Characteristics Of The Atmoshere Q And Aaa

NOTES to put into your Journal: To convert Celsius temperatures into Fahrenheit: multiply the Celsius temperature by 9 divide the answer by 5 add 32 To change Fahrenheit to Celsius Vocabulary : Convection Currents, Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere

MOLECULE: The smallest particle of a substance that retains the chemical and physical properties of the substance and is composed of two or more atoms; a group of like or different atoms held together by chemical forces. ATOM: A part or particle considered to be an irreducible constituent of a specified system

Importance of the Atmosphere Earth's atmosphere is a thin layer of air that forms a protective covering around the planet. Earth's atmosphere maintains a balance between the amount of heat absorbed from the Sun and the amount of heat that escapes back into space. It also protects life-forms from some of the Sun's harmful rays.

Makeup of the Atmosphere Earth's atmosphere is a mixture of gases, solids, and liquids that surrounds the planet. It extends from Earth's surface to outer space.

Gases in the Atmosphere This circle graph shows the percentages of the gases, excluding water vapor, that make up Earth's atmosphere.

Gases in the Atmosphere The composition of the atmosphere is changing in small but important ways. For example, car exhaust emits gases into the air such as carbon dioxide. Humans burn an excessive amount of fuel for energy. Increasing energy use will increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere too.

Solids and Liquids in Earth's Atmosphere In addition to gases, Earth's atmosphere contains small, solid particles such as dust, salt, and pollen. The atmosphere also contains small liquid droplets that can contain pollutants in the clouds .

Layers of the Atmosphere The lower layers include the troposphere and stratosphere. The upper atmospheric layers are the mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere. The lower layers that include the troposphere and stratosphere contain most of the air we breathe.

Lower Layers of the Atmosphere You study, eat, sleep, and play in the troposphere , which is the lowest of Earth’s atmospheric layers. It contains 99% of the water vapor and 75% of the atmospheric gases.

Lower Layers of the Atmosphere The stratosphere, the layer directly above the troposphere, extends from 10 km above Earth's surface to about 50 km. A portion of the stratosphere contains higher levels of a gas called ozone. Each molecule of ozone is made up of three oxygen atoms bonded together.

Upper Layers of the Atmosphere The mesosphere extends from the top of the stratosphere to about 85 km above Earth. The thermosphere is named for its high temperatures. This is the thickest atmospheric layer and is found between 85 km and 500 km above Earth.

The ionosphere allows radio waves to travel across the country to another city. Within the mesosphere and thermosphere is a layer of electrically charged particles called the ionosphere (I AH nuh sfihr). Upper Layers of the Atmosphere

Upper Layers of the Atmosphere During the day, energy from the Sun interacts with the particles in the ionosphere, causing them to absorb AM radio frequencies . At night, without solar energy, AM radio transmissions reflect off the ionosphere, allowing radio transmissions to be received at greater distances.

Upper Layers of the Atmosphere The space shuttle orbits Earth in the exosphere. The exosphere has so few molecules that the wings of the shuttle are useless. In the exosphere, the spacecraft relies on bursts from small rocket thrusters to move around. Beyond the exosphere is outer space.

Atmospheric Pressure Atmospheric gases have mass. Atmospheric gases extend hundreds of kilometers above Earth's surface. As Earth's gravity pulls the gases toward its surface, the weight of these gases presses down on the air below.

Atmospheric Pressure The molecules nearer Earth's surface are closer together. This dense air exerts more force than the less dense air near the top of the atmosphere . Force exerted on an area is known as pressure.

Air pressure is greater near Earth's surface and decreases higher in the atmosphere . People find it difficult to breathe in high mountains because fewer molecules of air exist there .

Temperature in Atmospheric Layers Because some layers contain gases that easily absorb the Sun's energy while other layers do not, the various layers have different temperatures.

20 C = 68 F cold ========================} hot

Molecules that make up air in the troposphere are warmed mostly by heat from Earth's surface. The Sun warms Earth's surface, which then warms the air above it.

Molecules of ozone in the stratosphere absorb some of the Sun's energy. Energy absorbed by ozone molecules raises the temperature.

