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Weather
SOL 6.3 and 6.6
Earth’s Energy Budget
• 30% reflected back into space
• 70% absorbed by atmosphere, clouds, land,
and oceans
• Ultraviolet radiant energy is changed to
infrared on earth and then radiated back into
space.
Earth’s Energy Budget
Energy Transfers
• Radiation brings all of
the energy to the Earth
from the sun
• Convection currents
redistribute the energy
throughout the
atmosphere and the
oceans because the
Earth’s surface is
heated unevenly.
Currents in the
Atmosphere and Oceans
• It is currents that
redistribute the energy
all over the planet that
comes from the sun.
The average mean
temperature is fairly
warm because of these
currents. Currents are
caused by density
differences between
hot and cold.
Cloud Formation
• As bodies of water (oceans, lakes, rivers, etc.)
absorb thermal energy, the water evaporates
causing the air to be warm and moist. Warm, moist
air is less dense than cold, dry air, so it rises
relative to colder, drier air. As warm, moist air
rises, it gives off some thermal energy as the
moisture condenses, forming clouds. Clouds are not
gaseous water vapor; rather they are minute,
condensed water particles
Cloud Formation
• Water evaporates into vapor, it then rises
into the atmosphere. It is much cooler in
the upper troposphere so the water vapor
condenses forming clouds
Types of Clouds indicator of
atmospheric conditions
Weather Causes
• Weather is caused by the unequal heating of
the Earth’s surface.
• Warm air rises and cool air sinks
• Warm air is high pressure and cold air is
low pressure
• Low pressure causes some of the worst
weather on Earth
Land is strongly heated and ground is cooler.
May cause tornadoes if enough energy is presen.
form over tropical oceans and get
energy from warm water.
Atmosphere
• The Earth’s atmosphere is 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen,
and the rest trace gases including; argon, carbon
dioxide, and water vapor
Air Pressure
• Air pressure is the amount of air pushing
down on us
• It is measured by a barometer
• Low pressure means lousy weather
• High pressure means fair weather
• Increase in altitude decrease in air pressure
Humidity
• Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air
• The more humid the air is the more uncomfortable
you feel
• 100% humidity is fog
• It is measured with a psychrometer or
hygrometer
• Dew point is the temperature at which the air
becomes 100% humid
Atmospheric Layers
• There are 4 layers of the atmosphere
• Each is based on temperature
• Troposphere is where we live, all weather takes
place, and clouds are found
• Stratosphere is where the jet stream and the
ozone layer is found
• Mesosphere is the coldest and stops most
meteorites burn up
• Thermosphere is the top layer, it is divided into
the ionosphere (northern lights) and the exosphere
(satellites)
Weather Maps
Weather Symbols
Isobars-connect areas of equal pressure
Clean Air
• Forest fires and volcanic eruptions are two natural processes that affect
Earth’s atmosphere. Many gaseous compounds and particles are
released into the atmosphere by human activity. All of the effects of
these materials are not yet fully understood
• Maintaining good air quality is a crucial goal for modern society, and it
is everyone’s responsibility to work toward it.
• Ozone, a form of oxygen, can form near the surface when exhaust
pollutants react with sunlight. This pollutant can cause health
problems. Naturally occurring ozone is also found in the upper
atmosphere and helps to shield Earth from ultraviolet radiation.
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