

The Atmosphere
Atmosphere: the layers of gases that surround the planet
Earth's
Atmosphere
Altitude: the distance above sea level also known as elevation
Nitrogen is the most abundant gas in the
atmosphere (78%)
Oxygen is the second most abundant gas
(21%)
Plants take in CO2 and give off O2
Animals take in O2 and give off CO2 (the opposite of plants)
Pollutants: harmful substances in the air ,water, and soil.
The burning of fossil fuels also produces CO2 which most
scientists agree, is now a big part of global warming.
Observe the retreat of ice
sheets from North America.
Greenhouse effect: the process by which gases hold heat
in the air
Visualization Greenhouse Effect
Exosphere
Communication satellites
Ionosphere
Aurora Borealis
happens here
Most meteorites burn
up here
Ozone layer absorbs
ultraviolet radiation here
Weather happens here
Ozone: a form of oxygen that has 3 oxygen atoms in each
molecule.
Weather: the condition of Earth’s atmosphere at a particular
time and place
Weather
Meteorologist: Scientists who study the causes of weather and
try to predict it.
Air pressure: the result of the weight of a column of air pushing
down on and area.
Pressure: the force
pushing on an area or
a surface
Barometer: an instrument that is used to measure changes in air
pressure
Water
Cycle
Dew point: the temperature at which condensation occurs. This is
when clouds form.
Humidity: a measure of the amount of water vapor in the air.
Clouds
Cirrus: wispy, feathery,
formed at high levels and
made of ice crystals
Cumulus: fluffy, and
usually indicate fair
weather.
Stratus: form in
flat layers and
usually cover most
of the sky. Can
produce rain.
Clouds
Flash flood: a sudden violent flood that occurs within a few hours or
minutes of a storm.
Storm surge: a dome of water that sweeps across the coast where
a hurricane lands.
Hurricanes
Global winds: winds that blow steadily from specific directions
over long distances.
Wind
Wind Chill Factor: increased cooling that wind can cause.
Air mass: a huge body of air that has similar temperature,
humidity and air pressure throughout.
Aim masses can be warm
or cold and humid or dry.
As an air mass moves
into an area, it changes the
weather there.
View satellite movies of air
masses moving across North
America.
equatorial, tropical, polar or arctic.
continental or maritime
Front: the area where the air masses meet and do not mix
Compare and contrast warm and cold fronts.
Types of fronts:
Cold: starts with rain, ends in cold dry air
Warm: first storms, rain then warm and humid
Stationary: can have days of rain
Occluded: ground temperature is cold and
it can make clouds and rain because of the warm
front
Coriolis effect: The way Earth’s rotation makes the winds curve.
Observe how the Coriolis
effect influences wind
direction.