Because more ozone molecules are in the upper portion of the stratosphere, the temperature in this layer rises with increasing altitude.

The temperature in the mesosphere decreases with altitude. The thermosphere and exosphere are the first layers to receive the Sun's rays. Few molecules are in these layers, but each molecule has a great deal of energy. Temperatures here are high here.

The Ozone Layer Ozone is made of 3 oxygen atoms. Although you cannot see the ozone layer, your life depends on it. Within the stratosphere, about 19 km to 48 km above your head, lies an atmospheric layer called the ozone layer .

An ozone molecule is made up of three oxygen atoms bound together. The ozone layer contains a high concentration of ozone and shields you from the Sun's harmful energy. Ozone absorbs most of the ultraviolet radiation that enters the atmosphere.

Ultraviolet radiation is one of the many types of energy that come to Earth from the Sun.

CFCs These compounds don't absorb ultraviolet radiation the way ozone can. In addition, the original chlorine atom can continue to break apart thousands of ozone molecules. The result is that more ultraviolet radiation reaches Earth's surface.

Chlorofluorocarbon molecules destroy ozone. When a chlorine atom from a chlorofluorocarbon molecule comes near a molecule of ozone, the ozone molecule breaks apart. One of the oxygen atoms combines with the chlorine atom, and the rest form a regular, two-atom molecule.

Heat Heat is energy that flows from an object with a higher temperature to an object with a lower temperature. Energy from the Sun reaches Earth's surface and heats it. Heat then is transferred through the atmosphere in three ways—radiation, conduction, and convection.

Radiation Energy from the Sun reaches Earth in the form of radiant energy, or radiation. Radiation is energy that is transferred in the form of rays or waves. Earth radiates some of the energy it absorbs from the Sun back toward space.

Conduction Conduction is the transfer of energy that occurs when molecules bump into one another. Molecules in warmer objects move faster than molecules in cooler objects. When objects are in contact, energy is transferred from warmer objects to cooler objects.

Earth’s surface conducts energy directly to the atmosphere. As air moves over warm land or water, molecules in air are heated by direct contact.

Convection Convection is the transfer of heat by the flow of material. Convection circulates heat throughout the atmosphere. How does this happen?

Convection When air is warmed, the molecules in it move apart and the air becomes less dense. Air pressure decreases because fewer molecules are in the same space. In cold air, molecules move closer together.

Convection The air becomes more dense and air pressure increases. Cooler, denser air sinks while warmer, less dense air rises, forming a convection current.

Earth’s Atmosphere is Unique On Earth, radiation from the Sun can be reflected into space, absorbed by the atmosphere, or absorbed by land and water. Once it is absorbed, heat can be transferred by radiation, conduction, or convection.

Forming Wind Earth is mostly rock or land, with three-fourths of its surface covered by a relatively thin layer of water, the oceans. These two areas strongly influence global wind systems.

Forming Wind Uneven heating of Earth’s surface by the Sun causes some areas to be warmer than others. This causes air pressure to be generally lower where air is heated. Wind is the movement of air from an area of higher pressure to an area of lower pressure .

Heated Air Areas of Earth receive different amounts of radiation from the Sun because Earth is curved. The heated air at the equator is less dense, so it is displaced by denser, colder air, creating convection currents.

Heated Air This cold, denser air comes from the poles, which receive less radiation from the Sun, making air at the poles much cooler. The resulting dense, high-pressure air sinks and moves along Earth’s surface.

The Coriolis Effect This is called the Coriolis (kohr ee OH lus) effect . The rotation of Earth causes moving air and water to appear to turn to the right north of the equator and to the left south of the equator

The Coriolis Effect The flow of air caused by differences in the amount of solar radiation received on Earth’s surface and by the Coriolis effect creates distinct wind patterns on Earth’s surface.

Global Winds Early sailors discovered that the wind patterns on Earth helped them navigate the oceans. Sometimes sailors found little or no wind to move their sailing ships near the equator. It also rained nearly every afternoon. This windless, rainy zone near the equator is called the doldrums.

Surface Winds Air descending to Earth’s surface near 30º north and south latitude creates steady winds that blow in tropical regions. These are called trade winds because early sailors used their dependability to establish trade routes.

