1. Atmosphere
11-1

2. What is the atmosphere? A thin layer of air that protects the
Earth’s surface from extreme temperatures
and harmful Sun rays.

3. Structure of the atmosphere
The atmosphere is made of different layers, each of which has different temperatures and different chemicals compositions

5. The lower atmosphere (Earth’s surface to 50km high)
Troposphere (Earth’s surface to 9-16km)
Where we live
Contains most of the mass of the atmosphere
Contains most of the water vapor
Most of the weather takes place in the troposphere
Most of the atmospheric pollution is found in the troposphere
Temperature decreases from the bottom to the top
The upper limit is called the tropopause

7. The lower atmosphere (Earth’s surface to 50km high)
Stratosphere (9-16km to 50km)
Made up primarily of O3 which absorbs UV radiation
Air temperature increases from the bottom of the stratosphere to the top
The top layer is called the stratopause

9. The Upper Atmosphere (50km to >500km)
Mesosphere (50km to 100km)
No more O3 found here
Temperature decrease from the bottom to the top
Shooting stars occur here
The upper limit is the mesopause

12. The Upper Atmosphere (50km to >500km)
Thermosphere (100km to 500km)
Very small mass of the atmosphere
The temperature increases from the bottom to the top
The ionosphere is part of the thermosphere and is made of electrically charged particles
Radio-waves are carried in the ionosphere

14. The Upper Atmosphere (50km to >500km)
Exosphere (>500km)
Quickly moving hydrogen
and helium molecules

15. How do we know the Temperature?
The radiosonde is a balloon-borne instrument platform with radio transmitting capabilities. It is a combination of the words "radio" for the onboard radio transmitter and "sonde", which is messenger from old English.
The radiosonde contains instruments capable of making direct in-situ measurements of air temperature, humidity and pressure with height, typically to altitudes of approximately 30 km. These observed data are transmitted immediately to the ground station by a radio transmitter located within the instrument package.

16. How it all layers out

17. What is the atmosphere? Mixture of gases
Approximately 99% is oxygen and nitrogen
Both are critical for life on this planet
Remaining 1% is a mixture of other gases
Argon
Neon
Hydrogen
Carbon dioxide (less than 1%)
Water vapor (up to ~4%)
Goes from the earth’s surface to outer space

18. Water Vapor and Carbon Dioxide
Water vapor and carbon dioxide are extremely important in the way our atmosphere affects weather
The combination of the two gases affects how much energy the atmosphere will absorb

19. Water Vapor Varies by season, altitude and what is below the air
Source of precipitations
Water exists in all three stages in the atmosphere
When water changes between states it will absorb or release energy in the form of heat
This heat exchange affects the movement of the atmosphere

20. Variable Components
Aerosols are tiny solid and liquid particles in the atmosphere (e.g., smoke and soot from wild fires or ash from volcanic eruptions).
Ozone is a form of oxygen that combines three oxygen atoms into a molecule. Ozone absorbs potentially harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun.

21. Ozone (O3) Oxygen molecule with a third oxygen atom attached
Exists in small quantities in the stratosphere
O3 absorbs UV radiation
Protects humans from burning
The ozone layer has gone through changes in recent geologic time

23. Ozone Layer Life on Earth, as we know it, depends on it.
Pollutants called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are destroying the ozone layer.
CFCs are used in refrigerators, air conditioners, aerosol sprays, and foam packaging.
If these products develop a leak, CFCs can enter the atmosphere.
The ozone layer has a large hole over Antarctica and a smaller one over the north pole.

24. The Sun The sun is the sole source of all energy to the atmosphere
The energy is transferred in three ways:
Radiation
Conduction
Convection

25. Method one: Radiation
Transfer of energy through visible, ultraviolet, and other forms of electromagnetic waves
All objects that have a temperature above absolute zero (-273 Celsius or
-523 Fahrenheit) emit radiation

26. Radiation The earth both absorbs energy (heat) and emits it
50% of all incoming radiation is absorbed by the earth’s surface
15% is absorbed by the atmosphere
35% is reflected back into space

27. Scattering by Aerosols
Clouds with low aerosol concentration and a few large droplets do not scatter light well, and allow much of the Sun's light to pass through and reach the surface.

28. Scattering by Aerosols
The high aerosol concentrations in these clouds provide the nucleation points necessary for the formation of many small liquid water droplets. Up to 90% of visible radiation (light) is reflected back to space by such clouds without reaching Earth's surface.
(Global Dimming!!!)

29. Radiation
The structure of the earth’s surface affects the absorption of the incoming radiation
Water heats up and cools off slowly
Darker objects heat up more quickly than lighter colored objects
Overall the earth reflects and absorbs equal amounts of energy

30. Method Two: Conduction
Transfer of energy when molecules collide
Warm earth surface has quick moving molecules; these molecules collide with the slow moving molecules of the cooler surface air
The energy/heat from the earth surface warms the atmosphere close to the ground
Conduction only warms the lowest portion of the atmosphere

31. Method Three: Convection
The transfer of energy by the flow of a heated substance
Once the heat is transferred into the lower atmosphere it can be moved up into the atmosphere via convection
As the air is heated it becomes less dense and will rise
As it rises it cools and becomes denser and then it sinks
These movements are called convection currents (vertical)
These convection currents cause weather!!!!!!!!