Download Weather vs Climate

Earth Science
Interactions among Earth’s
Spheres
Benchmarks
• SC.6.E.7.4 Differentiate and show interactions among the
geosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere.
• SC.6.E.7.2 Investigate and apply how the cycling of water
between the atmosphere and hydrosphere has an effect on
weather patterns and climate.
• SC.6.E.7.3 Describe how global patterns such as the jet stream
and ocean currents influence local weather in measurable terms
such as temperature, air pressure, wind direction and speed, and
humidity and precipitation.
• SC.6.E.7.6 Differentiate between weather and climate.
• SC.6.E.7.9 Describe how the composition and structure of the
atmosphere protects life and insulates the planet.
Benchmark Clarifications
Students will differentiate and/or explain interactions among the geosphere,
hydrosphere, cryosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere.
Students will describe and/or explain how the cycling of water and global patterns
influence local weather and climate.
Students will differentiate between weather and climate.
Students will describe the composition and structure of the atmosphere and/or how the
atmosphere protects life and insulates the planet.
SC. 6.E.7.4 Vocabulary
geosphere
hydrosphere
cryosphere
atmosphere
biosphere
Meteorology
• Meteorology is the study of the atmosphere.
• The atmosphere is a layer of gases and particles that surround the
earth.
• Influences almost every living thing.
• Weather is the general condition of the atmosphere at a particular
place and time. (LOCAL)
• Climate is the general weather condition over many years.
(WORLD-WIDE)
Spheres
Identify what spheres are shown in
each of the pictures above?
Weather Patterns
How does the ocean
circulation pattern
shown above effect
Florida’s weather?
What will happen to
the weather when the
cold air reaches the
warm Florida air?
Weather vs Climate
Which map above shows Weather and which
shows Climate? Explain your choice.
Atmosphere
• Layers of the Atmosphere
• Think about:
How do the layers of the atmosphere work together to protect life
on Earth?
Sun Heating Earth
Explain why the wind patterns shown above occur.
Radiation, Conduction, Convection
Which type of heat transfer does each image represent?
Composition of Atmosphere
• The most abundant elements in the air are the gases nitrogen
(±75%), oxygen (±24%) and argon (±1%).
• The most abundant compounds in the air are the gases carbon
dioxide (CO2) and water vapor (H2O).
• Ozone (O3) is found in the upper atmosphere. It absorbs harmful
ultraviolet rays from the sun.
Atmospheric Pressure
• Gravity pulls the gases of the atmosphere toward the earth’s
surface and holds them there.
• The ratio of the weight of the air to the area of the surface on
which it presses is called atmospheric pressure.
• Since there is less air at higher altitudes, there is less weight
pressing down. This explains why there is lower atmospheric
pressure at higher altitudes.
Barometer
• A barometer is an
instrument that
measures atmospheric
pressure.
• Two types – mercurial
and aneroid. Miami
averages ±30 inches of
Hg.
Layers of the Atmosphere
• Four basic layers:
• Troposphere – closest to the earth. Nearly all weather changes occur
here.
• Stratosphere – second layer from the earth. Most of the ozone is found
here.
• Mesosphere – known for its significant temperature drop.
• Thermosphere – Last layer. Very thin air.
Air Pollution
• Any substance in the atmosphere that is harmful to people,
animals, plants or property is an air pollutant.
• Main source is the burning of fossil fuels.
• Gases emitted by the burning of fossil fuels form acids when
combined with water in the air – Acid Precipitation.
• International and federal intervention is needed.
Solar Energy
• All the energy the earth receives from the sun travels through
space between the earth and the sun as radiation.
• Light is a form of radiation we can see; however, there are many
other forms that cannot be seen.
• The waves that make up all forms of radiation are called
electromagnetic waves.
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Scattering
• Water and dust suspended in the atmosphere reflect and bend the
sun’s rays. As a result, sunlight comes from all directions.
• Short wavelengths (blue) are easier to scatter making the sky blue.
• Long wavelengths (red) are last to be scattered making the sun red
at dawn/dusk.
Reflection
• Of the total amount of solar energy reaching the earth’s
atmosphere, about 20% is absorbed by the atmosphere.
