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LAYERS OF THE ATMOSPHERE Troposphere From Earth’s surface to about 9 miles. The densest of the atmospheric layers. Almost all weather is in this region. Temperatures decrease here. LAYERS OF THE ATMOSPHERE Stratosphere Starts above the troposphere (9 – 31 miles). The ozonosphere, or ozone layer, is located here. UV radiation is absorbed and scattered here in the ozonosphere. Temperatures increase here. LAYERS OF THE ATMOSPHERE Mesosphere Just above the stratosphere and extends from 32 – 53 miles high. Meteors burn in this layer. Temperatures decrease to extremely cold temperatures, around -90 degrees Celsius Thermosphere Very thin air here. Temperatures increase here, up to 2,000 degrees Celsius! The Space Station is located here. LAYERS OF THE ATMOSPHERE Exosphere The upper layer of the atmosphere. Atoms and molecules in this layer escape into space. Temperature decreases due to the escaping of atmospheric gases in space. Weather & Climate Definitions Weather- “the state of the atmosphere with respect to heat or cold, wetness or dryness, calm or storm, clearness or cloudiness”. Climate – “the average course or condition of the weather at a place usually over a period of years as exhibited by temperature, wind velocity, and precipitation” High Pressure Higher pressure than what is normal for that altitude. What do you notice about the air in this region? Brings clear skies and fair weather. The sinking cold air warms as it does so and becomes stable. Picture taken from: http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/Atmosphere/high_pressure.html Low Pressure • A low pressure region (depression or cyclone) is caused by rising air. • Clouds, rain, and very strong winds occur. • Why do you think that is? Picture taken from: http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/Atmosphere/low_pressure.html Cloud In A Bottle [Demonstration] Watch the cloud demonstration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft7q6efRIic What were the key ingredients in creating the cloud? How is this representative of what might take place in the atmosphere? Cloud Types Picture taken from: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cloud_types.jpg WARM FRONTS The “semicircles” point in the direction of the cold front. Warm air (higher temperatures) follows a warm front. Creates stratus clouds “Overcast” skies Fog Precipitation: Rain or Snow Example of a Warm Front Why is the warm air forced to “retreat” upward? COLD FRONTS The “triangles” point in the direction of the warm front. Cool or cold air (lower temperatures) follows. Creates the cumulus or cumulonimbus clouds Heavier precipitation: Showers Violent thunderstorms Example of a Cold Front What direction is the cumulonimbus going? Why (HINT: density, air, and wind) Why does the cloud “break off” into smaller clouds? (HINT: Warm air / The Sun) STATIONARY FRONTS The “blue triangles” point toward warm air; the “semicircles” point toward cold/cool air. Has characteristics of both warm and cold fronts. Causes weather patterns / precipitation to remain at a “standoff” for many days. OCCLUDED FRONTS The “triangles” and “semicircles” are purple and point in the direction it is going towards. Not as common as other fronts. Formed from warm air is “caught” between a cool front that is leaving and a cold front that is approaching. Creates a huge accumulation of different clouds and storm systems. Can be quite volatile Areas of high and VERY low pressure. Example of Occluded Front There’s a lot going on in this uncommon front. What types of weather occurrences do you think could happen from occluded fronts of VERY low pressure? Weather Map RELATIVE HUMIDITY Relative humidity is the amount of moisture in the air. Compares the actual amount of water vapor in the air with the maximum amount of water vapor the air can hold at that temperature. Humidity is dependent on the temperature Measured in percentages Abbreviated as “RH” (know this for lab reports!) A hygrometer is a tool that measures the ratio of humidity to the temperature at that time. The higher the humidity, the less evaporation that is occurring We Are Sensitive To Humidity At 100% humidity sweat will not evaporate into the air. What does this mean to us? We will feel hotter than the actual temperature. How would we feel at 20% humidity? We would feel much cooler than the actual temp. because we are sweating, thus cooling us off. TEMPERATURE Temperature is a measure of the energy of molecules. The average heat or thermal energy of the particles in a substance Measured in Degree units (Celsius, Fahrenheit, or Kelvin). The more energy the molecules in air have, the hotter it feels. A thermometer is a tool that measures the temperature of a substance. WIND What do you think wind is? Where do you think wind comes from? Let’s Find Out! (Take brief notes from the videos) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCLwbqmacck https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBqohRu2RRk WIND Wind is “air in motion” from an area of high pressure to low pressure WITH the rotation of Earth on its axis. Wind Speed: the speed at which wind travels from one region to the next Wind Direction: the directional path of air’s motion in relation to the spinning of Earth’s axis The POLES are areas of HIGH pressure. The EQUATOR is an area of LOW pressure. Why do hurricanes begin at or near the equator? DID YOU KNOW…? Depending on which hemisphere of the Earth its located in, a tropical storm has a different name? They also spin in a DIFFERENT direction! TAKE NOTES ON THESE VIDEOS ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS: 1. What hemisphere are hurricanes formed in? 2. What hemisphere are cyclones formed in? 3. What direction does a hurricane go: clockwise or counter-clockwise? 