Transcript Water Vapor
Atmospheric Characteristics
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:
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Nitrogen
Oxygen
Argon/Carbon Dioxide
Variable Components:
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Water Vapor
Dust Particles
Ozone
Water Vapor
The source of all clouds
and precipitation.
Absorbs heat and
energy given off by
Earth.
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:
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The weight of the air
above
Heavy to light
Temperature Change:
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Hot to cold
Layers of the Atmosphere
Four Layers:
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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:
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Summer Solstice (June 21 – 22)
Autumnal Equinox (September 22 -23)
Winter Solstice (December 21 – 22)
Vernal (Spring) Equinox (March 21 – 22)
Heating the Atmosphere
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.
Energy Transfer (Heat)
Three ways:
1.) Conduction
2.) Convection
3.) Radiation
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 object
2.) 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
Temperature Controls
Book page 488 (charts)
What is it?
Any factor that causes temperature to vary
from place to place and from time to time.
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Differences in receipt of solar radiation (variation
in the angle of solar rays, length of day, latitude)
Other factors include:
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Heating of Land and Water
Altitude
Geographic Position
Cloud Cover
Ocean Currents
Land and Water
Land
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Heats more rapidly
and higher temps
Cools more rapidly
and to lower temps
Higher temp
variations
Water
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Heats and cools
slowly and has more
regulated
temperatures
Geographic Position
Costal Location –
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Windward = wind blows onto shore
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Cool summers and mild winters
California Coast
Leeward = wind blows toward ocean
More continental patterns of weather
New York Coast
Altitude
Elevation from sea level
Cloud Cover and Albedo
Albedo and cloud cover relate
Day
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Clouds have a high albedo and reflect back a
large portion of the sunlight back into space.
Influences temp in the lower atmosphere
Night
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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
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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
Water in the Atmosphere
The Key!
Water Vapor
Causes condensation
and precipitation
Sates of Water
Three:
1.) Solid
2.) Liquid
3.) Gas
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
Sublimation vs. Deposition
Solid right to a gas
Vapor directly to a solid
Humidity
How much water vapor
is in the air.
Types:
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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
Dew Point
The temp at which a
parcel of air would need
to be cooler to reach
saturation.
Measuring Humidity
Hygrometer – most
common way to
measure humidity
Cloud Formation
Temperature Change
Adiabatic Temp
Change – When air is
allowed to expand
(cools); compresses
(warms)
Dry = Cooling and
Heating
Wet = Latent Heat +
cooling and heating
Lifting the Air?
Types:
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Orographic Lifting
Frontal Wedging
Convergence
Convective Lifting
Orographic Lifting
Elevated terrains
act as barriers
Ex. Mountains
Frontal Wedging
Front – Warm air and
cool air combine
Helps to keep North
American wet!
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
Air Stability
Stable air remains
in place.
Unstable air tends
to rise.
Ex. Hot air balloon
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.
Stable vs. Unstable
Stable = little to no
weather.
Unstable = lots of
weather
Condensation
The air has to be
saturated for
condensation to form.
Condensation Nuclei
– a surface for water
vapor to attach too.