• About 30% is scattered back into space or reflected by the clouds
or surface.
• About 50% is absorbed by the surface.
• The different surfaces on earth vary their absorption and
reflection rate.
The Greenhouse Effect
• Gas molecules in the atmosphere trap heat energy and prevent it
from escaping back into space. As a result the lower atmosphere
becomes warm.
• Essentially, rays come in but can’t get out.
• Similar to a vehicle on a hot day.
The Greenhouse Effect
Conduction and Convection
• Not all heating of the atmosphere comes from radiation.
• Conduction has particle to particle contact.
• Convection involves the movement of gases or liquids when they
are heated unevenly.
• Cooler air sinks / Warmer air rises.
Winds
• More solar energy at equator cause a belt of low pressure.
• The poles have colder, heavier air that tends to sink.
• Pressure differences in the atmosphere at the equator and at the
poles create a general movement of air worldwide.
Winds
Breezes
• Gentle winds that extend over distances of less than 100 km are
called breezes.
• Land surfaces heat up faster and cool more rapidly than water
surfaces do.
• During the day, warm air above the land rises and the cool air
above the water moves in to replace it.
• During the night, vice versa.
Atmospheric Moisture
• The amount of water vapor in the atmosphere is known as
humidity.
• When the air holds all the water vapor it can, it is said to be
saturated.
• The higher the temperature, the more water vapor it can hold.
• Relative Humidity compares the mass of water vapor in the air
with the amount of water vapor the air can hold at that
temperature.
Atmospheric Moisture
• A psychrometer, hair hygrometer or electric hygrometer are
instruments used to measure relative humidity.
• Specific humidity refers to the actual amount of water vapor in
the air.
• The temperature to which air must be cooled to reach saturation
is dew point. Any temperature below dew point will cause dew.
• If the dew point is below the freezing temperature of water, water
vapor will change directly into solid ice crystals, or frost.
Dew and frost.
Remember condensation and deposition?
Clouds and Fog
• Clouds and fog are visible masses of tiny water or ice particles
suspended in the atmosphere.
• Both originate from water vapor in the air.
• Not all clouds cause rain.
• Fog generally forms near the surface of the earth when air close to
the ground is cooled.
Clouds
Fog
Precipitation
• Any moisture that falls from the air to earth’s surface is called
precipitation.
• Rain is liquid precipitation. Measured with rain gauge.
• Drizzle if < .5 mm in diameter.
• Snow is the most common form of solid precipitation.
• Sleet is ice pellets that form when rain falls through a layer of
freezing air.
• Hail is lumps of ice. Can be spherical or irregular.
Air Masses
• A large body of air with uniform temperature and moisture
content is called an air mass.
• Air masses over polar regions are usually very cold and dry.
• Air masses over tropical regions are usually warm and moist.
• Air masses are classified according to their source region.
Fronts
• When two unlike air masses meet, density differences usually keep
the two air masses separate.
• The boundary that forms between the two air masses is called a
front.
• The kind of front that forms depends on how the air masses are
moving.
Types of Fronts
• Cold front – when a cold air mass overtakes a warm air mass.
• A long line of thunderstorms, called a squall line, may occur just ahead of
a fast moving cold front.
• Warm front – when a warm air mass overtakes a cooler air mass.
• Stationary front – when two air masses meet and neither is
displaced.
• Occluded front – when a fast moving cold front overtakes a warm
front, lifting the warm air completely off the ground.
Cyclones
• A severe tropical storm, with windspeeds starting at 120km/hr is
called a hurricane.
• In the North Pacific they are called typhoons.
• A storm accompanied by thunder, lightning and strong winds is
called a thunderstorm.
• A tornado is a whirling, funnel shaped cyclone.
• Tornadoes over the ocean are called waterspouts.
Weather Instruments
• Thermometer – measure temperature.
• Anemometer – measures wind speed.
• Wind vane – determines wind direction.
• Radiosonde – instrument package to investigate weather
conditions in the upper atmosphere.
• Radar – uses radio waves to detect precipitation and storms.
• Supercomputers – store weather data, interpret data, and forecast.