1. What is the Atmosphere?
The layer of gases that surrounds our planet.

2. Why is it important? Our atmosphere makes life possible on our planet.
Provides us with oxygen.
Keeps surface warm so water can exist as a liquid.
Protects the surface from dangerous radiation from the sun.

3. What is the Composition of the Atmosphere?
Nitrogen makes up 78% of our atmosphere
Oxygen makes up 21%
Argon makes up almost 1%
All other gases have only trace amounts

4. What was Earth’s Early Atmosphere?
The Precambrian atmosphere was composed mainly of nitrogen and carbon dioxide, along with some methane and ammonia.
Volcanoes spewed water vapor, carbon monoxide, and even more nitrogen and carbon dioxide into the air.
So where did the abundant oxygen that has made life as we know it come from?

5. What was Earth’s Early Atmosphere cont?
The first life on Earth was cyanobacteria (blue-green algae).
They used photosynthesis to turn CO2 into the food and energy they needed to survive.
Photosynthesis gives off oxygen as a waste product.
So over the millions of years, oxygen given off by algae built up in the atmosphere, while the amount of CO2 declined.

6. What are the Layers of the Atmosphere?
Exosphere- lowest density
Thermosphere
(Ionosphere)
Mesosphere
Stratosphere
Troposphere -highest density

7. Layers Bun Mayonnaise Lettuce Tomato Hamburger Bun
The typical hamburger might look like this: bun, hamburger meat, tomato, lettuce, mayonnaise and bun.
Hamburger
Bun

8. Exosphere Thermosphere Mesosphere Stratosphere Troposphere Earth
Name The Different Layers as they come in, also explain that the Exosphere is not really a layer but is the beginning of outer space.
Troposphere
Earth

9. Exosphere 500-520 kilometers above earth
This outermost layer of the atmosphere is the closest to space and has the least amount of gas atoms and molecules
In the exosphere, molecules and atoms escape into space.
This layer is also where satellites orbit the Earth.
Hottest layer due to sun’s light being converted to thermal

10. Thermosphere
The thermosphere occurs from 85 to 500 kilometers from the surface of the Earth.
This atmospheric layer is called the upper atmosphere.
The thermosphere contains thin layers of gases, which absorb much of the sun’s light.
This causes the thermosphere to be significantly warmer than other layers. But not as hot as exosphere
Auroras occur and the space shuttle orbits in this layer of the atmosphere.

11. Mesosphere
The mesosphere layer lies from kilometers above the Earth.
Meteors leave trails when hitting this layer of atmosphere, as the thick gases slow them down and they eventually burn up.

12. Stratosphere
The stratosphere extends from 10 to 50 kilometers above the surface of the Earth.
Aircraft fly in this layer
Weather balloons penetrate the stratosphere, relaying pertinent information to scientists.
Contains the ozone layer which scatters harmful ultra-violet radiation

13. Troposphere
The troposphere is the layer of the atmosphere where the weather happens.
Lying just above Earth, this layer extends from the surface to 10 kilometers above.
The gases thin and temperatures drop as altitude increases.
This layer contains half of the gases in the atmosphere and they are generally well blended.
This layer is heated from the ground.

14. What is weather?
It is the state of the atmosphere (troposphere) at a specific time and place.
Components of weather include air pressure, wind, temperature, humidity and precipitation

15. Sun’s role in weather!
Solar energy from the sun strikes the Earth’s surface. This transfer in energy drives the production of all weather conditions. Examples: water cycle, wind, temperature, etc.
What would happen if there wasn’t a sun? What type of weather would the Earth have?

