CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ATMOSPHERE. Composition of Atmosphere Made up mostly of Nitrogen (N) Oxygen...
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Transcript of CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ATMOSPHERE. Composition of Atmosphere Made up mostly of Nitrogen (N) Oxygen...
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ATMOSPHERE
Composition of Atmosphere Made up mostly
of Nitrogen (N) Oxygen makes up
a little more than 20%
Atmospheric Pressure
Gravity pulls molecules towards Earth
Creates air pressure
Atmosphere is held by gravity
As altitude increases, air pressure decreases
Atmospheric
Temperature As altitude
increases, temperature decreases
Lower part of atmosphere is warmer
Contains high percentage of gases that absorb solar energy
Layers of the Atmosphere Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
The layer in which we live
Lies next to Earth’s surface
Home of the Ozone layer
Middle layer Coldest layer
Layers of the Atmosphere cont’d Thermosphere
Ionosphere
Edge of the Atmosphere
Uppermost layer
Home of the Auroras Upper Mesosphere
and Lower Thermosphere
Nitrogen and Oxygen absorb harmful solar energy
GLOBAL WINDS AND LOCAL WINDS
Why Air Moves Equator and Poles Cold air sinks
Creates a high pressure around the poles
Cold air then flows toward the equator
Pressure Belts
Coriolis Effect
Every 30° latitude Bands of high and
low pressure
Curving of path of currents due to Earth’s rotation
Global Winds Polar Easterlies
Westerlies
Wind belts that extend from the poles to 60° latitude
Wind belts found between 30° and 60° latitude
Trade Winds
Doldrums
Winds that blow from 30° to almost the equator
Where trade winds meet around the equator
Horse Latitudes
Jet Streams
At about 30° North and 30° South
Sinking air creates an area of high pressure
Narrow belts of high-speed winds
Blow in the upper Troposphere and lower Stratosphere
Local Winds
Mountain and Valley Breezes
Sea and Land Breezes
Generally move short distances
Can blow from any direction
Caused by an area’s geography
Affected by temperature
Sea Breeze
Land Breeze
wind that blows from an ocean or lake to land
land warms faster than water
happens during day
winds that blow from land to a body of water
land cools faster than water
happens at night
AIR POLLUTION
Primary Pollutants
Secondary Pollutants
Pollutants put directly into the air by human or natural activity
When primary pollutants react with other primary pollutants or natural substances (water vapor)
Industrial Air Pollution
Indoor Air Pollution
Burning of fossil fuels
Ex: Power plants
Sometimes can be more polluted than outside air
Ozone Ozone Hole Layer is thinning
over the Arctic and Antarctic regions
Allows more UV radiation to reach Earth’s surface
CFCs cause Ozone depletion
CFCs remain active for 60-120 years
Human Effects from Air Pollution Short-term effects
Long-term effects
Coughing Sneezing Headaches Eye irritation
Lung cancer
Clean Air Act
EPA
Requires many industries to use pollution-control devices
Sets air quality standards-