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Guided Notes: Atmosphere

Layers of the Atmosphere

Atmosphere: Absorbs solar radiation, Burns up meteors, transports and recycles water, and other chemicals, and moderates climate

Main Components:

o Meteorology is the study of:

Weather Climate

Ex. Ex.

o Air Density : Cold air is __________ dense than warm air.

Pressure SystemsLow Pressure High Pressure

Global Winds :o The atmosphere __________ itselfo It moves __________ air to the poles and __________ air toward the equatoro Jet streams are:

Air Masses are _______ bodies of air that take on the ___________________ of the area they cover (land and water)

Fronts are the __________ regions separating two _____________________.

Front Type Definition SymbolWarm

Cold

Stationary

Occluded

Water Vapor in the Atmosphere

o Precipitation is: __________________________________________________________

Humidity Relative Humidity

o Saturation is when air contains the ______________ quantity of water vapor that it can hold at a given _______________ and _______________. __________ air contains more water vapor than _________ air

Dew Point is: __________________________________________________________________

Cloud Formation

1. Condensation Nuclei:

2. Coalescence:

3. Precipitation:

Clouds are classified by:

Interpreting Weather Models and Maps

We can find all of the following through reading a weather model: Temperature, Dew Point, Cloud Cover, Present Weather, Wind Speed, Wind Direction, Location, and Atmospheric Pressure (mb)

Temperature:

Current Weather:

Dew Point:

Cloud Cover:

Pressure:

Wind Speed:

Wind Direction:

Pressure Differences

Isobars:

Pressure Gradient:

Closely Spaced Isobars:

Widely Spaced Isobars:

Think about it: What causes our seasons? Why is weather different in different seasons?

What’s Taking Place in the Weather Model to the Left?

Severe Weather

Thunderstorms

o Thunderstorms: Generates ____________ and _______________o Gusty Winds, heavy rains, hailo 45, 000 a day across the world!

o Lightening: results from the build up and discharge of electric energy between ______________ charged ground and _____________ clouds.

o Thunder: the sound of rapidly __________ gases usually associated with lightning

Stages of Thunderstorm Development:

Tornados

Take the form of a rotating column of _______

called a ___________

oUplift turns vortex _____________

Pressure ___________ lower than ____________

oAir rushes in to ___________ pressure

Hurricanes

Whirling ___________ that produce winds of at least __________

o Called ____________ in the U.S.

Development-Late __________: Warm _________ to provide heat and moisture

1. Cumulus Stage 2. Mature Stage 3. Dissipating Stage

Parts of a Hurricane

o Eye: __________________________________________________________

o Eye Wall ______________________________________________________

o Spiral Rain Bands _______________________________________________

Hurricane Intensity measured on the ____________________________________

Hurricane Watch Hurricane Warning

World Climates

The Koppen Climate Classification Systemo Most commonly used for classification of ________________o Uses mean monthly and annual ______________ and _________________

Tropical

Temperate

Polar

Dry

Highland

Studying Climate Change

Ice Cores Pollen Analysis

To predict what will happen in the future, scientists use ________________________

Both ___________ factors and _______________ factors are influencing climate!

The Greenhouse Effect-A __________warming of Earth

o Major gases: _____________________________________________________

o Makes life as we know it possible on Earth!

Natural Processes that Change Climate

Volcanic Eruptions

Ocean Circulations

Solar Activity

Earth’s Motions

CO2 Fluctuations

El Nino and La Nina

Human Effect on Climate Change

Global Climate Change= ____________________________________________________o Climate changes naturally, but recent rapid changes are thought to be due to

human activities Earth’s ___________ depends on how much of the sun’s ____________ enters the

atmosphere and how much escapes back into ______________o Atmospheric gases that absorb the radiation are ______________________o This warms the Earth’s surface and is called the _______________________o Rising __________________ of greenhouse gases in recent decades has resulted

in global warming, an increase in ______________________________________

Human Impact on Climate ChangesGlobal Warming

CO2

Burning of Fossil Fuels

Deforestation

Halocarbon Gases

Sea Level Rise

Ocean Acidification

Air Pollution

Air Pollution= ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Natural sources of air pollution include ________________________________________ Human caused air pollution includes:

o Point source: _______________________________________________________ Example: ________________________________

o Nonpoint Source: ____________________________________________________ Example: ________________________________

o Primary Pollutants: ___________________________________________________ Example: ________________________________

o Secondary Pollutants: ________________________________________________ Example: ________________________________

Acid Precipitation= ______________________________________________________o Reactants of pollutants with water, oxygen, and oxidants to form acids that fall on

surface as precipitationo Can fall many miles from where originated!

Think about it: What are some ways we can reduce air pollution?