Surface Winds Between 30º and 60º latitude, winds called the prevailing westerlies blow in the opposite direction from trade winds. Prevailing westerlies are responsible for much of the movement of weather across North America.

Surface Winds Polar easterlies are found near the poles. Near the north pole, easterlies blow from northeast to southwest. Near the south pole, polar easterlies blow from the southeast to the northwest.

Winds in the Upper Troposphere Narrow belts of strong winds, called jet streams , blow near the top of the troposphere. The polar jet stream forms at the boundary of cold, dry polar air to the north and warmer, more moist air to the south.

Winds in the Upper Troposphere The jet stream moves faster in the winter because the difference between cold air and warm air is greater. The jet stream helps move storms across the country.

Local Wind Systems Global wind systems determine the major weather patterns for the entire planet. Smaller wind systems affect local weather. If you live near a large body of water, you’re familiar with two such wind systems—sea breezes and land breezes.

A sea breeze is created during the day because solar radiation warms the land more than the water. Sea and Land Breezes Air over the land is heated by conduction.

Sea and Land Breezes This heated air is less dense and has lower pressure. Cooler, denser air over the water has higher pressure and flows toward the warmer, less dense air. A convection current results, and wind blows from the sea toward the land.

Sea and Land Breezes The reverse occurs at night, when land cools much more rapidly than ocean water. Air over the land becomes cooler than air over the ocean .

Sea and Land Breezes Movement of air toward the water from the land is called a land breeze . Cooler, denser air above the land moves over the water, as the warm air over the water rises.

Multiple Choice 1. The ______ is the layer of the atmosphere nearest to Earth’s surface. A. mesosphere C. stratosphere B. troposphere D. ionosphere Answer B. troposphere

Multiple Choice 2. The ______ are windless zones near the equator. A. Doldrums C. Polar easterlies B. Prevailing westerlies D. Trade winds Answer A. Doldrums

Multiple Choice 3. In the water cycle evaporated water____. A. Precipitates as rain or snow C. Becomes groundwater B. Runs into lakes, streams, and oceans D. Condenses into clouds Answer D. Condenses into clouds

Multiple Choice 4. The ______ are responsible for the movement of much of the weather across the United States A. Prevailing westerlies C. Trade winds B. Polar westerlies D. Doldrums Answer A. Prevailing westerlies

Multiple Choice 5. The ______ merges into outer space. A. troposphere C. mesosphere B. stratosphere D. ionosphere Answer D. ionosphere

Multiple Choice 6. Air in the ______ is warmed by heat from Earth’s surface. A. troposphere C. stratosphere B. exosphere D. thermosphere Answer A. troposphere

Multiple Choice 7. Air above the ______ is heated more than at any other place on Earth. A. north pole C. equator B. south pole D. United States Answer C. equator

Multiple Choice 8. Air currents that blow near the north and south poles are the ______. A. Polar easterlies C. Polar westerlies B. Trade winds D. Jet streams Answer A. Polar easterlies

Multiple Choice 9. Reflection and absorption by the atmosphere prevent some ______from reaching Earth’s surface. A. ozone C. nitrogen B. radiation D. oxygen Answer B. radiation

Multiple Choice 10. Temperatures in the thermosphere are ______. A. Hot and cold C. Very cold B. Constantly changing D. Very warm Answer D. Very warm

Multiple Choice 11. ______is the only substance that exists as a solid, liquid, gas in Earth’s atmosphere. A. nitrogen C. water B. ozone D. radiation Answer C. water

Matching Match the description with the appropriate terms below: 21% of the atmosphere 0 to 4% of air Most common gas in air Normally found in the upper stratosphere Caused when pollutants mix with oxygen and other chemicals in the presence of sunlight 12. Nitrogen __ C 13. smog __ E 14. Water vapor __ B 15. Oxygen __ A 16. Ozone __ D

Completion Complete each statement 17. The lowest layer of the atmosphere is the ___________ ; it contains clouds and smog. troposphere 18. An oxygen form present in the ___________ filters ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Ozone layer

Completion Complete each statement 19. Winds blowing from the northeast to the southwest near the north pole are known as _____________ . Polar easterlies 20. Air masses moving in the northern hemisphere are turned westward from their original paths in the _____________. Coriolis effect

