Atmosphere, Weather, Maps, Currents

•What is the atmosphere?

•Why is the sky blue?

Troposphere [turning]~ 20 km Equator

~ 17 km Average

~ 7 km N/S Poles

TemperatureBegins near 17°C around base and down to -52°C at top  - 99% of the WATER VAPOR in the

atmosphere- Drives the Water Cycle- 75% of the mass of the atmosphere - All WEATHER occurs in this level

 

Stratosphere [distinct layers]

Altitude

~ 10 to 50 km ~ 13 – 20km Ozone Layer

Begins around -52°C around base goes up to -3°C at top - PLANES FLY at bottom of this level to

avoid turbulence, maximize jet fuel, and avoid storms.

- JET Stream is located (winds of 198mph)

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Mesosphere [middle]Altitude

~ 50 km to 85 km

Begins around -3°C around base goes down to -100°C

THE COLDEST LAYER

- Too high for aircraft but too low for orbiting spacecraft

- POOREST Understood region- Most METEORS burn up in this range

Thermosphere [heat]Altitude

~ 80 km to 500 -1000km

Begins around -200°C and then up to 1500+°C

The Highest Temperature Layer

- Temperature would ‘feel’ COLD to us because there are so few molecules, even though they have a HIGH level of energy.

Ionosphere [ion]Altitude

80 km to 550km

LOWER Level of ThermosphereThe ions here bounce radio waves back to Earth. Solar flares can increase the ion levels here and cause interference with radio transmission (one source of that static sound you hear)

Magnetosphere [magneto]Altitude

1000km to about 4000km

Midrange inside of the Thermosphere- VAN ALLEN Radiation Belts - Made up of

positively charged protons and negatively charged electrons, given off by the sun, and captured by the Earth’s magnetic field

- AURORAE - Collisions of these particles cause light energy to be given off, called Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights).

Aurora Borealis

• Steamed Hams?

Exosphere [outer]Altitude

550km to 190,000 km

OUTER Level of Thermosphere – extends into “space”- The particles are so spread out that they

are likely to not hit any other molecules- ARTIFICIAL SATELLITES orbit the earth up

here. International Space station, weather, television, and telephone satellites

Greek Roots • Sphere – Ball •Hemi – Half•Atmo – Air • Litho – Stone •Bio – Life •Meso – Middle• Exo – Outer • Thermo – Heat• Strat - Stratify• Trop - Turning• Ion – Ion

•Nitrogen▫Most abundant element in the atmosphere. – 78.1%▫Makes proteins in animals and plants

•Oxygen▫Second most abundant element = 20.8%▫Plants = Give off O2 as waste. ▫Animals = Take in O2 to produce food.

•CO2▫Plants = Take in CO2 to produce food. ▫Animals = Give off CO2 and Nitrogen as waste.

Too Much CO2 in the atmosphere = Too much greenhouse effect

•Ozone▫Found in the stratosphere▫ Blocks UV radiation = good

Atmospheric Elements (% and Movie)

Air Pressure•The result of the weight of a column of air

pushing on an area

Air Pressure•Measured with a barometer•Aneroid / mercury

HEATRadiation ConductionConvection

Convection•The transfer of energy by the bulkmovement of molecules and differences in density.Or – Transfer of heat through fluid

DensityMass / VolumeThe amount of stuffin a given space.

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

Solar Radiation entering the Atmosphere

Lower Energy Long-wave Radiation A – Blocked by our atmosphere

High Energy Short-wave RadiationB – Blocked by our atmosphere

Visible LightC = Absorbed by atmosphere

D = Absorbed by the Earth

E = Reflected by Earth

F = Reflected by Clouds

A

C

F

D

B

E

Greenhouse Effect

Greenhouse Effect

A

B

C

D

A – Incoming Shortwave Radiation that warms earth

B – Long-wave Radiation emitted from Earth

C – Some Long-wave Radiation escapes atmosphere

D – Some Long-wave Radiation is reflected back to Earth

THIS STEP IS THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT

Incoming shortwave radiation from the sun, makes it thru CO2 in the atmosphere

Outgoing long-wave radiation from the earth, does not make it thru CO2

On Earth the Greenhouse Effect

Greenhouse Gases•Which is the most prevalent greenhouse

gas?▫H2O▫CO2

▫CH4

Weather Notes

Direct Heating vs. Indirect Heating

Creation of North/South Winds

The Coriolis Effect•The earth spins faster at the equator than

the poles, and therefore winds don’t travel at the same rate in a vertical path.

