The Earth’s Atmosphere

Chapter 4

Chapter 4 Study Guide1. Describe the composition of the atmosphere.

2.   Explain why there are different layers in the atmosphere. Describe the vertical layering of the atmosphere. Know the names of the different layers from the Earth’s surface up.

3.   Distinguish between weather, climate, meteorology and climatology.

4.   Describe in depth the controls to weather and climate.5.   Describe the energy budget.6.   Determine the amount of insolation which reaches the earth's

surface, and how much insolation is absorbed by the ozone, and water vapor in clouds.

7.   Compare the wavelengths of radiation emitted by the sun and radiation emitted by the earth.

8.   Describe the process of energy transfer by conduction, convection and latent heat of condensation.

Study Guide Continued

9. Describe the greenhouse effect. 10.  Calculate temperature using the formulas for Celsius

and Fahrenheit.11. Describe daily temperature lag and annual

temperature lag.12. Describe albedo. Give examples of things with high

albedo and low albedo.13.  Describe in detail the methods of heat transfer.14. Define adiabatic cooling.15.  Predict when we will have a temperature inversion in

Southern California. 

Chapter 4

• What is the difference between weather and climate?

Composition of Atmosphere

• Earth’s atmosphere composed of many gases (Percent of mass)– Nitrogen 78.8 %

– Oxygen 20.95 %

– Argon 0.93 %

– Carbon Dioxide 0.037 %

– Ozone (trace)

– Hydrogen (trace)

– Other inert gases (trace)

Table 4.1

Vertical Layering of Atmosphere

• Layers based on temperature and rates of temperature change.

• The higher the altitude the thinner the air.

• Where is the troposphere?

Fig. 4.7

Controls of Weather and Climate

• Latitude

• Land and water distribution

• Ocean currents

• Altitude

• Landform barriers

• Human activities

Latitude

  higher latitude= get lower temperatures

• lower latitude = higher temperatures.

• Why?

Land and water distribution

•  Specific heat

• Water is slow to change its temperature compared to land.

• Temperature difference Seattle,Washington and Minneapolis Minnesota.

• Why?

Ocean currents

 Warm and cold ocean currents affect the temperature of the atmosphere above. Ocean current movements are the Earth’s systems reaching a balance.

Fig. 5.24

Altitude and Landform Barriers

Altitude—Within Troposphere—increase in altitude decrease in temperature. Go to mountains what happens?

Landform barriers--mountain ranges Human activities?

Heat transfer

• Convection currents

• Conduction

• Latent heat of condensation

• Radiation

• Advection

Convection currents

Conduction

•  Heat transfer by direct contact—hand on stove.

• Caused by collisions of molecules. Heat passes from the warmer to the cooler until they attain the same temperature.

• What are good conductors? Poor conductors?

 

Latent heat of condensation

•  Latent heat of condensation

• Evaporation

• Condensation

Radiation

  Radiation- Process by which electromagnetic radiation is emitted from an object.  

Advection

• Horizontal heat transfer by winds and ocean currents.

Greenhouse Effect

Fig. 4.4

Greenhouse effect

Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and water vaporWhat is global warming?

Adiabatic cooling

• For every 1000 meters of altitude the temperature decreases an average of 6.5ºC/1000 meters. Or in our system 3.6º F / 1000 ft.

• Why?

• environmental lapse rate.

Fig. 4-20, p. 104

Energy budget48% reaches earthsurface19% ozone layer

4.10

Chapter 4

• Heat versus temperature

• Daily temperature lag and annual temperature lags

• Albedo?

• Converting F to ºC.

• Isotherms?

The Carbon Cycle (Terrestrial)

photosynthesisphotosynthesis aerobic aerobic respirationrespiration

Terrestrialrocks

soil/water

Land food websproducers, consumers,

decomposers, detritivores

Atmosphere(mainly carbon dioxide)

Peat,fossil fuels

combustion of wood combustion of wood (for clearing land; or (for clearing land; or

for fuelfor fuel

sedimentation

volcanic action

death, burial, compaction over death, burial, compaction over geologic timegeologic timeleaching leaching

runoffrunoff

weatheringweathering

Fig. 3-271

Global Warming

Global Warming

The Carbon Cycle (Aquatic)

diffusion between atmosphere and ocean

Carbon dioxidedissolved in ocean water

Marine food websproducers, consumers,

decomposers, detritivores

Marine sediments, includingformations with fossil fuels

combustion of fossil fuels

incorporation incorporation into sedimentsinto sediments

death, death, sedimentationsedimentation

uplifting over uplifting over geologic timegeologic time

sedimentationsedimentation

photosynthesisphotosynthesis aerobic aerobic respirationrespiration

Fig. 3.27