Completion Complete each statement 21. Windless zone at Earth’s equator where air rises almost straight up is called the ________. doldrums 22. Cool dense air near the sea moves inland toward warm, dense areas during the day and sets up _________. Sea breeze

Completion Complete each statement 23. At 30 ° north or south of the equator air descending to Earth’s surface creates steady ___________. Trade winds 24. The __________________ blow from southwest to northeast at 30 ° to 60°latitude in the northern hemisphere . Prevailing westerlies

Completion Complete each statement 25. Cool , dense air moves during the night from the land toward water as __________ land breezes 26. Each hemisphere has two narrow belts of fast moving winds called__________ . Jet streams _

Completion Complete each statement 27. More harmful ultraviolet rays are reaching Earth’s surface because of ______________. Ozone depletion 28. Water pollution can be caused by pesticides and ________ used on farms. fertilizers

Completion Complete each statement 29. The ___ is the most reliable source of energy for life on Earth. Sun 30. A rise in Earth’s temperature possibly caused by an increase in greenhouse gases, is known as ______________ . Global warming

Completion Complete each statement 31. Sunlight _________. renewable

Short answer Describe each of the following concepts 32. The destruction of ozone by chlorofluorocarbons The chlorine atoms in CFC’s can break up ozone molecules and destroy ozone’s ability to absorb UV radiation answer

Short answer Describe each of the following concepts 33. The cause of the difference in temperature between the equator and the poles. Because Earth’s surface is curved not all areas receive the same amount of radiation from the Sun. The equator receives more direct radiation so its temperatures are higher. The poles receive less direct radiation so their temperatures are lower answer

Short answer Describe each of the following concepts: 34. The two most abundant gases in our atmosphere. Nitrogen and oxygen answer

Use the chart to answer the following questions: 35.Over which material did the air heat faster 36.Over which material did the air cool faster Answer sand Answer sand 27° C 28° C 25° C Above water 26° C 33° C 25° C Above sand Temperature after heat turned off for 15 minutes Temperature after heat applied for 15 minutes Original temperature reading thermometer

Short answer 37. How can the temperatures of sand and water affect the climate of the area? The differences in the heating and cooling of land and water affect the movement of warm air in the area. answer

Short answer 38. How does this information explain the differences between land and sea breezes? Land warms more easily than water. During the day, cooler, denser air from over water flows over the land and forces up the warm air; this is a sea breeze. Land cools more quickly than water. At night the air above land cools, sinks and moves out over water, forcing up the warmer air over the water. This is a land breeze. answer

Use the circle graph to answer the following questions. nitrogen oxygen Water vapor 0.0 to 4.0% 21% 78%

39. Which gas makes up about one-fifth of Earth’s atmosphere? Answer oxygen 40. About what percent of Earth’s atmosphere does water make up? Answer 0 to 4% 41. How could you express the amount of nitrogen in Earth’s atmosphere as a fraction? Answer 3/4 to 4/5

42. The following sentences appear in an events chain concept map that shows how CFC’s destroy the ozone layer. Number the sentences in the order in which they would appear on the map A regular two atom O molecule is formed A chlorine atom from a chlorofluorocarbon molecule comes near a molecule of ozone The ozone molecule breaks apart 2

42. The following sentences appear in an events chain concept map that shows how CFC’s destroy the ozone layer. Number the sentences in the order in which they would appear on the map 3. The ozone molecule breaks apart 1. A regular two atom O2 molecule is formed 2. A chlorine atom from a chlorofluorocarbon molecule comes near a molecule of ozone

Think for yourself 43. Where is the air pressure the greatest, at sea level or on a mountaintop? Explain answer Air pressure is greatest at sea level because there are more molecules pushing down from above.

Think for yourself 44. Discuss some of the possible effects of global warming. answer Global warming could alter the amount of rainfall, affecting food production. Polar ice caps could melt, raising sea levels, and flooding coastal areas. The numbers and severity of storms and hurricanes also could.

Characteristics Of The Atmoshere Q And Aaa

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Characteristics Of The Atmoshere Q And Aaa