Download Chapter 11 Atmosphere

Chapter 11 Atmosphere
Atmospheric composition;
78% Nitrogen
21% Oxygen
1% Trace gases
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Trace gases
Trace Gases
• Water Vapor: Invisible gaseous form
of water. The amount in the
atmosphere can vary greatly based
on time of year and location (0%4%).
• Carbon dioxide: Green house gas
that makes up about 0.04 % in the
atmosphere. 150 years ago it was
about 0.028 %.
• This may seem like an insignificant
amount until you consider the ozone
and its importance. There is about
33 times more CO2 than ozone.
Ozone: Three oxygen atoms combine to form O3
(0.0012% of the atm ) which protects people from
the harmful effects of UV radiation. Holes in the
ozone layer are created by CFC’s because the O3 is
relatively unstable and breaks up to form more
stable bonds with the elements in the CFC’s.
Look at page 14 in your ESRT’s. Here you see the same
chart. Which layer has the most moisture in it?
Troposphere --> AKA the “weather sphere”
The troposphere layer
also has the most mass.
What does temperature
do as you increase in
altitude with in the
troposphere?
Does this change occur in
each layer?
Stratosphere: The layer of
atm above the
troposphere which is
composed of ozone.
Three methods of energy transfer
1.
Radiation: The transfer of energy through space.
-50% absorbed and or reflected by the clouds and
atmosphere back into space before it hits the Earth’s
surface.
Three methods of energy transfer continued…
2.
3.
Conduction: The transfer of energy when
molecules are in contact with each other
-land heats up a thin layer of the air above it.
Convection: Heated fluids are less dense and
rise through the medium creating a convection
cell.
Section 11.2 State of the Atmosphere
Temperature: A measurement of how rapidly or
slowly molecules move around.
Heat: Is the transfer of energy
that occurs because of a
difference in temperature.
Section 11.2 State of the Atmosphere
Three temperature scales, all in your ESRTS
Fahrenheit: Old English system
Celsius: Based on the freezing and boiling points of
water.
Kelvin: Based on Absolute zero being zero on this
scale.
Section 11.2 State of the Atmosphere
Dew Point: The temperature at which air needs to
cool in order for condensation to occur.
Condensation: The phase change of water vapor to
a liquid. This requires the air to cool, and a surface
to condense on.
Section 11.2 State of the Atmosphere
*In the first layer of the atmosphere (troposphere)
air temperature decreases as you increase in
altitude.
*Dry adiabatic lapse rate: The rate at which air
cools in unsaturated
(dry) air.
*Air that continues to rise will reach the Lifted
Condensation Level or LCL: the height at which
condensation occurs (clouds form).
From here the air cools at a slower rate in the now
saturated air. This is known as the Moist adiabatic
Lapse rate.
Air Pressure and Density relationships
As Temp
Pressure
As Temp
Pressure
As Temp
Density
As Temp
Density
Temperature inversion: An increase in temperature
with height in an atmospheric layer.
Wind: air movement that results from a difference in
air pressure. Air flows from High to low pressure.
Humidity: The amount of water vapor in the air.
Relative humidity: The amount of water vapor in
air compared to how much the air could hold.
Section: 11.3
Condensation nuclei: Small particles in the
atmosphere that water can condense on to form
water droplets.
*Smoke
*Salt
*Dust
Orographic lifting: When an air mass is forced up
a mountain, it cools, reaches the dew point
temperature and forms clouds and often rains.
Here is an example of Orographic lifting
Here is another example of Orographic lifting
Another way in which clouds form is when air
masses collide. When a less dense warm air mass
hits a cold air mass, the warm air is forced up.
Convergence
• When air converges
from different
directions some of it is
forced to rise.
• This occurs in areas of
Low pressure.
Stability: The ability of an air mass to resist rising.
Latent Heat: The energy that is stored in the air
until condensation occurs. This heat is the result
of the energy it takes to change a liquid to a gas.
In your esrts it is given in Joules, not calories!
Types of Clouds
Clouds are classified by their shape and
by the altitude at which they form.
Types of Clouds
Clouds are
classified by their
shape and by the
altitude at which
they form.
Types of Clouds
Clouds are
classified by their
shape and by the
altitude at which
they form.
Types of Clouds
Clouds are
classified by their
shape and by the
altitude at which
they form.
Types of Clouds
Clouds are
classified by their
shape and by the
altitude at which
they form.
Evaporation: The phase change from a liquid
to a gas. The amount of Joules needed is 2,260.
Coalescence
• One way that cloud droplets
can increase in size. When
cloud droplets collide they
get larger. As these larger
droplets fall they collide with
other droplets. When the
droplets are too large to stay
suspended in the cloud they
fall and it rains.
1. Which layer of the atmosphere contains the
most water vapor?
A) Troposphere
B) Stratosphere
C) Mesosphere
D) Thermosphere
2. Which of the following is not a method of
energy transfer?
A) Conduction
B) Convection
C) Radiation
D) Thermosis
3. Which is not required to form a cloud?
A) Water vapor
B) Warming air
C) Condensation nuclei
D) Cooling air
4. Which is not part of the water cycle?
A) Condensation
B) Transpiration
C) Lithification
D) Infiltration
5. Describe the air flow in low pressure (3 things!) and
how it makes a cloud.
Bonus:How many Joules would it take to
vaporize 10 grams of water?