Earth’s Atmosphere and Climate

The AtmosphereAtmosphere –

envelope of air around Earth that allows the support of life.

It extends from 0 to 600 km above Earth.

Atmosphere’s jobs1. It absorbs energy from the sun

2. It recycles water and other elements

3. It creates a moderate climate

4. It filters the suns radiation

Layers of the Atmosphere

1. Troposphere Layer Lowest layer (called lower

atmosphere) Extends from 0 to 8-15 km high Dense layer Area where weather is

experienced Temperature decreases with

height. From 17 to -52 degrees Celsius

2. StratosphereExtends 50 km above

troposphere

Dry and less dense

Upper region contains the ozone layerOzone layer

Made of O3 moleculesFilters ultraviolet

radiation from the sun

3. MesosphereExtends from 50 –

85 km above the Earth

Temperature falls to around -93 Celsius

4. ThermosphereExtends 85-600 km above

Earth

Temperatures increases due to the suns direct energy

Temperatures can get up to 1,727 C

This is the upper atmosphere

Atmosphere Make UpThe atmosphere is made up of

a mixture of gases

NitrogenMakes up 78%

OxygenMakes up 21%

Trace elements

Trace ElementsMake up 1 % of the atmosphere

Examples: Argon, Helium, methane, ozone, carbon dioxide, Nitrous oxide, and water vapor

The last five are known as the greenhouse gases

These cause the greenhouse effect

Greenhouse EffectKeeps Earth from getting too hot or too cold

Gases trap some of the suns energy from leaving and prevent too much of the suns energy from entering.

Without this trapped heat temperatures would be 33 C colder at night ( -18 C).

Life would not be able to exist

Human Involvement Human activities have increased the greenhouse

gases.

Burning fossil fuels releases Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere. This is the primary reason for the increase in carbon Dioxide.

Natural InvolvementPlant respiration and decompositions release up

to 10x more Carbon Dioxide than human activity.

This used to be balanced with Carbon Dioxide absorption by the plants but no longer is.

Deforestation has reduced the number of plants to absorb CO2 while increasing the CO2 released by decomposition.

Burning fossil fuels.

ClimateCharacteristic condition of the

atmosphere near the earths surface at a certain place on earth.

Climate:The average weather of a locationIncludes a location general weather

patterns, seasons, and extreme weather (ex. Hurricanes, droughts, tornadoes etc.)

Global ClimateInfluenced by energy

earth receives from the sun and how it is stored and redistributed through the world atmospheres and oceans

Global ClimateOceans store more

energy than the atmosphere.Energy in oceans is

redistributed around the earth by system of ocean currents

Heat that is transferred between the atmosphere and oceans influence regional climate.

Regional Climateinfluence the

different biomes around the world

-biome – a large geographical area of distinctive plant and animal groups that are adapted to a particular environment.

Regional Climate3 factors influence

regional climate

Latitude Most important

influenceEquator warmer

because more direct sunlight

Poles much colder

Regional ClimateLatitude

Temperature difference between low and high latitude creates a circulation within the atmosphere (prevailing winds, jet streams)

Circulation transfers heat away from equator and towards poles.

Regional ClimateAir temperature and Precipitation are the

other two factors that influence regional climate.Both are influenced by interactions

between land, oceans, and mountain ranges.Ex. Mountains can divert winds, so

the other side of the mountain doesn’t get the rains and becomes a dry climate.

Gulf Stream (East Coast of US), an ocean current, influences Northwestern Europe's weather.

3 Climate GroupsBased on temperature, precipitation, and latitude

1.Low-latitude climate climate controlled by equatorial tropical air

masses From 0 – 30 degrees latitude Include tropical rainforests, savannas, and deserts

2.Mid-latitude climate

Climate affected by both tropical air masses and polar/arctic air masses

From 30 – 60 degrees latitude

Include steppes, chaparrals, grasslands, and temperate deciduous forests.

3 Climate GroupsBased on temperature, precipitation, and latitude

3.High-latitude climate

Climate controlled by polar and arctic air masses

From 60 – 90 degrees latitude

Include taigas, tundra, and alpine regions

4.Aquatic biomes

found throughout most latitude

Include oceans, freshwater lakes and rivers

Climate Groups