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Weather, Layers of the Atmosphere and Energy Transfer

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rebelbrindley

The document discusses key concepts about weather and climate including: Weather refers to current atmospheric conditions while climate describes typical patterns over many years. The atmosphere is made up mainly of nitrogen, oxygen, and other gases like carbon dioxide and water vapor. It is divided into layers with varying temperatures, and nearly all weather occurs in the troposphere closest to Earth. Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide trap heat in the atmosphere, creating a natural greenhouse effect that makes the planet habitable. However, increased greenhouse gases from human activities threaten to disrupt the climate.

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What is weather? The state of the atmosphere at a given time and place. ex. Partly cloudy with 50% chance of rain today Then, what is climate? Typical patterns over a period of years in a given location ex. Temperate climate
What gases make up the atmosphere? • • • • 78% nitrogen 21% oxygen 1% other argon, carbon dioxide, helium, hydrogen, neon, water vapor, dust
Weather, Layers of the Atmosphere and Energy Transfer
Troposphere (0-18km) • Closest to Earth • Layer in which almost all weather occurs • Nearly all CO2 and H2O vapor found here Tropopause • Temp. remains nearly constant –55 oC • Clouds in this region consist mainly of ice
Stratosphere (20-50km) • Very little H20 vapor and dust • Contains ozone layer • Protects humans and all other organisms by absorbing UV rays • Super Sonic Jets fly in this layer
Mesosphere (50-80km) • Coldest layer of the atmosphere Thermosphere (80-500km) • Hottest layer of the atmosphere – Few molecules but, the molecules absorb Sun’s UV rays and heat up individual molecules
Ionosphere (65-500km) • Atoms become charged due to intense radiation • Located within the Thermosphere Exosphere • Outermost layer of the atmosphere • Gradually fades out into space
Exosphere • Outermost layer of the atmosphere • Gradually fades out into space Ionosphere (65-500km) • Atoms become charged due to intense radiation Thermosphere (80-500km) • Hottest layer of the atmosphere Mesosphere (50-80km) • Coldest layer of the atmosphere • Extremely high winds • Jet stream – airplanes fly here Stratosphere (20-50km) • Very little H20 vapor and dust • Contains ozone layer • Protects humans and all other organisms by absorbing UV rays Tropopause • Temp. remains nearly constant – 55oC • Clouds in this region consist mainly of ice • As you move away from the Earth, the temp. in each layer changes Troposphere (0-18km) • Closest to Earth • Layer in which almost all weather occurs • Nearly all CO2 and H2O vapor found here
OZONE LAYER • The sun produces many types of radiation, including light and ultraviolet (UV) rays • UV rays can cause skin cancer if we receive too much • Ozone layer protects us from most of the harmful rays by absorbing 99% of UV radiation • BUT……. • The ozone layer is thinning b/c we use CFC’s CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS • CFC’s are used as coolants in refrigerators, air conditioners; propellants (think of aerosol hairsprays); and in making foam • Why are CFC’s so bad?
OZONE LAYER • Here’s what happens when CFC’s get into the ozone layer…. • NORMALLY… UV rays break down ozone, which can reform under normal conditions and absorb more UV rays  GOOD • BUT… CFCs prevent ozone from reforming; Cl atom can destroy thousands of ozone molecules.
Heat & Temperature Changes in the Atmosphere • Changes in weather involve air movements, formation of clouds, and precipitation. • Energy is needed to make these things happen. • The energy comes from the SUN.
Heat & Temperature Changes in the Atmosphere 3 Ways to Transfer Heat… RADIATION • Transfer of heat energy in waves (infrared waves or light) • Ex. Your head gets hot when you sit by the pool in the summer as it absorbs the sun’s energy
Heat & Temperature Changes in the Atmosphere CONDUCTION • Transfer of heat through direct contact • Ex. Your feet get hot when you stand barefoot on a hot sidewalk
Heat & Temperature Changes in the Atmosphere CONVECTION • Transfer of heat through currents in heated material • Only occurs in liquids and gases • Ex. Cooking rice on a stove
RADIATION CONVECTION CONDUCTION
The Wonderful GREENHOUSE EFFECT • The atmosphere acts like a blanket to keep in the sun’s warmth • If we didn’t have our atmosphere, it would be 400oF (200oC) during the day, and -420oF (250oC) at night! • GREENHOUSE EFFECT: trapping of the sun’s energy by the atmosphere • Several gases are responsible for this effect… – – – – – Carbon dioxide (CO2) Water vapor Nitrous oxide (N2O) Methane (CH4) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s)
The Wonderful GREENHOUSE EFFECT • Unfortunately, greenhouse effect is increasing due to… – burning of fossil fuels – industry waste Why is this considered a bad thing? • A warmer atmosphere could… • melt the ice caps of the world raise sea levels and flood coastal areas around the world shift rainfall patterns around the world

