Atmospheric system

Troposphere

• most weather and related processes occur here

• 50% of atmosphere is below 6km

• boundary with stratosphere is called tropopause

Stratosphere

• ozone layer is located here

• boundary with mesosphere called stratopause

Mesosphere

• very high winds

• boundary separating thermosphere called mesopause

Thermosphere

• atmosphere gets thinner

• very high temps

Energy

• energy from sun is called insolation, which depends on

  • latitude

  • Earth’s revolution and rotation

  • Atmosphere components

  • topography

  • distributions of continents and oceans

• albedo: the percentage ratio between incoming radiation and the amount reflected back into space

  • lower on dark surfaces, higher on light surfaces

• only 24% + 21% defuse radiation reach earth

  • earth then emits its own terrestrial radiation, which is then absorbed water vapour and CO2, creating a natural greenhouse effect

Weather systems

• Hadley cell occurs between 30° north and south and equator → high pressure

• Ferrel cell occurs between 30° and 60° north and south → low pressure

• Polar cell occurs between 60° north and south and poles → high pressure

Pressure systems

Low pressure

• called cyclones

• isobars are spaced closely together

• consists of warm, rising air

• produces windy, rainy, and unstable weather

High pressure

• called highs or anticyclones

• isobars are spaced widely apart

• consists of cold, descending air

• produces stable and dry weather conditions, often resulting in clear skies and minimal precipitation.