Weather and Climate Unit 1 Test Review

Weather

The condition of the atmosphere at a specific time and place

• short term energy interactions

Climate

Long term average of weather

Meteorology

Study of weather

• focus on physics of the atmosphere and short term weather forecasting

Climatology

Study of long term weather (climate)

• focus on average regional conditions and predict long range changes

4 Spheres of Earth System

• Atmosphere - Air

• Lithosphere - Land

• Hydrosphere - Water

• Biosphere - Life

Geography

Description, or exploration, of Earth using a spatial perspective

Subfields of Geography

Physical, Human, Geotechnology

Geographic Grid

Latitude and Logitude

Latitude

Parallels based on angular measurements from the equator

• horizontal

• range from 0 degrees to 90 degrees N/S

Longitude

Based on angular measurements east/west of the prime meridian

• vertical

• 0 degrees - 180 degrees E/W

Expanding Universe Theory

Describes how, since the Big Bang Theory, space is stretching causing galaxies to move further apart

Formation of Stars and Galaxies

As expanding universe cools, dark matter and interstellar gases accumulate into oddly shaped masses (nebula)

Evolution of Earth’s atmosphere

1) Primordial Altmosphere: Nebula of Hydrogen, Helium, Methane, and Ammonia - Photodissociation

2) Secondary Primitive Atmosphere: Earth cooling and degassing- 85% water vapor, 10% Carbon Dioxide, 1-2% Nitrogen

3) Heavy Precipitation Period: Water vapor turns liquid causing ocean formation. Carbon Dioxide dwindles and Nitrogen increases

4) Oxygen Period: Water molecules split and the ozone forms. Photosynthesis begins.

Fusion

Extreme heat and pressure combines light atomic nuclei (Hydrogen) into heavier ones (Helium) and releases an immense amount of energy

• powers the Sun

Environmental Role of Earth’s Atmosphere

• Provides essential gases: Oxygen and Carbon Dixoide

• Traps heat through greenhouse gases

• Ozone layer sheilds radiation

• Regulates temperature

• Enables water cycle

Terrestial Planets

Small, dense and made primarily of rocky and metallic material

• Mercury: very little atmosphere; closely resembles the Earth’s moon

• Venus: Earth’s sister planet; cloud-shrouded atmosphere; rotates opposite direction from Earth; dense, toxic atmosphere

• Mars: leading candidate for past or present life-support system; surface features carved by water; evidence of water and strong winded atmosphere

Jovian Planets

Large, thick, low density, primarily gas giants

• Neptune

• Uranus

• Jupiter

Composition of Earth’s Atmosphere

Mixture of solids (dust and ice), liquids (water), and gases

• Non-variable gases: Nitrogen (78%), Oxygen (21%), Argon (0.93%)

• Variable gases: Carbon Dioxide (0.036%), Water Vapor (0-4%), Ozone (varies)

Vertical Zonation

Thermal layers of the Earth’s atmosphere

Layers of Earth’s atmosphere

Trophosphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, and Thermosphere

Trophosphere

• closest to Earth’s surface

• thinnest layer

• contains 80% of the total mass of the atmosphere

• air is vertically and horizontally mixed

• weather

Stratosphere

• ozone layer

• absorbs UV radiation from the sun

• very little mixing of air

• temperature increases with altitude

Mesosphere

• temperature decreases to lowest levels in atmosphere

• negative lapse rate

Thermosphere

• furthest from Earth’s surface

• temperature increases with altitude due to ultraviolet radiation (EUV) from the sun

• thin air comtaining little heat energy

• ionization occurs (electrons become ionized casuing auroras

Environmental Lapse Rate

Decrease in temperature as the altitude increases

• occurs in the trophosphere and mesosphere

Greenhouse Effect

Atmospheric gases trap heat from the sun that warms the Earth

Temperature Inversion

Layer of warm air gets trapped above a layer of cool air

• prevents vertical air mixing

Equinox

Sun is pointed at the equator

• Experiences 12 hour light and 12 hour dark

• September 21/22

• March 20/21

Solstice

Sun rays are pointed on teh Tropic of Cancer: Summer solstice

• June 21/22

Sun rays are pointed on the Tropic of Capricorn: Winter solstice

• December 21/22

Solar Declination

The angular distance of the sun north or south of the equator varying throughout the year due to the Earth’s axial tilt

Temperature

Measure of the average kinetic energy in a substance

Heat Conduction

the transfer of thermal energy between substances in direct contact

Heat Convection

Heat transfer occurs in liquids and gases when there is physical movement carrying thermal energy from one location to another

Wind Chill

Temperature measure accounting for effect of wind speed on rate of heat loss from the body

Heat Index

Measure incorperating both surface temperature and relative humidity

Sun Spots

Areas of intense magnetic activity on solar photosphere

Calculating Sun Angle

1) Find latitudinal distance between observer and vertical rays of sun

2) Subtract value from 90 degrees