Earth's Atmosphere Composition and Climate Dynamics

Most abundant atmospheric gases in the earths atmosphere

Nitrgoen 78%

Oxygen 21%

Argon 0.9%

Trace gases

Water Vapor (as much as 1% to 4% near the surface)

Carbon dioxide 0.04%

Nitrogen

The most abundant atmospheric gas, less reactive than oxygen

Oxygen

Second most abundant gas in the atmosphere, formed by photosynthesis of living organisms

Argon

An inert gas that comes from the interior of earth (crust of earth)

What is argon produced by

radioactive decay of potassium-40 in minerals

Carbon dioxide

Atmospheric trace gas, measured in parts per millions (ppm), transparent to suns visible radiation

what does carbon dioxide absorb

Absorbs infrared (heat) radiated back to space by earth's surface - a "greenhouse gas"

Water Vapor

A trace gas to as much as 4% of the atmosphere

what does water vapor have high of

High "latent heat" (great capacity to store and then release absorbed energy) Serves to transport energy in the climate system

Structure of the atmosphere

Atmosphere forms a very thin layer around the earth

Density of the atmosphere

Increases towards the earth's surface

Atmosphere structure percent

80% of the atmosphere lies below 10km (6.2 miles) 99% of the mass of the atmosphere lies below altitude of 32km (20 miles)

Cumulonimbus

Cloud flattens out the tropopause, the boundary between the troposphere and the overlying stratosphere

Longitude

East west lines: horizontal

Latitude

North south lines: Vertical

International Dateline

Imaginary line where the calendar date changes

180 Meridian

Straight imaginary line located at 180 longitude

Polar zone

60° North to 90° North and 60° South to 90° South

Temperature Zone

30° North to 60° North and 30° South to 60° South

Tropics

0° North to 30° North and 0° South to 30° South

Equator

0° Latitude where incoming solar radiant energy is greatest

Prime meridian

0° longitude

Albedo

Some of the sun's energy is immediately reflected back into space

The greenhouse effect

Some heat is trapped in the atmosphere by greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide

Keeling curve

Measures atmospheric carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere since 1958, in result it has caused global warming

Atmospheric Circulation Patterns

Winds blow from high to low pressure, warming air becomes less dense and rises

surface water

Surface water offshore retains heat longer at night and heats air over the water

surface water parts

Sets up diurnal (daily) shoreline circulation, and cool offshore breezes come ashore during the day, while warm ocean breezes moves ashore at night