Download Atmosphere Notes

Atmosphere Notes
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Drill: In the atmosphere, what
happens to the temperature as we
increase altitude (rise)? Why?
Objective: SWBAT review concepts
related to the composition and
layers of the atmosphere in order to
prepare for the quiz.
HW: Study
Composition
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The atmosphere is made of:
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Nitrogen (78%) Used for growth &
repair of cells.
Oxygen (21%) Used to release energy
for plants and animals.
1% Other gases:
Carbon Dioxide (0.036) Waste product for
animals. Plants use for energy.
 Argon, Neon, Helium, Methane, Krypton,
and Hydrogen.
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Layers classified by temperature changes
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Troposphere: Conditions
extremely variable. Weather occurs
here. As we increase height our
temp. decreases due to increased
distance from Earth (source of
warmth)
Stratosphere: Contains Ozone (3
oxygen) which allows for temp. to
increase as you rise through the
atmosphere.
Layers of the Atmosphere Con’t
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Mesosphere: Meteor burn up in this
layer. Temp. decreases as height
increases due to movement away from
heat source (ozone layer).
Thermosphere: Temp. increases as
height increases due to direct contact
with sun’s energy.
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Ionosphere: Aurora Borealis, radio waves
bounce off
Exosphere: Little to nothing in here.
Satellites orbit
Trends
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Density: Density (the amount of
stuff in a given amt. of space)
decreases as height increases due
to gravity.
Pressure: Force applied due to
weight of substance.
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Decreases as height increases.
Gravity: Force that holds our
atmosphere in place.
Vocabulary
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Atmosphere: Layer of gases that
surrounds Earth.
Weather: Condition of Earth’s
atmosphere at a particular time and
place.
Ozone: Form of oxygen that has 3
atoms.
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Absorbs UV radiation
Holds in heat.
Factors Affecting Weather Review
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Characteristics of Air
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Mass: weight
Density: Amount of stuff (material) in a given
amount of space.
Pressure: Amount of force on a given area.
Measuring Air Pressure: Barometer
(inches, milibars)
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Mercury: Liquid mercury rises in the cylinder
as air pressure increases.
Anaroid: Solid thin metal walls that expand or
push in based on atmospheric pressure.
Changes in the Troposphere
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As altitude increases temperature,
density, and pressure decrease.
Energy in the Atmosphere
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Electromagnetic Waves: The sun’s
energy that travels in waves through
space.
3 types of electromagnetic waves reach
our planet
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Visible Light: Roy G. Biv
Infrared Radiation: Felt as heat.
Ultraviolet Radiation: Least amount, causes
skin cancer.
Energy must first pass the atmosphere
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Light can be either reflected or absorbed in
the atmosphere.
Scattering: Reflection in all directions.
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Blue light scatters most making the day skies
appear.
Morning & Evening skies appear pink and red
because light strikes at an angle causing blue
light to scatter even more.
Reflection: Clouds, dust, and gas.
Absorption: Caused by ozone gases and
particles.
Energy Strikes the Surface of Earth
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Energy that makes it through the
atmosphere strikes Earth’s surface.
Absorption: It can be absorbed
heating both land and water.
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Felt as heat (Infrared Radiation) and
trapped by atmosphere called
“Greenhouse Effect”
Reflected: Some is reflected back
into atmosphere.
Heat Transfer : Moving from a hotter
object to a cooler object.
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Temperature: Average amount of
energy of a substance and measured in
Celsius (0 – 100) and Fahrenheit (32 –
212).
3 Types of Transfer
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Radiation: Directly from sun to object.
Conduction: Contact; from 1 object to
another.
Convection: Transfer of heat by
movement of fluid. Ex: boiling a hot dog,
troposphere.
Local Winds: Unequal heating of land
and water, smaller area, changes
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Local Winds can be found near a large body of water
and around mountainous areas.
Sea breezes: Occur during the day time when warm
air rises from the land and is replaced by cooler air
coming from the sea.
Land breezes: Occur at night when cool air from land
blows out to replace warmer air rising from sea.
Monsoons: Land/sea breezes that occur over a larger
area and carry a lot of water with them.
Mountain breezes: Winds and air masses are
funneled up the mountain during the day and directed
down the mountain at night when cooler.
Global Winds: Unequal heating of
globe, larger area, steady.
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Warm air rises near equator and falls
at poles creating wind belts.
Coriolis Effect: Due to rotation of the
Earth winds do not follow a straight
path.
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Northern hemisphere: Turns to right.
Southern hemisphere: Turns to left.
3 major belts:
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Trade winds: Blow from NE to SW
Prevailing Westerlies: Blow from SW to
NE
Polar Easterlies: Blow away from poles,
East to West
Other Areas
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Areas of Inactivity due to rising or
falling air masses.
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Doldrums: Rising air near equator.
Horse Latitudes: Falling air (30 degrees
North).
Jet Stream: Bands of high wind 10
km above Earth’s surface blowing
from West to East.