4. What direction does a cyclone go: clockwise or counter-clockwise? VIDEO OBSERVATIONS SuperStorm Sandy: http://oceantoday.noaa.gov/makingofasuperstorm/ Australia’s Cyclones:http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2015/0 2/19/ct-australia-queensland-cyclone-sandwich.cnn WIND (CONTINUED) Tropical storms in the Northern Hemisphere are called “hurricanes” and spin “counter-clockwise.” Tropical storms in the Southern Hemisphere are called “cyclones” and spin “clockwise.” BUT WHY?! It’s because of the Coriolis Effect CORIOLIS EFFECT The Coriolis Effect is the apparent deflection of moving objects when the motion is described relative to something rotating. Take Notes on This Video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2mec3vgeaI DEMONSTRATION TIME The Coriolis Effect can be a difficult thing to understand, so we may need some practice… RULES OF THE DEMONSTRATION Only one balloon per group. You only get 1 balloon. Do not pop your balloon.Y.O.G.O. (You Only Get One) No spitting in your balloon. Do not deflate your balloon until I tell you to do so; there is a particular way to deflate balloons without popping them. At the end of the demonstration, dispose of the balloon. NO BALLOONS LEAVE THE CLASSROOM. CORIOLIS EFFECT DEMONSTRATION QUESTIONS Materials (per each student pair) 1 Balloon (round) 2 Markers (different colors, readable when applied to balloons) Time Given: 15 minutes! Questions To Answer (as a group) 1. As you look down from the North Pole to the equator, what direction does the balloon appear to spin: clockwise or counter-clockwise? 2. As you look up from the South Pole to the equator, what direction does the balloon appear to spin: clockwise or counter-clockwise? 3. What happened when you tried to draw a STRAIGHT line from the North Pole to the equator? 1. 4. What does this represent in relation to wind, high pressure, and low pressure? What happened when you tried to draw a STRAIGHT line from the South Pole to the equator? 1. What does this represent in relation to wind, high pressure, and low pressure? 1. As you look down from the North Pole toward the equator, which way is the balloon spinning, clockwise or counterclockwise? The balloon appears to be spinning counterclockwise. 1. As you look up from the South Pole toward the equator, which way is the balloon spinning, clockwise or counterclockwise? The balloon appears to be spinning clockwise. 2. What happened when you tried to draw a straight line from the North Pole to the equator? The line was not straight but instead veered west of the intended path (to the right, when examining the line from the North Pole to the equator). 3. What happened when you tried to draw a straight line from the South Pole to the equator? The line was not straight but instead veered east of the intended path (to the left, when examining the line from the South Pole to the equator). GLOBAL WIND PATTERNS Due in part by the Coriolis Effect, global wind patterns occur and also influence ocean currents. Global wind patterns are alternating areas of high and low pressure, which causes wind patterns to go in certain ways. All global wind patterns are named from the direction in which they originate. Think of a hurricane—does it go straight or does it curve? It curves because of these global wind patterns! POLAR EASTERLIES Winds come from the east and go west. Located between 60-90 degrees in both hemispheres (North and South) Travels away from the poles toward 60 degree latitude. Why? Remember, the poles are an area of HIGH pressure and 60 degree latitude is an area of LOW pressure known as the “Subpolar Low Latitudes” PREVAILING WESTERLIES Winds come from the west and go east. Located between 30-60 degree latitudes in both hemispheres. Travels from the “horse latitudes” toward the “subpolar lows” If that’s true…then what type of pressure would the “horse latitudes” be? Since the subpolar lows are areas of LOW pressure (and air travels from HIGH to LOW), that means that the “horse latitudes” must be areas of HIGH pressure. Responsible for the weather movements across the US and Canada. HORSE LATITUDES Also known as “subtropical highs” Located at 30 degrees latitude. Calm winds and little precipitation. Areas of HIGH pressure, which means sunny skies and clear weather. According to legend, during European colonization ships coming to the New World would stall for days or even weeks when they came through these latitudes. In order to preserve drinking water and food, they would toss the horses they were carrying as cargo overboard—hence the name “horse latitudes.” TRADE WINDS Winds come from the east and go west. Located between 0-30 