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Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1

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Page 1: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Characteristics of the Atmosphere

18-1

Page 2: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Layers of the Atmosphere

Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago.– Earth’s surface cooled and formed a crust.

Out-gassing, primarily from volcanoes, released the gasses that made up the primitive atmosphere (NH3, CH4, CO2, CO, H2O, N2).

Additional water was added to the planet by icy comets that struck the surface of the Earth.

Page 3: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Layers of the Atmosphere

About 2.5 billion years ago, the earliest forms of plant life evolved. – These organisms were capable of photosynthesis,

and oxygen gas (O2) was slowly added to the atmosphere.

Photosynthesis

CO2 + H2O X sunlight = C6H12O6 + O2

(carbon dioxide + water X sunlight = sugar + oxygen)

Page 4: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Layers of the Atmosphere

Photosynthesis Gas in the air

Page 5: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Layers of the Atmosphere 350 million years ago, oxygen gas reached levels

similar to what they are today (approximately 21% oxygen).

Present atmosphere has four primary layers that are distinguished by changes in temperature and pressure as altitude increases.

1. Troposphere: 10 miles high; all weather ; most dense 2. Stratosphere: from 10 to 30 miles; ozone layer 3. Mesosphere: from 30 to 50 miles; middle layer - Ionosphere: where auroras are made 4. Thermosphere: from 50 to 300 miles; very hot - Exosphere: from 300 to ?; the outer layer of the

thermosphere

Page 6: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Atmospheric Layers

Page 7: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Layers of the Atmosphere

The Oxygen/Carbon Dioxide Cycle - the processes by which plants and animals share and exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide.– Plants take in CO2 during photosynthesis and

produce O2 as a by-product.

– Animals (aerobic, Oxygen-breathing organisms) take in O2 during respiration and produce CO2 as a by-product.

This has kept the level of Oxygen stable in our atmosphere.

Page 8: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Layers of the Atmosphere

Respiration

C6H12O6 + O2 CO2 + H2O

(sugar + oxygen yields carbon dioxide + water)

All mammals carry out this process to breathe

** Plants also release water vapor through transpiration

Page 9: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Layers of the Atmosphere The Greenhouse Effect - caused by the

absorption of the Sun’s heat by the greenhouse gasses (mostly CO2, H2O,) in the atmosphere.

– These gasses trap heat near the surface of the planet helping to keep it warm (like blankets).

– There has been a huge increase in the amount of CO2 in our atmosphere mostly due to the burning of fossil fuels (gas, oil, coal, etc.) during the last century.

Page 10: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Layers of the Atmosphere

Page 11: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Layers of the Atmosphere

This has resulted in global warming, or too much heat energy being trapped by the atmosphere.– Increases in the Earth’s average temperature could

bring about major changes on our planet: Polar icecaps could melt, raising ocean levels. Weather patterns could be changed causing severe

droughts and floods to occur. The ocean currents could slow or stop, bringing on the

next ice age.

Page 12: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Exit Slip

How old is Earth? When did the atmosphere begin to form? When did today’s oxygen levels become established?

Compare and Contrast Earth’s atmosphere today compared to 4.4 billion years ago.

Page 13: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Do Now

What are shooting stars? How was Earth’s atmosphere different when

it was first created compared to today? What was responsible for putting oxygen

into our atmosphere? In your own words, describe the

oxygen/carbon dioxide cycle and its importance to plants and animals.

Page 14: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Layers of the Atmosphere

Temperature inversions occur in the troposphere Cooler air gets trapped beneath a layer of warmer air. – This shuts down the natural convection processes

and the lower air cannot rise.– We live in an area where this inversion layer

regularly occurs.

Page 15: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Layers of the Atmosphere

Our valley is surrounded by mountains and deserts. Cooler ocean air, carrying pollutants from the Los Angeles area, gets trapped by the mountains and a layer of warmer air above.

Page 16: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Layers of the Atmosphere

Ozone gas (O3) - formed when oxygen (O2) molecules are split by UV (ultraviolet) radiation in the Stratosphere.– The split oxygen, now just O and O, collide with

regular O2, and form O3.

– The Ozone layer that has formed in the stratosphere absorbs much of the dangerous UV radiation and protects us from its harmful effects.

Page 18: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Exit Slip

Draw and label the layers of the atmosphere.

What are CFC’s and why are they bad for the environment?

Page 19: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Do Now

What is the significance of the ozone layer? What is happening to deplete it? Can it be fixed? How?

Explain how carbon dioxide in the atmosphere relates to the greenhouse effect.

How is ozone formed?

