Unit 4: The Atmosphere and the Oceans11. Atmosphere12. Meteorology

13. The Nature of Storms14. Climate

15. Physical Oceanography16. The Marine Environment

Section 11.1 ◦ Describe the composition of the atmosphere◦ Compare and contrast the various layers of the

atmosphere◦ Identify three methods of transferring energy

throughout the atmosphere

Chapter 11: Atmosphere

The composition, structure and properties that make up Earth’s atmosphere

How solar energy, which fuels weather and climate, is distributed throughout the atmosphere.

How water continually moves between Earth’s surface and the atmosphere in the water cycle

What You’ll Learn

Understanding Earth’s atmosphere and its interactions with solar energy is the key to understanding weather and climate, which control so many different aspects of our lives.

In what ways does weather effect what you do from day to day?

Why It’s Important

How does dew form on the surface?

Summary: Dew forms when moist air near the ground cools and the water vapor in the air changes into water droplets.

Can you give another example when this occurs?

Discovery Lab: Dew Formation

Atmospheric Composition◦ Air is a combination of many gases

99% = nitrogen and oxygen (life could not exist without these gases)

1% = argon, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, water vapor and other gases

Atmospheric Basics

Percentages of Gases That Make Up Earth's

Atmosphere NitrogenOxygenOther

Water vapor can vary from place to place and is important because it can effect the amount of clouds, rain or snow that we have.

The amount of water vapor in the air depends on: ◦ Seasons◦ Altitude ◦ Surface features beneath the air

Key Atmospheric Gases

Dust and salt is also found in the atmosphere◦ Dust is brought into the atmosphere through wind◦ Salt is picked up from spray in the ocean

These two substances contribute to the formation of clouds also.

Answer this: When you reach out and grab a handful of air why can’t you see the dust, salt, water vapor and other substances?

Key Atmospheric Gases cont.

Take notes on facts you learn as you watch this movie

In Summary◦ Ozone exists in small quantities well above the

Earth’s surface.◦ It absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the sun which

our skin can’t tolerate for very long.◦ Evidence shows that the Ozone layer is getting

thinner.

Ozone (O3)

On a separate sheet a paper answer the following questions

Where is the Ozone Layer? How does it help us? Name three things that can cause holes in the Ozone

layer. How do ultraviolet rays cause problems for humans? What can we do to protect ourselves from ultraviolet

rays?

Ozone Movie Review

Structure of the Atmosphere

TROPOSHPHERE◦ The layer closest to the Earth’s surface.◦ Contains most of the mass of the atmosphere◦ Most weather takes place here and most pollution

collects here◦ There is a decrease in temperature from the

bottom to the top◦ The top limit of the troposphere is called the

tropopause where the gradual decrease in temperature stops

Lower Atmosphere Layers

STRATOSPHERE◦ Above the tropopause◦ Primarily made up of concentrated ozone so the

stratosphere is heated and gradually increases in temperature until the top layer called the stratopause.

Lower Layers cont.

MESOSPHERE◦ Above the stratopause◦ Decrease in temperature begins again since there

is no concentrated ozone in this layer◦ The top of the mesosphere is called the

mesopause THERMOSPHERE

◦ Very little air exists in this part of the atmosphere◦ The temperature increases by 1000 degrees

centigrade, but we don’t feel it because the molecules that make up the air are few and spread out

Upper Atmosphere Layers

EXOSPHERE◦ Outer most layer of the atmosphere (outer space)◦ Contains light gases: hydrogen and helium

A REVIEW OF ATOMOSPHERIC LAYERS

Upper Layers Cont.

The sun is the source of all energy in the atmosphere.

This energy is transferred to Earth and throughout the Atmosphere in three ways:

Solar Fundamentals

Radiation is the transfer of energy through space by visible light, ultraviolet radiation, and other forms of electromagnetic waves.

This occurs because the sun is constantly warming a place on earth at all times.

Only 50% of the radiation that comes to earth is actually absorbed on the surface

35% of it bounces back by reflecting from the surface, atmosphere or clouds

15% of it absorbed by the atmosphere (page 275) Why does the inside of a closed, parked car

heat up, while the windows stay cool?

Radiation

Radiation cont.

Why does life exist in only a small layer of the atmosphere?

The process of transferring heat from one object to another.

When talking about the atmosphere heat is passed on when the molecules collide.

Think: What would happen if you held a metal rod over a flame.

How is conduction related to cold air temperatures at the poles which are covered with ice and snow?

Conduction

The transfer of energy by the flow a heated surface.

Pockets of air on the surface are heated, rises up in the atmosphere which causes it to cool, fall and become heated again.

Convection currents are one reason for change in weather.

Convection

Review of Solar Fundamentals

Use this picture to describe the three methods by which solar energy that reaches the earth is transferred.

What have you learned this section The Earth’s atmosphere is made up of a combination

of several gases that included nitrogen and oxygen. The Earth’s atmosphere consists of several different

layers that vary in temperature. Most of the weather happens in the troposphere. This where most of the mass happens.

The sun is the source of energy in Earth’s atmosphere. Solar energy (heat from the sun) moves through the atmosphere using radiation, conduction, and convection.

The End of Chapter 11.1

Vocabulary◦ Conduction (p. 276)◦ Convection (p.277)◦ Exosphere (p. 274)◦ Mesosphere (p. 274)◦ Ozone (p. 273)◦ Radiation (p. 275)◦ Stratosphere (p. 274)◦ Thermosphere (p. 274)◦ Troposphere (p. 274)

The end of Chapter 11.1

Choose two of the following activities to show what you have learned:◦ Answer the section assessment questions on p. 277◦ Develop a poster showing the different layers of the

atmosphere and the different characteristics of each layer

◦ Make a concept map related to the main ideas in the section (use p. 934 in your book to help you)

◦ Ask for the “Exploring Environmental Problems” activity

◦ Complete the “Dew Formation” Lab (as Ms. P for the sheets to go with this)

End of Section Assessment

Section 11.2◦ Describe the various properties of the atmosphere

and how they interact◦ Explain why atmospheric properties change with

changes in altitude

Chapter 11: Atmosphere

Section 11.3◦ Explain how clouds are formed◦ Identify the basic characteristics of different cloud

groups◦ Describe the water cycle

Chapter 11: Atmosphere

The composition, structure and properties that make up Earth’s atmosphere

How solar energy, which fuels weather and climate, is distributed throughout the atmosphere.

How water continually moves between Earth’s surface and the atmosphere in the water cycle

What You’ll Learn

Understanding Earth’s atmosphere and its interactions with solar energy is the key to understanding weather and climate, which control so many different aspects of our lives.

In what ways does weather effect what you do from day to day?

Why It’s Important