Transcript 0003 Atmosphere, climate and weather

0003 Atmosphere, climate and weather:
1. identify the basic composition, structure, and properties of
the atmosphere.
Chemical Composition of the Atmosphere
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Nitrogen
78%
Oxygen
21%
Argon
0.9%
Carbon Dioxide 0.03%
Trace substances
Water Vapor
0003 Atmosphere, climate and weather:
2. analyze the significance of changes in weather variables
(e.g., clouds, humidity, wind speed)
5 variables influence the atmosphere:
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Temperature
Pressure
Humidity
Cloudiness
Winds
Variables influencing the atmosphere…
temperature:
• Measure of heat
• Average kinetic
energy of molecules
• Weather reports give
air temperature at
ground level
Variables influencing the atmosphere…
pressure:
• High Pressure
• Region where air has
piled up
• Warmer and dryer
than surrounding air
• Low Pressure
• Region where air has
stretched out
• Tends to rise and
cool, vapor condenses
into clouds
Variables influencing the atmosphere…
humidity:
• “relative humidity” –
the ratio of
amount of water vapor in air at current temp
to
max amount vapor air can hold at that temp
Variables influencing the atmosphere…
cloudiness:
• Water droplets
• Ice crystals
• Warm air rises,
cools and
condenses
(phase change)
Variables influencing the atmosphere…
winds:
• Due to differential
heating of the
earth’s surface
• Warm air rises
• Cooler air flows in
Why is it warmer near the Earth’s
equator and colder near the poles?
What patterns of global air flow occur?
Check your neighbor. Make a sketch
to explain your answer.
Global Air Circulation Patterns
The Instruments
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Thermometer
Hygrometer
Barometer
Weathervane
Anemometer
Winter Air Masses
• Continental Polar
• Maritime Polar
• Maritime Tropical
Summer Air Masses
• Continental Polar
• Maritime Tropical
• Continental Tropical
“Fronts” = a clash of air masses
• Cold Front
• digs in
underneath a
warm air mass
• Warm air rises,
mixes with colder
air, & condenses
into clouds
“Fronts” = a clash of air masses
• Warm Front
• rides up above the
cold air
• In the rising warm
air, clouds form far
ahead of advancing
warm front
0003 Atmosphere, climate and weather:
3. recognize the effects of large bodies of water, large land
areas, and differences in elevation on weather and climate.
0003 Atmosphere, climate and weather: 4. demonstrate
knowledge of weather patterns and the causes and effects of
local and regional weather events (e.g., thunderstorms,
hurricanes)
0003 Atmosphere, climate and weather:
5. analyze global weather and climate patterns.
0003 Atmosphere, climate and weather: 6. recognize the
methods and types of technology used to observe, measure,
and predict climate and weather.