Download What is Weather.

Introduction to Meteorology
Earth Science – S1
Vocabulary
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Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere
Meteorology
Greenhouse effect
Ionosphere
Greenhouse gasses
Temperature inversion
Weather
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Climate
Ozone
Insolation
Wind chill
Humidity
Dew point
Fog
Cloud
Dew
Frost
What is Weather?
 Weather
 Meteorology
 Is the State of the atmosphere at a
given Time and Place.
 Includes types of clouds
 Rain, snow etc. – Precipitation
 Storms even dust storms
 Measure of temps pressure, wind
speed, direction and amount of
moisture in the air.
 Study of the entire atmosphere.
Including the weather.
 Also the study of how the
atmosphere heats and cools
 How clouds form and produce rain
 What makes the wind blow.
 Past and Present climates.
 Composition of the atmosphere
 Atmosphere of other planets.
 Venus
 Tools of
 Many , instruments have been
meteorology
developed. i.e.. Thermometer
 Lab experiments. Mathematical
models of the atmosphere and
use of computers and satellites.
 Most useful  Simple direct observation. Tells a
lot. Cloudy-rainy cool: Clearwarmer and dry. Even humidity
and pressure can be observed.
 Clouds
 Certain clouds come with weather
and others foretell rain.
 What professions would benefit
from weather forecasting???
 People who
look at the
weather.
 Farmers/Sailors and others
dependent on weather become
skilled at forecasting the
weather.
 A cloud formation predicts the
coming of a storm.
 Red in the morning better take
warning: red at night take
delight.
Weather Models and Scales
 Models and
Scales
 Beaufort
Scale
 Help Scientist accurately predict
the weather.
 Relates the wind speed to its
effects on land and sea.
 Wind Chill
Scale
 The use of this chart can help convert
the actual temperature outside to the
temp the body would feel if exposed to
the air and wind.
 This adjusted temperature indicates
the potential danger of frostbite in the
outside air.
 Frostbite
 Frostbite is, literally, frozen body tissue
- usually skin but sometimes deeper and must be handled carefully to
prevent permanent tissue damage or
loss. Here is an example of frostbite.
There are four degrees
of frostbite.
This is and example of fourth
degree frost bite where only
amputation of the affected area
will save the patient.
Composition of atmosphere
 Gasses
 Air and
Water.
 Mixture. Oxygen, Nitrogen make
up 99%of dry air volume.
 1% argon and carbon dioxide.
 Others … He, H, neon, ozone and
krypton.
 This air thins out quickly as you
increase altitude.
 Air always contains some water
vapor. Humidity.
 Ozone
 Importance
 Result??
 Cause or
depletion of
the ozone
 Is a form of oxygen gas. A molecule of
ozone contains three oxygen atoms. A
molecule of oxygen contains only two
oxygen atoms.
 Ozone forms when ultraviolet light rays
from the sun act on the oxygen in the
upper most part of the atmosphere
about 10 to 50 km up.
 It absorbs 99% of the harmful
ultraviolet rays.
 If the atmosphere has less ozone,
more ultraviolet rays reach Earth’s
surface, causing more sunburns, skin
cancer and plant damage.
 Chlorofluorocarbons or (cfc) Combo of
chlorine, fluorine, and carbon. Used in
coolants and foam products
 CFCs break down ozone.
 Ozone
 Ozone measurements since 1970
show a hole in this protective layer
of gas centered over Antarctica.
 Montreal Protocol
– http://viewpure.com/tnp0YU3u1r4
Layers of Earth’s Atmosphere
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Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere
Ionosphere
Exosphere
Video
 http://viewpure.com/3CerJbZ-dm0
Layers of the Earths Atmosphere.
 Troposphere
 Temperature decreases with
“tropo” means
elevation all earths clouds are
changing
located here. Contains 80% of
mass. 0-18 km
 Stratosphere  Temp rises with elevation.
Contains ozone layer. Little or no
“strato”means
weather here. 18-50km
layers
 Temp cools with elevation. Air
 Mesosphere
molecules become ionized. 50“meso” means
80km
middle
 Thermosphere
“thermo”
means heat
 Ionosphere
 Exosphere
“exo” means
outer
 Temp rises with elevation meteors and
northern lights happen here. 80-500 km
 Consists of mesosphere, thermosphere,
and exosphere.
 Special layer of the atmosphere occurs
from 65-500 km up.
 Ions are formed when UV light from the
sun knock electrons off of oxygen atoms.
 These layers reflect radio waves back to
earth
 Each layer can reflect a different
frequency.
 Affected by solar events.
 Extends toward space.
Northern Lights
 Are caused by solar events . The eruptions
of solar energy interact with Earth’s
magnetic fields at the poles. Together with
the air particles they form auroras.
– http://viewpure.com/7Mz2laHjVoQ
Northern Lights.
Green House Effect
 Green house
effect.
 Green house
gasses.
 Earth surface radiates infrared heat
waves. These waves are reflected
back by water vapor and carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere.
 In a green house the glass roof acts
like the carbon dioxide and water
vapor in the air. It lets the light in to
heat up the soil but does not let the
infrared waves out.
 Gasses that thicken the atmosphere.
– Water vapor
– C02
– Methane
E. Importance of the Atmosphere
1. Stable environment
2. Protection from sun & meteoroids
3. Warmth- water can exist as a liquid
“The Atmosphere” Video Questions
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What does the atmosphere block?
Describe Bill’s “atmosphere cylinder” experiment, & what were his findings?
How do pilot’s determine their current altitude?
Describe the difference of air pressure between Death valley & on top of a
mountain. Why the difference?
5. Why do your ear’s pop in a plane?
6. Order the five layers of the atmosphere from highest to lowest.
7. Why is it warmer in low cities than in the high mountains?
8. How are Earth’s atmosphere and a greenhouse similar?
9. Bill must run around the track _______ times to simulate the height of the
troposphere.
10. Name three topics of the atmosphere that were described in the “weather
rap.”
Video
 Bill Nye: atmosphere
– http://viewpure.com/UZP2pn9Kc44