4.4 Earth's Atmosphere; 4.5 Global Wind Patterns

determine air circulation patterns

latent heat release, water vapor capacity, adiabatic heating/cooling, wind

coriolis effect

deflection of objects to the right in the northern hemisphere & to the left in southern hemisphere

oceanic gyres

• formed due to earth’s rotation & global wind patterns

• massive circular current systems

• majorly impact temperature, salinity, and nutrient distribution globally

atmospheric pressure

weight of air

hydrosphere, atmosphere, geosphere, biosphere

earth’s life support consists of four interacting systems

pressure

weight/area

permanent gases

nitrogen, oxygen, other (noble gases)

variable gases

water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, ozone

pauses

the layers are the transition zones between temperature changes

troposphere

almost all weather occurs in this part of the atmosphere

stratosphere

the helpful ozone layer is in this part of the atmosphere

ionosphere

glowing gases, auroras, or northern lights occur in this part of the atmosphere

geocorona

the outermost part of the atmosphere where atmosphere merges with outer space, made up by a cloud of hydrogen atoms