16. Sun’s role clip

17. What happens to the Solar Energy?

18. Why does the amount and intensity of sunlight vary throughout the year?
Tilt of the Earth’s axis
Position in revolution (orbit) around the sun
Which place receives the same amount and intensity of sunlight throughout the year?
The equator

19. (sun aims directly at equator)
The Tilting affect!
Fall
(sun aims directly at equator)
Summer
(northern hemisphere
tilts toward sun)
Spring
(sun aims directly
at equator)
23.5º
Winter
tilts away from sun)
Solar
radiation
seasons animation
length of day animation

20. What is climate? What is Ohio’s climate?
1. Climate is long-term weather conditions
2. Temperature and precipitation are the most important expressions of climate
What is Ohio’s climate?
Temperate
Cold winters
Hot summers
Average rain/snowfall

21. HOW DOES CLIMATE INFLUENCE OTHER ASPECTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT?
Vegetation is the most visible expression of climate
Animal life adapts to both climate and vegetation
Soils develop in response to climate and vegetation
Landforms
Water resources

22. Distribution of Biomes based on climate

23. What is the water cycle?
It is the movement of water to and from the lithosphere and the atmosphere.
1.Energy from the sun drives the cycle causing water to evaporate.
2.The water vapor eventually condenses when it cools to form clouds.
3.Eventually the water droplets get to heavy and fall back to the earth as precipitation.
4.The water from the precipitation eventually runs-off into bodies of water.

24. The water cycle!
water cycle animation
evaporation

25. Air Pressure Clips (fwd)

26. What is Air Pressure
air pressure is caused by the weight of the air pressing down on the Earth, the ocean and on the air below
the pressure depends on the amount of air above the measuring point and falls as you go higher
air pressure changes with weather
air pressure is measure in pounds per square inch. Average air pressure is p.s.i.

27. Air Pressure
High Pressure areas: Dense Sinking air masses which make it difficult for air to rise and form clouds.
Results - Clear sunny weather is the result.
Low Pressure Areas: Less dense air is able to rise resulting in cloud formation
Results - Cloudy weather is the result.

29. Different Temperatures - Different Pressures
Less
Dense
Pressure
Cool
Air
Denser
More
Pressure
Warm
Air

30. Moist surface warmed by sun Flows toward low pressure,
picks up moisture and heat
Warm,
dry air
Hot, wet
air
Falls, is compressed, warms
Rises, expands, cools
Heat released
radiates to space
LOW
PRESSURE
HIGH
Cool, dry
Condensation
and
precipitation

31. View pressure systems

32. How does differences in air pressure create wind?
Wind moves from high pressure areas to low
pressure areas because there is less molecules in
the low pressure area.
What are isobars?
Isobars connect areas of equal pressure
Close together = greater difference in air pressure
STRONG winds
Far apart = less difference in air pressures
Light winds

33. Isobars and Wind

34. Measuring devices Anemometer: measures wind speed
Barometer: measures air pressure

35. Air masses clip

36. Air masses

37. What is an air mass?
Air mass – a section of air that has similar characteristics to the area it formed over(warm dry, warm moist, cold dry, and cold moist)
Which air mass would be the most dense? Least dense?

38. Continental Arctic (cA):
Frigid – record low temperatures
Dry - very low dew points
Dense - very high barometric pressure
Usually originate north of the Arctic Circle
Siberian Express
Usually once or twice a winter
very rarely form during the summer
because the sun warms the Arctic.

39. Continental polar (cP):
Cold and dry - stable
Usually originates in NW Territory of Canada
Influences mainly the northern USA
Responsible for clear and pleasant weather during the summer
Usually in winter
Creates troughs in the polar jet stream
Lake effect snow in Great Lakes areas

40. Maritime polar (mP): Cool and moist - unstable
Originate over N. Atlantic and N. Pacific
Main Influence - the Pacific Northwest and the Northeast.
can form any time of the year
Generally not as cold as cP air masses

41. Maritime tropical (mT):
Warm and very moist – unstable
Originate in the Gulf of Mexico and the Southern Atlantic Ocean
Influences the eastern USA
Most prevalent during summer
Responsible for hot, humid summer days across the South and the East.

