atmospheric characteristics. weather vs. climate weather: constantly changing, refers to the state...
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Weather vs. Climate
Weather:
Constantly changing, refers to the state of the atmosphere at any given place and time.
Climate:
Observations that have been based over many years. (Describes a place or region)
Properties that we measure
For both Weather and Climate Rainfall
Air Temperature Humidity
Type/Amount of Precipitation Air Pressure
Speed/Direction of Wind
Composition of the Atmosphere
Major Components:– Nitrogen– Oxygen– Argon/Carbon Dioxide
Variable Components:– Water Vapor– Dust Particles– Ozone
Ozone
Q.) What does it do? How do you know?
A.) Protect us from harmful rays; allows for all the different types of life to be on our planet.
Air Pollutants
Three types:
1.) Primary – Emitted from and identifiable source.
2.) Secondary – Not directed into the air.
3.) Photochemical – Reactions by sunlight.
Height of the Atmosphere
Q.) Where does the atmosphere end and space begin?
A.) It thins as you travel up until there are to few gas particles to protect.
Structure of the Atmosphere
Pressure Change: – The weight of the air
above– Heavy to light
Temperature Change:– Hot to cold
Layers of the Atmosphere
Four Layers:– Troposphere: Temp
goes down when altitude goes up.
– Stratosphere: Ozone is here, Temp increases.
– Mesosphere: Temp goes down
– Thermosphere: Temp increases/little amount of atmosphere.
Earth Movements!
Earth Motions:
1.) Rotation: Spinning around on the axis (day)
2.) Revolution: Around the orbit (year)
Earth’s Orientation
Cause for different seasons:– Summer Solstice (June 21 – 22)– Autumnal Equinox (September 22 -23)– Winter Solstice (December 21 – 22)– Vernal (Spring) Equinox (March 21 – 22)
Heat vs. Temperature
Heat: Energy transferred from one object to another; a difference in temperature.
Temperature: The measure of the average energy in an individual object.
Conduction
The transfer of heat through matter by activity
I.E. – Molecules hitting each other!
Heat flows from high to low!
Convection Heat transfer: mass
movement or circulation within a substance
Ex. Water boiling in a pot
Radiation Can travel through space!
Four Laws:
1.) All object emit radiant energy.
2.) Hotter emits more than cold.
3.) Hottest bodies shortest wavelengths.
4.) Absorb and emit radiation.
Electromagnetic Waves
The sun is the ultimate source of energy!
Different waves have different wavelengths
Solar Radiation Three different
results: 1.) Energy absorbed by an object2.) Energy is not contributed to the object.3.) Energy can bounce of an object.
Reflection vs. Scattering
Reflection: Light bounces off an object
Scattering: Weather rays that travel in different directions.
Absorption
Clouds absorb solar energy and heat up the atmosphere
Greenhouse Effect: When air stays heated to help maintain life on Earth
What is it?
Any factor that causes temperature to vary from place to place and from time to time.– Differences in receipt of solar radiation (variation in the
angle of solar rays, length of day, latitude) Other factors include:
– Heating of Land and Water– Altitude– Geographic Position– Cloud Cover– Ocean Currents
Land and Water
Land– Heats more rapidly
and higher temps– Cools more rapidly
and to lower temps– Higher temp
variations
Water– Heats and cools
slowly and has more regulated temperatures
Geographic Position
Costal Location – – Windward = wind blows onto shore
Cool summers and mild winters California Coast
– Leeward = wind blows toward ocean More continental patterns of weather New York Coast
Cloud Cover and Albedo
Albedo and cloud cover relate Day
– Clouds have a high albedo and reflect back a large portion of the sunlight back into space.
– Influences temp in the lower atmosphere
Night– Clouds act as a blanket keeps solar radiation in – Cloudy nights are warmer then clear nights
Isotherms
Allows to study global temperature patterns Effects of he controlling factors of temp
– Especially latitude– Distribution of land and water– Ocean currents
Trend east to west and shows a decrease in temps from the tropics to the poles
Terms to Know
Latent heat: Used to melt ice that does not produce a temperature change. (Hidden)
Evaporation – Liquid to gas
Condensation – Water vapor changes to liquid
Humidity
How much water vapor is in the air.
Types: – Saturation– Relative Humidity– Dew Point– Measuring Humidity
Saturation
When warm air contains more water vapor than cold air
Ex. Water leaving will equal water in the atmosphere
Relative Humidity
A ration of the actual water vapor content compared to the amount of water vapor air can hold.
Lower air temp = increase RH
Raising air temp = decrease in RH
Temperature Change
Adiabatic Temp Change – When air is allowed to expand (cools); compresses (warms)
Dry = Cooling and Heating
Wet = Latent Heat + cooling and heating
Convergence
When the atmosphere flows together it rises.
Ex. Florida peninsula has lots of thunderstorms in the afternoon
Convective Lifting
The heating and lifting of air, creating thermals.
Ex. Birds use them, hang gliders use them
Measurements
Radiosondes – collects weather data in the atmosphere.
Measures the environmental lapse rate.
Temperature Inversion
Air temperature increases with height.
On nights when the cold air is inverted to the top and warm air to the bottom.