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Earth’s Atmosphere and Climate
The AtmosphereAtmosphere –
envelope of air around Earth that allows the support of life.
It extends from 0 to 600 km above Earth.
Atmosphere’s jobs1. It absorbs energy from the sun
2. It recycles water and other elements
3. It creates a moderate climate
4. It filters the suns radiation
Layers of the Atmosphere
1. Troposphere Layer Lowest layer (called lower
atmosphere) Extends from 0 to 8-15 km high Dense layer Area where weather is
experienced Temperature decreases with
height. From 17 to -52 degrees Celsius
2. StratosphereExtends 50 km above
troposphere
Dry and less dense
Upper region contains the ozone layerOzone layer
Made of O3 moleculesFilters ultraviolet
radiation from the sun
3. MesosphereExtends from 50 –
85 km above the Earth
Temperature falls to around -93 Celsius
4. ThermosphereExtends 85-600 km above
Earth
Temperatures increases due to the suns direct energy
Temperatures can get up to 1,727 C
This is the upper atmosphere
Atmosphere Make UpThe atmosphere is made up of
a mixture of gases
NitrogenMakes up 78%
OxygenMakes up 21%
Trace elements
Trace ElementsMake up 1 % of the atmosphere
Examples: Argon, Helium, methane, ozone, carbon dioxide, Nitrous oxide, and water vapor
The last five are known as the greenhouse gases
These cause the greenhouse effect
Greenhouse EffectKeeps Earth from getting too hot or too cold
Gases trap some of the suns energy from leaving and prevent too much of the suns energy from entering.
Without this trapped heat temperatures would be 33 C colder at night ( -18 C).
Life would not be able to exist
Human Involvement Human activities have increased the greenhouse
gases.
Burning fossil fuels releases Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere. This is the primary reason for the increase in carbon Dioxide.
Natural InvolvementPlant respiration and decompositions release up
to 10x more Carbon Dioxide than human activity.
This used to be balanced with Carbon Dioxide absorption by the plants but no longer is.
Deforestation has reduced the number of plants to absorb CO2 while increasing the CO2 released by decomposition.
Burning fossil fuels.
ClimateCharacteristic condition of the
atmosphere near the earths surface at a certain place on earth.
Climate:The average weather of a locationIncludes a location general weather
patterns, seasons, and extreme weather (ex. Hurricanes, droughts, tornadoes etc.)
Global ClimateInfluenced by energy
earth receives from the sun and how it is stored and redistributed through the world atmospheres and oceans
Global ClimateOceans store more
energy than the atmosphere.Energy in oceans is
redistributed around the earth by system of ocean currents
Heat that is transferred between the atmosphere and oceans influence regional climate.
Regional Climateinfluence the
different biomes around the world
-biome – a large geographical area of distinctive plant and animal groups that are adapted to a particular environment.
Regional Climate3 factors influence
regional climate
Latitude Most important
influenceEquator warmer
because more direct sunlight
Poles much colder
Regional ClimateLatitude
Temperature difference between low and high latitude creates a circulation within the atmosphere (prevailing winds, jet streams)
Circulation transfers heat away from equator and towards poles.
Regional ClimateAir temperature and Precipitation are the
other two factors that influence regional climate.Both are influenced by interactions
between land, oceans, and mountain ranges.Ex. Mountains can divert winds, so
the other side of the mountain doesn’t get the rains and becomes a dry climate.
Gulf Stream (East Coast of US), an ocean current, influences Northwestern Europe's weather.
3 Climate GroupsBased on temperature, precipitation, and latitude
1.Low-latitude climate climate controlled by equatorial tropical air
masses From 0 – 30 degrees latitude Include tropical rainforests, savannas, and deserts
2.Mid-latitude climate
Climate affected by both tropical air masses and polar/arctic air masses
From 30 – 60 degrees latitude
Include steppes, chaparrals, grasslands, and temperate deciduous forests.
3 Climate GroupsBased on temperature, precipitation, and latitude
3.High-latitude climate
Climate controlled by polar and arctic air masses
From 60 – 90 degrees latitude
Include taigas, tundra, and alpine regions
4.Aquatic biomes
found throughout most latitude
Include oceans, freshwater lakes and rivers
Climate Groups
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