•Winds therefore bend towards either east/west.

Creation of East/West Winds

Trade Winds

Westerlies

Easterlies

Uneven heating of surfaces

Water Cycle EPIC•Evaporation▫Water is warmed up enough to go from

liquid to gas and rises in the air.•Precipitation▫Enough water molecules collect in a cloud

to form a droplet as either rain, snow, sleet, hail

• Infiltration▫The water enters into the ground.

•Condensation

Air Masses that Affect the U.S.A.•m•c•T•P•A

Uneven heating of surfaces

  6am 10 am 2pm  Temp

(°F)Wind

Speed/DirTemp(°F)

Wind Speed/Dir

Temp(°F)

Wind Speed/Dir

Land 60.5 14.1 71.5 3.2 92.7 20.9 Sea 68.1 14.4 69.9 3.2 71.6 20.9

6pm 10pm 2amTem

p(°F)

Wind Speed/Di

r

Temp(°F)

Wind Speed/Di

r

Temp(°F)

Wind Speed/Dir

79.4 15.8 73.1 5.8 66.1 5.3 71.7 15.8 70.0 5.8 68.9 5.3

92.7 °F71.6°F

20.9 mph

20.9 mph

66.1°F68.9 °F

5.3 mph

Weather Maps and Fronts

What is the percent cloud cover at the station?

What is the wind speed in knots?

What direction is the wind coming FROM?

What direction is it going to?

This funny looking thing is a weather symbol. It represents data recorded from a weather station.

The circle is cloud cover.

The “tail” is the wind direction. It shows where the wind comes FROM.

The feathers are the wind speed in knots. (1 knot = 1.15 miles)

0%

15 knots

NW

SE

•5 knots = ½ a “feather”•10 knots = 1 full “feather”•50 knots = triangular “feather”

•1) Draw a weather symbol with ▫½ cloud cover▫wind at 5 knots out of the northeast.

•2) Draw a weather symbol with ▫60% cloud cover▫wind out of the west at 55 knots.

What is a weather system?•Remember the rule of thumb. •Wind flows from areas of high to low

pressure!

• Air pressure is equal to the weight of a column of air at a particular location. It is measured in millibars (mb)

• High pressure systems are regions of relatively high pressure. ▫ They are associated with dry weather and clear skies.

Why? - Air flows from high to low pressure. Air sinks and flows away from a high pressure system. Therefore, few or no clouds form.

•Low pressure systems are areas of relatively low pressure. They are associated with clouds and precipitation. Why?

Air flows from high to low pressure. Air flows toward a high pressure system and rises. Therefore, many clouds form.

What are fronts? • An air mass is a large body of air with similar

temperature, pressure, and humidity throughout.

• A “front” is a boundary between air masses.

• We talk about “warm fronts” and “cold fronts.” These both happen with low pressure systems. Why can’t they occur in high pressure systems?

Air flows from high to low pressure. Air sinks and flows away from a high pressure system. Therefore, few or no clouds form.

Cold Fronts▫A cold front is a boundary between an

advancing cold air mass and a warm air mass that is already present.

▫It is represented by triangles that point the direction the front is moving.

▫Precipitation/clouds occur behind the front. ▫Why?

• Cold air is more dense and “pushes” the less dense warm air up. Clouds form and precipitation occurs behind the cold front. (I.e. it gets cold before it rains).

Do cold fronts have to be “cold?” As in freezing?

Warm FrontsA warm front is a boundary between an advancing warm air mass and a cold air mass that is already present. It is represented by semi-circles that point the direction the front is moving.Precipitation/clouds occur ahead of the front. Why?

•Warm air is less dense and rises above the cold air. It condenses and forms clouds ahead of the front.

Brings cold air

Clouds and precipitation behind the front Clouds and

precipitation ahead of the front

Brings aweather change.

Cold Front Warm Front

Brings warm air Occurs duringa low

pressure system.