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Weather, Layers of the Atmosphere and Energy Transfer

  • 1. What is weather? The state of the atmosphere at a given time and place. ex. Partly cloudy with 50% chance of rain today Then, what is climate? Typical patterns over a period of years in a given location ex. Temperate climate
  • 2. What gases make up the atmosphere? • • • • 78% nitrogen 21% oxygen 1% other argon, carbon dioxide, helium, hydrogen, neon, water vapor, dust
  • 4. Troposphere (0-18km) • Closest to Earth • Layer in which almost all weather occurs • Nearly all CO2 and H2O vapor found here Tropopause • Temp. remains nearly constant –55 oC • Clouds in this region consist mainly of ice
  • 5. Stratosphere (20-50km) • Very little H20 vapor and dust • Contains ozone layer • Protects humans and all other organisms by absorbing UV rays • Super Sonic Jets fly in this layer
  • 6. Mesosphere (50-80km) • Coldest layer of the atmosphere Thermosphere (80-500km) • Hottest layer of the atmosphere – Few molecules but, the molecules absorb Sun’s UV rays and heat up individual molecules
  • 7. Ionosphere (65-500km) • Atoms become charged due to intense radiation • Located within the Thermosphere Exosphere • Outermost layer of the atmosphere • Gradually fades out into space
  • 8. Exosphere • Outermost layer of the atmosphere • Gradually fades out into space Ionosphere (65-500km) • Atoms become charged due to intense radiation Thermosphere (80-500km) • Hottest layer of the atmosphere Mesosphere (50-80km) • Coldest layer of the atmosphere • Extremely high winds • Jet stream – airplanes fly here Stratosphere (20-50km) • Very little H20 vapor and dust • Contains ozone layer • Protects humans and all other organisms by absorbing UV rays Tropopause • Temp. remains nearly constant – 55oC • Clouds in this region consist mainly of ice • As you move away from the Earth, the temp. in each layer changes Troposphere (0-18km) • Closest to Earth • Layer in which almost all weather occurs • Nearly all CO2 and H2O vapor found here
  • 9. OZONE LAYER • The sun produces many types of radiation, including light and ultraviolet (UV) rays • UV rays can cause skin cancer if we receive too much • Ozone layer protects us from most of the harmful rays by absorbing 99% of UV radiation • BUT……. • The ozone layer is thinning b/c we use CFC’s CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS • CFC’s are used as coolants in refrigerators, air conditioners; propellants (think of aerosol hairsprays); and in making foam • Why are CFC’s so bad?
  • 10. OZONE LAYER • Here’s what happens when CFC’s get into the ozone layer…. • NORMALLY… UV rays break down ozone, which can reform under normal conditions and absorb more UV rays  GOOD • BUT… CFCs prevent ozone from reforming; Cl atom can destroy thousands of ozone molecules.
  • 11. Heat & Temperature Changes in the Atmosphere • Changes in weather involve air movements, formation of clouds, and precipitation. • Energy is needed to make these things happen. • The energy comes from the SUN.
  • 12. Heat & Temperature Changes in the Atmosphere 3 Ways to Transfer Heat… RADIATION • Transfer of heat energy in waves (infrared waves or light) • Ex. Your head gets hot when you sit by the pool in the summer as it absorbs the sun’s energy
  • 13. Heat & Temperature Changes in the Atmosphere CONDUCTION • Transfer of heat through direct contact • Ex. Your feet get hot when you stand barefoot on a hot sidewalk
  • 14. Heat & Temperature Changes in the Atmosphere CONVECTION • Transfer of heat through currents in heated material • Only occurs in liquids and gases • Ex. Cooking rice on a stove
  • 16. The Wonderful GREENHOUSE EFFECT • The atmosphere acts like a blanket to keep in the sun’s warmth • If we didn’t have our atmosphere, it would be 400oF (200oC) during the day, and -420oF (250oC) at night! • GREENHOUSE EFFECT: trapping of the sun’s energy by the atmosphere • Several gases are responsible for this effect… – – – – – Carbon dioxide (CO2) Water vapor Nitrous oxide (N2O) Methane (CH4) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s)
  • 17. The Wonderful GREENHOUSE EFFECT • Unfortunately, greenhouse effect is increasing due to… – burning of fossil fuels – industry waste Why is this considered a bad thing? • A warmer atmosphere could… • melt the ice caps of the world raise sea levels and flood coastal areas around the world shift rainfall patterns around the world

Editor's Notes

  1. Layers are hyperlinked to slides. Go to Ozone layer after doing layers of atmosphere