Download Weather, Climate, Air Pollution

WEATHER, CLIMATE, AIR POLLUTION
Global Climate Change
WEDNESDAY – JANUARY 14TH
1. Components & layers of the atmosphere
2. Climate & Weather
a) Air Circulation in the Atmosphere
b) Types of Winds
c) ENSO
d) Weather Events
3. Greenhouse Effect
AP QUESTION OF THE DAY
OUR ATMOSPHERE
Component
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Water Vapor
Carbon Dioxide
Methane (CH4)
Nitrous Oxide
Ozone
Percentage
78
21
0-4
<<1
<<<1
<<<1
<<<1
STRUCTURE OF THE ATMOSPHERE
Troposphere: 0-7 miles
Mesophere (31-53 miles up)
1. 75% of the atmosphere’s mass!
1. Temperature decreases with altitude
2. Temperature decreases with altitude
2. Coldest layer
3. Where weather occurs
3. Meteors burn up in this layer
Stratosphere: 10-30 miles up
Thermosphere (56 – 600ish miles up)
1. Temperature increases with altitude
due to absorption of heat by ozone
1. Temperature increases with altitude
due to gamma rays, X-rays, and UV
radiation
2. Contains ozone layer
2. Aurora borealis forms here as
molecules are converted into ions
WEATHER & CLIMATE
Weather – conditions of the Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place
Climate - Seasonal pattern of weather conditions in an area over many years;
does not change rapidly
What factors influence climate? Many!
Air mass, air pressure, albedo (reflectivity), altitude, angle of sunlight, clouds,
distance to oceans, fronts, heat, land changes, latitude, humidity, pollution,
rotation, wind patterns, human activity
THE POWER OF CONVECTION
1. Primary determinant of weather patterns!
2. Movement of warmer (more energetic) air molecules
3. When air near the ground becomes warmer (less dense) than the air above it, the air
rises.
4. Pressure differences resulting from temperature differences result in horizontal
convection  WIND.
5. Equator gets most direct sunlight. Latitudinal temp differences create global-scale
flows of energy – and create major weather patterns of the world.
6. Without convection, the equator would be 27F warmer, poles would be 45F colder!
AIR PRESSURE & WEATHER
1. 99% of the mass of the atmosphere is within 20 miles of Earth’s surface
2. Air pressure decreases with altitude
3. Low pressure usually produces cloudy & stormy weather
4. High pressure masses contain cool, dense air - associated with fair weather
WIND PATTERNS
Influenced by temperature, pressure differences, and
Coriolis effect.
Coriolis effect - from Hank!
Trade Winds: prevailing pattern of easterly surface
winds in the tropics
*Cool history fact – these winds enabled European
empire expansion into the Americas
WINDS – AIR CIRCULATION CELLS
1. Hadley Cells
A. Air heated near the equator rises and spreads out north and south.
B. After cooling in the upper atmosphere, it sinks back to the Earth within the
subtropical zone.
C. Surface air from the subtropical regions returns to the equator to replace rising
air.
D. Equatorial Regions of Hadley Cells : High humidity, high clouds, heavy rain.
E. Subtropical Regions of Hadley Cells: Low humidity, little cloud formation, deserts.
HADLEY CELLS
WINDS – AIR CIRCULATION CELLS
ENSO
El Nino Southern Oscillation
NEXT TIME – COMPUTER LAB
Greenhouse gases
Bring headphones to watch videos!
Ch 19 reading guide and link to Quizlet is on BowieAPES.weebly.com
WEATHER PRACTICE
BioZone Workbook
Atmosphere and Climate – pg 25
Variation and Oscillation – pg 27
Ocean Circulation and Currents – pg 29
Write answers on your own paper. Extra credit – your choice!
FRIDAY
Air Pollution
Major Culprits – 6 Criteria Pollutants
Smog
Ozone Depletion
Acid Rain
Motor Vehicles and Air Pollution
Indoor Air Pollution
Sick Building Syndrome
TUESDAY
Climate Change