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Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18

Chapter 14 Atmosphere

14-1    Weather vs. climate:

  1. Weather: the state or condition of atmosphere at a location for a short period of time.

  2. Climate: long period of time.

  3. Quantities to describe weather:

    • T and P. 

    • Humidity.

    • Precipitation.

    • Wind speed/direction.

    • Cloud.

14-2    Composition of atmosphere:

  1. Nitrogen: 78 %

  2. Oxygen 21 %

  3. CO2, Ar, etc.

  4. Water vapor.

  5. Dust

  6. Ozone O3 vs. O2: 

    • Ozone is creased by O2 + O. 

    • Where O3 is more abundant? Stratosphere (get back to it later). 

    • Function of O3 at stratosphere: UV radiation has high energy, O3 can react with UV to change UV to low energy radiation.

14-3    Structure of atmosphere:

  1. Pressure:

    • the weight of air over unit area. Unit: bar, Pascal, 1 bar = 1 kg/cm2 ~ 105 Pascal ~ 1 atmospheric pressure. As elevation increases, P decreases. Fig. 14.4.

  2. Temperature:

    • As elevation increases, T decreases, then increases, then decreases, then increases.

  3. Four layers of atmosphere:

    • Troposphere: T decreases 6.5 degrees per km, called environmental lapse rate.

    • Stratosphere: O3 layer.

    • Mesosphere:

    • Thermosphere:

14-4    Earth-Sun relation:

  1. Rotation vs. revolution:

    • Revolution around the Sun, while rotation around its axis.

  2. Inclination of axis:

  3. Equator: 0 degree latitude, i.e. the latitude at which the Sun's ray hits with 0 degree angle on March 21-23 (Spring equinox) and September 22-23 (autumnal equinox).

  4. Tropic of Cancer: about 23.5 degree north from equator, at which the Sun's ray hit vertically on June 21-22 (Summer solstice).

  5. Tropic of Capricorn: 23.5 degree south. December 21-22 (Winter solstice).

  6. Arctic circle: 66.5 degree, above North Arctic circle no Sun on winter solstice. Above South Arctic circle no Sun on summer solstice.

  7. Season: due to Earth-Sun position, affect energy the Earth receives. More energy received when perpendicular to the Sun ==> Summer. Tilted, less energy received, Winter.

14-5    Heat transfer:

  1. Conduction: Energy transfer by matter on solid materials.

  2. Convection: Energy transfer by moving mass, liquid material.

  3. Radiation: Energy transfer by photon through electromagnetic radiation. The larger the wavelength, the lower the frequency and the lower the energy.

14-6    Ways light propaganda:

  1. Scattering: light deflected by fine particles.

  2. Reflection:

  3. Absorption: light as energy is absorbed by objects to become heat.

14-7    Greenhouse effect:

Light penetrating ability is proportional to frequency. The higher the frequency, like UV, the more it penetrates. As gases absorb some energy ==> the energy of the light becomes lower ==> not enough to get out and get trapped in.

14-8    Temperature:

Measurement: In a box without direct Sun light with good vent to prevent heat buildup. 

  • Daily max T: the highest.

  • Daily min T: the lowest.

  • Range = Tmax-Tmin.

  • Mean T: daily, monthly, yearly, etc.

Control of T:

  • Season.

  • Latitude.

  • Location: Water is poor conductor to heat. Thus, in Spring when land is warmed up, the lake is still cold, e.g. Vancouver vs. Winnipeg.

  • Prevailing wind and ocean current: e.g. East vs. West coast.

  • At ocean bottom: basaltic composition, a little denser, v faster - oceanic crust.

  • Cloud cover: cloud cover prevent heat loss.

  • Altitude (elevation): As elevation increases, T decreases.

  • Temperature range large in land and small on beach. Why? Adjacent to water body.

Homework:

  • Read chapter summary on p.401.

  • Use your own word to explain the key terms on page 402.

  • Answer the review questions on page 402.