Earth’s Atmosphere and Earth’s Atmosphere and OceansOceans

Weather, Climate and the Weather, Climate and the

AtmosphereAtmosphere

What’s your ideal climate?What’s your ideal climate?Why?Why?

What type of information would you want to What type of information would you want to know if you were moving to a new area?know if you were moving to a new area?

Or, in other words….. What are the Or, in other words….. What are the characteristics of climate that vary from characteristics of climate that vary from place to place?place to place?

Weather or Climate?Weather or Climate? Maple trees don’t make syrup in VirginiaMaple trees don’t make syrup in Virginia Summer ‘09 was cold and rainy in NYSummer ‘09 was cold and rainy in NY Tomorrow will be in the 90’sTomorrow will be in the 90’s Albany, NY gets on average 40” of snowAlbany, NY gets on average 40” of snow Hurricanes are most common in SeptemberHurricanes are most common in September 2005 was a bad hurricane year2005 was a bad hurricane year Hurricanes are common along the Gulf Hurricanes are common along the Gulf

coastcoast Arizona is drier than Georgia Arizona is drier than Georgia

Weather vs. ClimateWeather vs. Climate

Weather – day to day and place to place Weather – day to day and place to place fluctuations in the state of our atmosphere. fluctuations in the state of our atmosphere.

Climate – long-term and regional summary Climate – long-term and regional summary of weather conditions, including averages of weather conditions, including averages and extremes. and extremes.

Mohonk DataMohonk Data

An Ocean of AirAn Ocean of Air

Earth’s AtmosphereEarth’s Atmosphere

GasesGases

Water VaporWater Vapor

Amount varies (humidity)Amount varies (humidity) YOU CANNOT SEE WATER VAPORYOU CANNOT SEE WATER VAPOR Very important in weatherVery important in weather Gaseous form of waterGaseous form of water What about steam????What about steam????

AerosolsAerosols

How does Ozone get destroyed?How does Ozone get destroyed? Animation for ozone destructionAnimation for ozone destruction

Ozone Layer ThinningOzone Layer Thinning

Caused by CFCsCaused by CFCs

Air PollutionAir Pollution

Types: Gases, Aerosols, ParticulatesTypes: Gases, Aerosols, Particulates

SmogSmog

How does the atmosphere change How does the atmosphere change with altitude?with altitude?

Mt. EverestMt. Everest

Structure of the AtmosphereStructure of the Atmosphere

The Earth and SunThe Earth and Sun

UNEQUAL HEATING OF THE UNEQUAL HEATING OF THE EARTH’S SURFACE!!!!!!!!!EARTH’S SURFACE!!!!!!!!!

This is one of the basic causes of weatherThis is one of the basic causes of weather Know this – it will come up again and again!Know this – it will come up again and again!

Day and NightDay and Night

Why do we have seasons?Why do we have seasons?

Is it the distance between earth and Is it the distance between earth and sun during earth’s revolution?sun during earth’s revolution?

Perihelion vs. AphelionPerihelion vs. Aphelion

Earth-Sun RelationsEarth-Sun RelationsEarth-Sun Relations

Tilt of EarthTilt of Earth

What causes seasons?What causes seasons?

23.5 degree tilt from “plane of the ecliptic”23.5 degree tilt from “plane of the ecliptic”

Solstices and EquinoxesSolstices and Equinoxes

Variation of noon Sun’s angleVariation of noon Sun’s angle

Why is it warmer in summer?Why is it warmer in summer?

Daylight hours throughout the yearDaylight hours throughout the year

Number of Daylight HoursNumber of Daylight Hours

The end of Power Point #1The end of Power Point #1

Why is the Why is the sky blue?sky blue?

www.norriselectric.com/ photos/agri_sun_sky_fiwww.norriselectric.com/ photos/agri_sun_sky_fi......

Why is the Sky Blue?Why is the Sky Blue?

www.sciencemadesimple.net/ img_sky/bluesky.gifwww.sciencemadesimple.net/ img_sky/bluesky.gif

www.people.fas.harvard.edu/. ../Photos/sunset.jpgwww.people.fas.harvard.edu/. ../Photos/sunset.jpg

The Physics and Relativity FAQ, as a collection, is © 1992--2002 by Scott Chase, Michael Weiss, The Physics and Relativity FAQ, as a collection, is © 1992--2002 by Scott Chase, Michael Weiss,

Philip Gibbs, Chris Hillman, and Nathan UrbanPhilip Gibbs, Chris Hillman, and Nathan Urban