The Earth and Climate

Chapter 1Unit D

Objectives distinguish between weather and climate

describe the major characteristics of the atmosphere, the hydrosphere and the lithosphere as part of the biosphere

will define inversions

Weather vs. Climate

What’s the Difference?

Weather vs. Climate Weather – conditions of

temperature, air pressure, cloud cover, precipitation (rain or snow), and humidity Occur at a particular place

and time

Weather vs. Climate Climate – average weather

conditions that occur in a region over a long period of time (min. 30 years) Ex. Climate of Alberta:

average temp in summer = 14 °C – 20 °C

average annual precipitation = 442 mm

Telling the difference Identify the following statements as

examples of weather or of climate: 1) today is very hot

2) we usually get a lot of rain this time of year

PICTURES

Climographs Shows information about the average

precipitation and temperature for an area

Line Graph – Temperature

Bar Graph – Amount of Precipitation

London, England

Rome, Italy

Climograph - Toronto

Climograph - Whitehorse

Analyze the two Charts with a Neighbour about the two Climates, look for similar patterns

We will go into more detail shortly about how these relate to the biomes, but let’s talk about

the components of the biosphere.

The Earth’s Spheres Use the link provided to research one of the following that

you are assigned. (Use your phones for this one!) http://www.agci.org/classroom/index.php

1. Atmosphere

2. Biosphere

3. Hydrosphere

4. Geosphere

5. Cryosphere

After getting your own ideas, you will put your ideas together with a group who is researching the same topic

You will share your ideas with the class after 5 minutes of working with your groups.

The Atmosphere Rises over 500 km from surface of Earth

Mixture of gases Most abundant gas is? Second most

abundant?

How are these gases used by living things?

Also contains atmospheric dust Very small

Include soot, pollen, micro-organisms

Atmosphere

% Composition of Gas on Venus

Percentage

Carbon DioxideNitrogenOxygenArgonMethane

Compare Venus vs Earth

Can people live on Venus? Explain what you think!

The Atmosphere

Broken up into 4 layers (determined by average air temperature) Troposphere

Stratosphere

Mesosphere

Thermosphere

Found at different altitudes

Distance above Earth’s surface from sea level

Check out the Interactive Atmosphere: http://www.glencoe.com/sites/common_assets/science/virtual_labs/ES14/ES14.html

Think about it! Why is it getting colder as we go higher in

the atmosphere?

Altitude and Temperature

Altitude- distance above the Earth’s surface

In troposphere, tend to decrease temperature with altitude

This trend can be reversed Inversion- reversal of normal temperature in

the troposphere

May trap unusually cold air close to the ground

Happens more often near mountains

Can trap pollutants

Troposphere 0 – 10 km from Earth’s surface

Average temp. = 15 °C (at surface) - 60 °C (decreases)

80% of atmospheric gases by mass

Layer which supports life

Most CO2, water vapor and atmospheric dust

Layer where most weather occurs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vqo9UhLNn04&feature=related (Bill Nye)

Stratosphere Above troposphere

10 km – 50 km above surface

Temperature increases away from surface - 60 °C 0 °C

Contains most ozone (O3(g)) making the ozone layer

Ozone captures energy from Sun, increasing temp. with altitude

Mesosphere Third layer

Temperature range: 0 °C - 100 °C

Very little gas

Thermosphere Farthest layer

Temperature range: -100 °C 1500 °C (increases) due to higher concentration of solar radiation

Very little gas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CerJbZ-dm0&feature=related

The Biosphere The biosphere –the sphere of life

http://www.agci.org/classroom/biosphere/index.php

Can you think of areas in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere that are NOT part of the biosphere?

The Biosphere Thin layer of Earth with conditions

suitable for supporting life

Composed of all living things on Earth and physical environment supporting them

Biotic part – living component

Abiotic part – non-living component

The Biosphere Three interacting abiotic components:

Atmosphere – layer of gases surrounding the Earth

Lithosphere/Geosphere – solid portion of Earth (rocks, minerals and elements)

Hydrosphere – all water on Earth (liquid, vapor, and ice) (97% salt water)

Cryosphere - All the frozen Water on the Globe

The Biosphere Environmental conditions arise from

interactions of these components with the Sun and interactions between the components Creates climate

Lithosphere/Geosphere

Solid portion of Earth floating above semi-fluid upper mantle

Extends from Earth’s surface to 100 km below Runs under continents and oceans

Warmed mainly by the Sun and a little bit by molten mantle

Differences in the lithosphere (i.e. amount of albedo) can affect amount of atmospheric water vapour, as well as our environmental conditions

Portion life exists on is the crust

Lithosphere

Lithosphere The crust is the part of the lithosphere that

life exists on, and is eggshell thin

Hydrosphere Water!

97% is salt water in oceans

3% fresh water can be in lakes, streams or frozen (most fresh water is snow and glaciers, or ground water)

Amount of water stays the same

Warmed mainly by Sun

Cryosphere

What is the cryosphere?• The cryosphere is the sum of frozen

water around the globe.

• By volume, the perennial ice-containing cold regions of the world are dominated by the continental ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica.

• Sea ice and snow, have much less volume but are large in areal extent. Ice sheets, snow, and sea ice play a critical role in the Earth's climate.

Interactions How do the

atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere interact?

In pairs, brainstorm some ways they interact. We will be making a class list of the interactions you came up with