Hazardous WeatherAndIndiana Weather

Special Weather EventsThere are many types of hazardous weather•Tornadoes•Blizzards•Thunderstorms•Flooding•Hurricanes•Drought•Lake Effect Snow

Thunderstorms•The 3 Key Ingredients of a Thunderstorm▫MOISTURE

Large bodies of water (warmer temperatures = good)

▫INSTABILITY Warm moist air underneath colder dense air As the warm air rises it will cool and form the

CUMULONIMBUS clouds ▫A LIFTING MECHANISM

Differential heating (Water vs. land), Fronts, Terrain

Thunderstorms•The 3 Stages of a Thunderstorm▫TOWERING STAGE

The warm air is forced upwards making the tall fluffy cumulonimbus clouds.

▫MATURE STAGE The air that has been raised higher cools and the

precipitation begins to fall.▫DISSIPATION STAGE

The storm runs out of the warm moist air that fuels it.

Towering Phase

What is an Anvil?

Mature Phase•“Anvil” Shaped Top

Mature Phase•“Anvil” Shaped Top

Dissipation Stage

Types of Thunderstorms•Ordinary Cell▫One cycle through the previous phases

•Multi-cell▫The storm builds and cycles through several of the

phases•Squall Line▫The thunderstorm forms a horizontal line that

spreads several miles.•Supercell▫Last for several hours traveling over long distances.

Produce almost all of the significant tornadoes

Supercell Thunderstorm

Thunderstorm Hazards•Hail•Damaging Winds▫Indiana State Fair

•Tornadoes•Flash-Floods ▫Single greatest cause of death in

thunderstorms

Tornado•A violently rotating column of air

descending from a thunderstorm and touching the ground.

Formation•Most tornadoes are spawned from

supercell thunderstorms. Supercell thunderstorms are characterized by a persistent rotating updraft and form in environments of strong vertical wind shear.

•The exact processes for the formation of a funnel are not known yet. 

Enhanced Fujita Scale

EFscale Class

Wind speedDescriptionmph km/h

EF0 weak 65-85 105-137 GaleEF1 weak 86-110 138-177 ModerateEF2 strong 111-135 178-217 SignificantEF3 strong 136-165 218-266 SevereEF4 violent 166-200 267-322 DevastatingEF5 violent > 200 > 322 Incredible

What’s more dangerous than a tornado?

•The Fire Whirl

Flooding•Discuss why flooding occurs with your

neighbor•Basics – Flooding occurs when there is too

much water coming into an area and not enough flowing water out.

•Water “Out” sources – rivers, lakes, INFILTRATION, Combined Sewer Overflows Systems.

•Dangers People underestimate how powerful moving

water can be. Even at low levels moving water is strong.

Dangers of moving Water• Of the three deaths which occurred as a result of the

Fort Worth tornado, March 28, 2000, one death was due to flooding. The man who drowned was a passenger in a car with his girlfriend, the driver. They approached a low spot with water flowing over the road due to very heavy rain. Flooding was a common occurrence at this location with heavy rains and the danger was well marked.

• As the driver drove her car into the water she became frightened as the water rose higher and higher around her vehicle. She backed out to higher ground. The passenger said the water was NOT too deep and he would prove it by walking across to the other side. He never made it.

• Nuetzel’s Canoeing story

Lake Effect Snow• is produced during cooler atmospheric conditions

when COLD winds move across long expanses of WARMER LAKE WATER, providing energy and picking up water vapor which freezes and is deposited on the opposite shores. 

Lake Effect Snow

Currents and Climates

How does energy get to Earth? •The sun’s energy transfers to the earth

through space through the process of radiation.

How does the heat from earth get to the rest of the atmosphere and through the oceans?

•Convection currents carry the heat. •Hot, less dense fluids rise. •Cold, more dense fluids sink.

What are some global wind and water currents? •A current is a body of water or air moving in a definite direction.

Do currents go in straight lines?

•Video: Coriolis Effect

•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_36MiCUS1ro

Global Winds•Winds flow from high pressure to low

pressure areas. (They want to go where there are less particles).

•The equator has low pressure, because warm air rises.

•Winds generally flow toward the equator.

Global Winds • Air

movement towards the equator is called trade winds. Why do you think they are called that?