degree latitudes in both hemispheres. Travels from the “horse latitudes” toward the “equatorial doldrums.” What type of pressure MUST the equatorial doldrums be? If the wind is coming from the horse latitudes (HIGH) and going toward the doldrums, then the doldrums must be an area of LOW pressure. EQUATORIAL DOLDRUMS Extremely calm weather. An area of LOW pressure with little to no wind. The continuous flow of warm trade winds along with the extremely warm waters of the equator make this area very warm…but the warm air is constantly rising from updrafts—thus producing an area of little to no wind. COOL STORY BRO: Basically, there is very little “uneven temperature differences” here because it is just warm air that rises up. If there is no uneven temperature here, then there is little to no wind. REVIEW! 1. Draw a big circle on your whiteboard. 2. Divide your circle into 6 equal (horizontal) pieces. 3. Draw and label the NORTH & SOUTH POLES. 4. Label where the EQUATORIAL DOLDRUMS (0) would be. 5. Label where the SUBPOLAR LOWS (60) would be. 6. Label where the HORSE LATITUDES (30) would be. 7. Draw the POLAR EASTERLIES with arrows in the direction the wind would go. 8. Draw the PREVAILING WESTERIES with arrows in the direction the wind would go. 9. Draw the NE & SE TRADE WINDS with arrows in the direction the wind would go. TORNADOES Spinning funnel clouds created from thunderstorm (cumulonimbus) clouds. Funnel clouds must connect from the source cloud to the ground to be classified as a tornado. Up to 300 mph Tornadoes form from updrafts rising and downdrafts sinking too quickly. Updrafts: wet, warm air Downdrafts: cool, condensing air Most tornadoes occur around “Tornado Alley” HURRICANES Tropical depression (39 mph) tropical storm (40-73 mph) hurricane (over 74 mph) Hurricanes have categories: from 1-5 (1 being 75 mph; 5 being 155+ mph) Lose power when they hit land Caused from updrafts and downdrafts (like a tornado), but powered by the warm air of the ocean and the Coriolis Effect. The “eye” of the storm is incredibly calm in comparison to the outer ring. FLOODS Known as an overabundance of water in a normally dry area. Comes from a variety of sources, such as heavy rainfall and mountain snowmelt. Mississippi River Flood of 1927: 27,000 square miles of flooding. Storm Surges Occurs when a hurricane pushes a big pile of water along the ocean as it moves. Flash Floods are short-term, intense and quickly-developing floods. The main difference between floods and flash floods is the size - flash floods are small and short-term JIGSAW ACTIVITY • Remember your number, you will need it for tomorrow’s lesson! o Write it down at the top of your handout if you think you will forget it! • You are responsible for only reading your assigned group’s text! Assigned Reading for Homework • 1s & 4s: Tornadoes • 2s & 5: Hurricanes • 3s & 6s: Floods CONVECTION CURRENTS Convection: the movement of a liquid, typically in a response to heat. Equilibrium: a state of equality or “balance” Diffusion: the transfer of particles to maintain equilibrium without a chemical reaction CAPE HATTERAS Cape Hatteras is considered to be the “Graveyard of the Atlantic” Why do you think its earned that nickname? Cape Hatteras is known for its dense concentration of fog and atmospheric storms. Why would Cape Hatteras have large amounts of fog and storms? The shipwrecks near Cape Hatteras have happened mainly due to the Gulf Stream. THE GULF STREAM The Gulf Stream is the strongest known current in the world, located in the Atlantic Ocean. Extends from the Gulf of Mexico and ends at the eastern coastlines near Newfoundland. Affected by global warming: The Gulf Stream moved north 125 miles in 2011! If global warming continues, then it may be too far to supply warm water to Northern Europe. What could happen if Northern Europe did not receive warm water from the G.S.? THE GULF STREAM (CONT.) The Gulf Stream’s warm waters directly affect the climate of areas that are on the east coast of the United States and western Europe. Cape Hatteras is unique because the cold ocean currents from the Northern Labrador Currents mix with the warm ocean currents of the Gulf Stream to create the fog and atmospheric storms there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuGrBhK2c7U RESEARCH & REVISIT 1. In Google, type in “gulf stream cape hatteras” 2. Click on the first link from “wavetrain.net” called “CAPE HATTERAS: Transit Strategies – Wavetrain” 3. Read the article and, in your JOURNAL, answer these three questions. (Label this Journal 11/5): 1. The Gulf Stream flows through the Straits of Florida at how many cubic meters per second? 2. Water in the stream just past Cape Hatteras is typically how many degrees Fahrenheit? 3. Approximately how many recreational vessels enter the ICW at Norfolk, Virginia each year? JET STREAM The jet stream is basically a “river of wind” above the Earth’s surface. The greater the difference in air temperature, the faster the jet stream. Reach winds up to 250 mph or greater (average is 110 mph) Typically, the jet stream separates cool and warm air patterns. Where would these air patterns come from? A jet can get sucked into the jet stream. This causes it to go much faster, BUT become a bumpy ride.