42. Continental Tropical (cT):
Very Hot and very dry – stable aloft
Originates in Desert Southwest and northern Mexico
Occurs in the summer, rarely in winter
Usually keeps the Desert Southwest scorching above 100oF during summer
Generally clear skies, hot, low humidity

44. Coriolis Effect Clip (Moving Air masses)

45. What is humidity?
Humidity refers to the amount of moisture that is in the air (water vapor)
It is measured with a device called a hygrometer
What temperature of air will be more humid ? why?
What is the temperature when the water vapor condenses?

46. Fronts clip

47. Fronts: Cold Warm Stationary The leading edge (front) of an air mass
Characterized by shift/change in weather
Cold
Warm
Stationary

48. Fronts and their symbols

49. How does it affect the weather?
What is a warm front?
It is the leading edge of a warm air mass
How does it affect the weather?
lower pressure
Warmer temperatures
Possibly long, steady precipitation
Stratus clouds
Light winds

50. Graphic Depiction!

51. Warm Front

52. Warm Front

53. How does it affect the weather?
What is a cold front?
It is the leading edge of a cold air mass
How does it affect the weather?
Higher pressure
The temperature drops rapidly
Precipitation can be heavy at the front, but short lasting (ex. Thunderstorms, tornados, etc.)
Cumulonimbus clouds
Strong winds

55. Cold Front

56. Cold Front
(Fozzy)

57. Cold Front

58. In the summer, cold fronts can trigger:
thunderstorms
large hail
dangerous winds
tornadoes

59. Stationary Front

60. What is a stationary front?
When a warm or cold front stops moving, it becomes a stationary front

61. What is humidity and how is it measured?
Humidity is the amount of water vapor that exists in the air. The warmer the air, the more moisture can be present. Think about muggy days in August vs. Frigid days of January.
Humidity is measured with a
hygrometer

62. Clouds clip

63. HOW ARE CLOUDS FORMED Water evaporates Water vapor rises
Water vapor loses energy (cools) and condenses
Clouds form (clouds are actually liquid water)

64. CLOUD CLASSIFICATION
Cirrus-high level clouds that have bases below 7,000 feet
Cumulus- mid-level clouds that have bases between ,000 feet
Straus-low level clouds that have bases below 6,500 feet
Cumulonimbus-tallest of all clouds that can go up to 60,000 feet.

65. Cloud classification root words!
Latin Root
 Translation
Example
cumulus
heap
Fair weather cumulus
stratus
Layer
Altostratus
cirrus
Curl of hair
Cirrus
nimbus
Rain
Cumulonimbus

66. CIRRUS High altitude and wispy Some have a wavelike appearance
Are usually thin allowing
moonlight and sun to
shine through
Associated with fair weather

67. CUMULUS Usually puffy Noticeable vertical development
Have popcorn appearance
Can be widely scattered
or clumped
Associated with fair weather

68. STRATUS warm front clouds
Lowest of the low clouds
Appear as an overcast, but can be scattered
Can be in layers
Associated with long periods of rain
fog

69. CUMULONIMBUS cold front clouds
Can produce lightning, heavy rains, hail, strong winds, and tornados. They are the tallest of all clouds

70. What is weather forecasting
Weather forecasting is the application of science and technology to predict the state of the atmosphere for a future time and a given location.
Forecasts become less accurate as the difference in time between the present moment and the time for which the forecast is being made (the range of the forecast) increases. Why?

71. Why is weather forecasting important?
Air traffic
Boating
Military
Agriculture
Public safety

72. Who is responsible for predicting the weather?
Meteorologists – they analyze weather data and make weather forecasts based on the data

73. What tools are used for weather forecasting?
A weather balloon measures weather high in the troposphere.
A satellite orbiting Earth takes pictures of clouds from space to help us see where and how fast clouds are moving.
A radar shoots a microwave into a cloud to shows where precipitation is falling and how much. The wave bounces back when it hits the precipitation.  It can also spot severe storms and how fast they are moving.

74. How is temperature measured and displayed on a map?
Thermometer measures the temperature of an air mass! The reading should be taken in the shade.
Isotherms connect areas of equal temperatures on a map just like isobars!

75. Weather Satellite
Doppler radar
Weather Balloon