The atmosphere: components and layers.

Atmosphere is a layer of gases that surrounds the Earth. It’s 1000 km. thick. Oxygen and nitrogen are the main components, but it has other gases as CO2 or Ozone, vital for life.

Low temperatures

High temperatures

(ozone layer)

Atmospherical global risks

Global warming by greenhouse effect:More amount of CO2 increases Earthtemperatures

Ozone hole:It lets the ultravioletRadiation reach Earth

FEATURES AND FACTORS OF CLIMATE

MAIN CLIMATEFEATURES

ARE

TEMPERATURE How warm the air is.

WINDMovement of air masses, dependingOn atmospheric pressure.

PRECIPITATIONAmount of water falling in a place

GRENHOUSE EFFECTMore CO2 in the atmospheremeans more heat retentionon the Earth and highertemperatures

FEATURES AND FACTORS OF CLIMATE

CLIMATE IS INFLUENCED

BY…

PRESSURE: weight of air on Earth surface. 1013 mb = av.

AIR MASSES.They differ in temperature and humidity

LATITUDEEquator = hot; poles = cold

ALTITUDEThe higher, the colder.

OCEANSThe closer to the oceans, the milder the climate is.

1. Different temperatures (in atmosphere) create different pressure. 2. Different pressure in the atmosphere depressions and anticyclones.3. Anticyclones and depressions create different movements of air masses.

Counterclockwise: HClockwise: L

Anticyclone keeps Air masses away; low pressures attract air masses.

High pressure(anticyclone)

WEATHER CHART

Cold front

Warm front

Low pressure(depression)

Isobars

milibars

Where are the anticyclones and depressions?

Depression weather

Thick lowand wet clouds(nymbus)

RainfallIt tends to be Windy

Tornadoes andHeavy stormsAppear whenTwo masses of Air colide...

Kansas, USA

Cold and humid air

Hot and dry air

Katrina hurricane

2005

Eye(calm weather)

Heavy rainfall

Clockwise movement

Anticyclone weather(stable and dry, can be cold orhot)

Sunny weather

High clouds(cyrrus)

fog

WORLD CLIMATES

Example of climograph (Cáceres)

Red curve showsTemperature.

Light blue boxesShows rainfall.

Every capital letter means a month of The year.

EQUATORIAL CLIMATE

Temperatures are very highand without variation.Rainfall: 1500 mm all the yearRound.

Tropical climate

Between the Equator and the tropics.Temperatures are high all the year round.There is a dry season and a wet season.depending on rainfall, it will be a dry tropicalclimate or wet tropical.

Monzonic climate

TROPICAL CLIMATE

Temperatures are high(average 25ºC),But may fall below 18º some monthsPrecipitation is scarce, less than 300 mm

HOT DESERT CLIMATE

Arizona, USA

DESERT CLIMATE

Anatolia plateau, Turkey

STEPPES CLIMATE

Precipitation is similar to hot deserts. Temperatures are lessthan 5ºC in winter.

Steppes depend not only on latitudeBut in mountains ranges as well.

STEPPE CLIMOGRAPH

Mediterranean Climate

Cape Town, South Africa

Located on 60º latitudeSummers are hot and dry,And winters are mild.Most precipitations fallIn spring and autumn(300-800 mm)

MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE

Continental climate

Inlands, Northern HemisphereSharp contrast between cold Winter and warm summer. Rainfall: 300-1000 mm

heOceanic climate

Close to west coasts of oceansSummers and wintersare mild. Preciptations areAbundant (+1000 mm)

OCEANIC CLIMOGRAPH

Subtropical / Chinese climate

Polar climate

Temperatures are very lowDuring the whole year.There is no summer andRainfall is scarce.

Sun rays are weak and angledIn sharp contrast with Equator.

Groenland

Polar climograph

High mountain climate

Temperatures are very lowand tends to snow most of theyear.Depending on latitude, altitudeneeds to be higher or lower to find this climate.

Navacerrada

High mountain climate (Alpes)