Global Winds • Winds that blows across the US from the west are called the “Westerlies.”

• What do the Westerlies cause in the US?

Deep ocean currents • The general pattern is called the “global conveyer

belt.”• Warm water rises at the equator and travels

toward the poles. • Water cools and sinks at the poles. It travels back

toward the equator.

Surface Ocean Currents •Are driven by the wind blowing over the

ocean’s surface. •The winds create gyres, circular patterns

of currents.

•Climate is the average weather conditions over time including wind, temperature, rainfall, etc.

•How is that different from weather?

Current and Climate

Rule of thumb for climate: It is based on the latitude of the place. Closer to the equator is warm.

But wait….Can all climates be explained by latitude alone?

Based on latitude alone, we should expect England to have a climate similar to _________________?

Why is it so warm in northern Europe compared to other places at the same latitude?

•The gulf stream brings warmer water to northern Europe than would be expected for that latitude.

•The difference is about 5°C warmer.

Based on latitude alone, we should expect Hawaii to have a climate similar to _________________?

Why is relatively cool in Hawaii compared to other places at the same latitude?

Meteorology Match Maker• I love to travel! In particular, I enjoy the southeastern coast of

the United States, the Atlantic Ocean, and the coasts of Northern Europe. I like to think I have a warm personality. ▫ Gulf Stream

• My life moves at a quick pace, with a jet-set sort of lifestyle. I go wherever the wind blows me. I sometimes find it difficult to stay grounded. I am hoping to settle down with a pilot. ▫ Jet Stream

• I would describe myself as worldly, really a force of nature. I feel my emotions “deeply.” I can also be pretty hot and cold, but people get used to that. I am an avid swimmer, and I feel at home in the sea. ▫ Global Conveyor Belt

• I tend to get tired easily. I often like to have a good cry, particularly after violent, sad, or loud movies. ▫ Dissipating Stage

• I have a bright and sunny personality. I like to push the blues away. My happiness and cheer spreads to everyone for miles around me. Other people feel like they are under pressure to be as happy as me! ▫ High Pressure

• I am by no means straight-laced. Sometimes, I can go round and round in a conversation. I think of life as a merry-go-round. ▫ Coriolis Effect

• I am tall and imposing. When people see me, they know there will be trouble. People say my head is in the clouds. ▫ Anvil cloud / Cumulonimbus

• I love to travel. I get cold easily, so I like to take vacations near the equator. I love to buy souvenirs on my vacations that are imported from around the world. ▫ Trade Winds

• I can tend to come on a bit strong, and I get upset by people who under-estimate me. However, people who know me understand that I am nearly overflowing with love and emotions!  ▫  Flash Flood

• I have a history of violent and destructive behavior. Some would even say that I am on a downward spiral, and that I am pretty twisted. Any potential mate will need to take my last name, Fujima. ▫ Tornado

• I am very protective of those I am close to. You should know that I have very fair skin, and I wear SPF 75 at all times.  ▫ Ozone Layer

• I am a homebody, but I am still very social. Some people think I am a low-class person, that I will never live the high-life. However, I feel happy and grounded. ▫ Troposphere

Atmosphere Vocab and Concepts•Atmosphere▫How does the

temperature change in the layers?

▫% of Elements▫Troposphere▫Stratosphere▫Mesosphere▫Thermosphere▫Exosphere

•Air Pressure▫What happens to Air

Pressure in the

atmosphere?▫High / Low

•Density▫How does heat affect

density?•Convection•Radiation•Electromagnetic Waves▫Which are allowed in,

which are blocked?•Greenhouse Effect•Water Cycle – E,P,I,C

Atmosphere Vocab and Concepts•Unequal Heating▫Equator/Poles – N/S▫Spinning Earth- E/W▫Terrain – Local/Coastal

•Air Masses▫Tropical, Polar, Arctic▫Maritime, Continental

•Coastal Winds▫How does convection

play out on a coastal area regarding temp/wind?

•Weather Map Symbols▫Cloud Cover/Wind

Speed•High / Low Pressures▫Weather / Fronts /

Clouds•Ocean Currents▫Surface/Deepwater

•Climate•Hazardous Weather▫Thunderstorms, Winds,

Tornadoes, Hurricanes