Page 20: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Water and Wind

18-2

Page 21: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

The Water Cycle

The atmosphere is like an “ocean of air”. We live on the bottom of this ocean in the troposphere. – The pressures, temperatures, and water in this

layer of atmosphere interact in different ways to create precipitation, winds, weather, and climate.

– The Water Cycle - describes how water molecules continuously move or recycle on our planet.

Page 22: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

The Water Cycle

Page 23: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

The Water Cycle We will start the water cycle at evaporation -

(water is changed from a liquid to a gas) – Evaporation - adding enough heat energy to liquid

water to allow molecules to escape from its surface and become water vapor in the atmosphere. The source of this heat energy is the sun. Humidity, or the amount of water vapor in the air, is

determined by the temperature of that air.

EXAMPLE: the warmer the air, the more water vapor it can hold (and vice versa)

Page 24: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

The Water Cycle Relative humidity - a measure of how much

water vapor is present versus how much could be present.

Condensation - when the temperature of water vapor decreases as heat energy is lost in air and water molecules condense back into liquid droplets on the surface of a solid particle. – results in clouds, fog, or dew formation.

Page 25: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

The Water Cycle

Precipitation - the result of the condensation droplets coming together to form larger drops that are pulled back to Earth as either rain, snow, or hail.

Precipitation enters one of the many reservoirs for water on our planet where it can be held for a very short or very long time before it evaporates and starts the cycle again.

Page 26: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

The Water Cycle Examples of reservoirs:

– Ice and/or snow: polar icecaps, glaciers, seasonal snows, etc.

– Surface waters: lakes, ponds, rivers, streams– Ground waters: Underground aquifers– Oceans and seas: the largest source of evaporation

SEE: WATER CYCLE HANDOUT

Page 27: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Exit Slip

In your own words, describe the water cycle. How can pouring harmful chemicals down

the gutter have an effect on the water cycle as a whole?

Using the terms humidity and dew point explain why you might find small droplets of water on your lawn in the morning.

Page 28: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Do Now

What are the different sources of water?

Page 29: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Cloud Formation and Types Clouds - formed when warm (less dense) air

rises and water vapor condenses as it cools.– occurs in the troposphere

Clouds are named based on shape and altitude 1. High clouds start with “cirrus” or “cirro-” 2. Mid level clouds start with “alto-” 3. Low level clouds have no prefix 4. Clouds that have precipitation have

“nimbo” or “nimbus” in the name

Page 30: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Cloud Formation and Types Cirrus – high, thin, wispy clouds, 4-7miles

above earth.

Page 31: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Cloud Formation and Types Stratus – gray to white, sheet like and layered

clouds, 2-4 miles above earth.

Page 32: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Cloud Formation and Types Cumulus – fluffy columns with flat bottoms, low

to high altitude

Page 33: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Cloud Formation and Types

Page 34: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Cloud Formation and Types Combinations of the 3 clouds give you many

more types of clouds. EXAMPLES

a. Nimbostratus – rain clouds

b. Cumulonimbus – thunderstorm clouds

Page 35: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Cloud Formation and Types Clouds scatter some incoming solar radiation

Page 36: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Air Pressure

High Pressure – air molecules are close together and press down on Earth’s surface.

1. Air warms under pressure a. The Deserts and Poles Low Pressure – air molecules are far apart and

rise away from Earth’s surface.– Air cools and condenses with less pressure

The Equator and tropics

– Both measured with a barometer

Page 37: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Air Pressure

High Pressure vs. Low Pressure

Page 38: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Air Pressure Some scientific laws explain the relationship

between temperature, pressure, and volume in gasses.

P T V

. . . There is a relationship between all three of

them. EXAMPLE: By holding the volume (V) and increasing the pressure (P), you will get an increase in temperature (T) in the air.

Page 39: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Air Pressure These changes in pressure, temperature, and

volume have a dramatic affect on the water molecules (vapor) in the air.

Page 40: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Exit Slip

What is the relationship between air pressure, temperature and clouds?

Page 41: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Do Now

What type of clouds are low lying, grey, rain clouds?

What type of clouds bring thunderstorms? What altitude would you expect cumulus

clouds to be at in July? In December?

Page 42: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Wind

Differences in high and low pressure create wind, or moving air– Pressure gradient – when air pressure varies from

one place to another. air always moves from areas of high pressure to low

pressure.

Page 43: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Wind

Santa Ana Winds

Page 44: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

WindSea Breeze

Page 45: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Wind Earth’s rotation also affects wind direction.

– Winds all over the world are deflected because of Earth’s rotation.

– Coriolis Effect – the change in the direction of an object’s path due to Earth’s rotation.

Page 46: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Wind

N. POLE: Cold & DryMIDLATITUDES: Cool & Wet30 NORTH: Hot & Dry DesertsEQUATOR: Hot & Wet30 SOUTH: Hot & Dry DesertsS. POLE: Cold & Dry

Page 47: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Do Now

Why are winds patterns forever changing? What are the three steps in the water cycle? Determine whether wind moving southward

from the equator will curve eastward or westward due to the Coriolis Effect?

Describe a cumulus cloud

Page 48: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Weather and Climate

18-3

Page 49: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Weather Weather - a set of atmospheric conditions

found at any given time or location, that changes daily.– It includes a variety of short term changes in

temperature, pressure, humidity, and wind direction.– These changes are related to the development and

movement of air masses.– The storms that develop move on fast moving, high

altitude “rivers” of air called the jet stream.

Page 50: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Weather Meteorologists - scientists who study weather.

– they try to predict the effects on the weather by tracking the interactions between pockets of warmer or cooler air masses.

– When two air masses with different densities meet (warm vs. cold), they do not mix. Instead, they form a boundary or front. Stormy weather is often associated with a strong frontal

system.

Page 51: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Weather A warm front forms as a warm air mass (less

dense) moves into and over a slower moving cooler air mass.– The rise of the warm air can cause Stratus clouds

with moderate to light rains or drizzles.

Page 52: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Weather A cold front forms as a cold air mass (more

dense) moves into and under a slower moving warm air mass.– This creates a steep edge to the front and force the

warm air to rise very quickly creating Cumulonimbus clouds with heavy rains, or hail, as well as thunder and lightening plus wind.

Page 53: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Weather A stationary front occurs when two air masses

meet but neither is displaced. – Instead, the air masses move side by side creating

weather conditions similar to those near a warm front.

Page 54: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Weather Severe weather can arise during stormy

weather conditions and can be some of the most dangerous natural phenomena on Earth. – Lightning - a giant electrical “spark” or discharge

that can occur in a cold front (thunderstorm). Strong up-drafts force water droplets to collide with

larger drops creating an opposite charge in the top and bottom of the cloud.

A “giant spark” will jump between the two to equalize them; the heat generated is tremendous and the rapidly expanding air creates a sonic shock wave called thunder.

Page 55: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Weather

Just like in air pressure, lightning

wants all of the charges to be

balanced

Page 56: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Exit Slip

What is a front? What results from two fronts meeting?

Describe lightning

Page 57: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Do Now

Compare and contrast a warm front, a cold front, and a stationary front

Page 58: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Weather Tornadoes - high-speed, rotating winds that

extend to the ground from thunderclouds in cold front conditions.– Quickly rising warm air from the Gulf of Mexico

comes in contact with the cold jet stream from Canada and rotates creating a funnel cloud. A funnel cloud that reaches the ground (tornado) can

suck up objects through its center. Damage from strong winds of over 300 miles per hour. Happen most often in the Midwest

Page 59: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Weather Funnel clouds that touch down over water are

called water spouts.

Page 60: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

WeatherTornado Damage

Page 61: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Weather Hurricanes/Cyclones/Typhoons

– Hurricanes – large circulating masses of clouds, wind, and rain about 375 miles wide.

Formation– Start as tropical depressions (an area of intense low

pressure).– Then become a tropical storm.– Finally, when winds are at least 74 mph and the

system spins, it is a hurricane.

Page 62: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Weather Hurricanes are driven by warm waters and the

condensation of water vapor. Damage

– high winds and storm surges

Page 63: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

WeatherHurricane Damage

Page 64: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Climate Climate – the general weather conditions over

many years, or the average of the weather Climate is affected by latitude, seasons, and

elevation.– Temperatures are warmer near the equator.

Solar energy is more concentrated there, than at the poles.

Sun rays hit vertically year round.

Page 65: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Climate

Page 66: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Climate Earth’s tilt is why we have seasons We are tilted towards the sun in summer, and

away from the sun during winter.

Page 67: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Climate Topography, or the surface features on Earth

affect climate.– Mountains create rain shadow deserts like the

Mojave Desert

Page 68: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Climate Climate changes over time

– Climatic regions change as the continent move.– Ice ages have come and gone various times.– The planet has warmed in the past too– Tree rings, ice core samples, and ocean floor

samples tell us this.

Page 69: Characteristics of the Atmosphere 18-1. Layers of the Atmosphere   Earth’s Atmosphere began to develop about 4.4 billion years ago. – – Earth’s surface

Exit Slip

Describe how the rain shadow effect works. How is a hurricane formed? How is a tornado formed? What front is required for major weather to

occur?