EARTHS ATMOSPHERE.
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Earths atmosphere is the layers of gas that are above the earths surface. These gasses have the function of protecting, and sustaining the earths environment. The atmosphere consists of 5 layers, Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, and Exosphere (Ionosphere&Thermosphere). Each of these layers have their own unique characteristics and function in which many natural phenomenas happen. These layers defend and protect radiation, and debris entering from space. Without these layers, Earth would not have been what it is today.
The earths atmosphere absorb most of suns radiation entering earth, this reduces the harm and damage that the radiation can cause. The atmosphere has a nitrogen and oxygen concentration of 99%, and 1% of water vapour, carbon dioxide. Without the earths atmosphere, the earth would not be in equilibrium. The air pressure that the atmosphere exerts on the earth is equal to the pressure the core exerts on the atmosphere. Air pressure is the force exerted by a column of air on a surface. Because of his equilibrium, the earth is in a stable state.
Troposphere- Earths lowest atmospheric layer that extends to about 12km above see level. Most weather phenomena and clouds form in this region. This region consists of the most matter and water vapour. This layer holds the most matter and water vapour making it suitable for organisms to exist. The temperature and air pressure of the layer decreases as you increase in altitude.
Stratosphere- The layer above the troposphere and tropopause which is the boundary of the two major layers. This layer extends from about 12km to 50km above sea level. The stratosphere is a very dry region and has the characteristic of not having any vertical convection. Due to the lack of the vertical convections, particles can remain in the stratosphere for an extended period of time, thus causing environmental problems. Unlike other layers, the stratospheres temperature increases as it climbs the layer, this is due to the thermal energy released in the ozone layer.
Mesosphere- Layer of the atmosphere above the Stratosphere, Ozone layer, and the stratopause which separates the two major layers. In this layer, the temperature is very low, and air particles travel at a velocity of 320km h. Due to the very fast wind, meteors and debris sucked in by gravity usually burn or demolish in this region. Without this layer, space debris and meteors would reach earths surface and cause great damages.
Exosphere- A layer is the outermost layer of the atmosphere and consists of two layers, the Thermosphere and Ionosphere.
The earths atmosphere absorb most of suns radiation entering earth, this reduces the harm and damage that the radiation can cause. The atmosphere has a nitrogen and oxygen concentration of 99%, and 1% of water vapour, carbon dioxide. Without the earths atmosphere, the earth would not be in equilibrium. The air pressure that the atmosphere exerts on the earth is equal to the pressure the core exerts on the atmosphere. Air pressure is the force exerted by a column of air on a surface. Because of his equilibrium, the earth is in a stable state.
Troposphere- Earths lowest atmospheric layer that extends to about 12km above see level. Most weather phenomena and clouds form in this region. This region consists of the most matter and water vapour. This layer holds the most matter and water vapour making it suitable for organisms to exist. The temperature and air pressure of the layer decreases as you increase in altitude.
Stratosphere- The layer above the troposphere and tropopause which is the boundary of the two major layers. This layer extends from about 12km to 50km above sea level. The stratosphere is a very dry region and has the characteristic of not having any vertical convection. Due to the lack of the vertical convections, particles can remain in the stratosphere for an extended period of time, thus causing environmental problems. Unlike other layers, the stratospheres temperature increases as it climbs the layer, this is due to the thermal energy released in the ozone layer.
- Ozone layer- the ozone layer is a thin layer of gas that absorbs UV radiation from the sun. UV radiation is a form of radiation that can be very harmful to living things. The ozone layer absorbs this radiation and converts it into thermal energy. But because of the lack of vertical convection and greenhouse gasses, the ozone layer is being destroyed. The annihilation of this layer can end in a deadly result.
Mesosphere- Layer of the atmosphere above the Stratosphere, Ozone layer, and the stratopause which separates the two major layers. In this layer, the temperature is very low, and air particles travel at a velocity of 320km h. Due to the very fast wind, meteors and debris sucked in by gravity usually burn or demolish in this region. Without this layer, space debris and meteors would reach earths surface and cause great damages.
Exosphere- A layer is the outermost layer of the atmosphere and consists of two layers, the Thermosphere and Ionosphere.
- Thermosphere- a layer in the exosphere that extends from about 80km and gradually merges with space. Alike the ozone layer, this layer is a very hot region due to the radiation absorption. Particles absorbed in this region is highly energetic and can result in a very hot region.
- Ionosphere- not a layer but a region of charged particles, that merges with the thermosphere. Charged particles or ions are created due to the solar radiation absorption. A unique feature of this region is the fact that it can bounce of radio waves transmitted from earth. This allows radio transmission around the globe. The most spectacular phenomena that occurs in this region is the Aurora. The aurora is a band of band of glowing particles caused by the attraction of ions to the magnetic poles.
Climate Zones, Seasons.
The creation of weather and seasons can be blamed on the tilt of the earths axis. The earth is on a tilt of 23.5 degrees, this causes the unequal distribution of light/energy. When energy is distributed unequally they radiate or heat different areas differently, some areas might receive more light than others and this results in climate zones. Each climate zone have different characteristics, such as temperature, humidity, and length of day time. The tilt of the earths axis results in the creation of weather phenomenas such as climate zones, and seasons.
The amount of energy a region receives determines the regions climate zone. Currently there are 3 climate zones of which are, Tropic, Temperate, and Polar zones. Each climate zone has its own unique features and characteristics.
Tropic Zone- The climate zone that extends from 23.5 North to 23.5 South. Tropic zones receive the same amount of energy almost every day throughout the year, therefore the temperature of the region is constant and is usually very warm (about 20 to 30 degrees). This region is also well known for the rainfall it receives each year, and the high humidity. Daylight in this region is very long, lasting about 10 to 13 hours every dat. Tropical rainforests usually exist in this region.
The amount of energy a region receives determines the regions climate zone. Currently there are 3 climate zones of which are, Tropic, Temperate, and Polar zones. Each climate zone has its own unique features and characteristics.
Tropic Zone- The climate zone that extends from 23.5 North to 23.5 South. Tropic zones receive the same amount of energy almost every day throughout the year, therefore the temperature of the region is constant and is usually very warm (about 20 to 30 degrees). This region is also well known for the rainfall it receives each year, and the high humidity. Daylight in this region is very long, lasting about 10 to 13 hours every dat. Tropical rainforests usually exist in this region.
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Temperate Zones - Extends from 23.5 to 66.5 degrees North/South. Temperate zone covers most of the earths atmosphere. Due to the tilt, and the revolutions around the sun, this region receives different amounts of light every couple of months. The change in the climate, humidity, and length of day time is called seasons. In the temperate zones, there is 4 seasons, each with its own characteristics. Of the four, Winter has the coldest and driest characteristic, and summer being the hottest and most humid. Autumn and spring is the season between the other two seasons, neither hot nor cold. Depending on the season, the zone experiences different characteristics.
Polar Zones- Extends from 66.5 Degrees North/South to either the South Pole or North Pole. This region is the coldest region on earth and mainly consists of glaciers and ice. The temperature of this region ranges from approximately -47 degrees to 0 degrees. The length of daylight can range from 0 hours to 24 hours depending on the tilt and the location of the Earth in respect to the sun. Precipitation fall in the form of snow and rarely fall in the form of rain. Not much of this region
Images by: Syou Nam Thai
Energy TRANSFER & WIND.
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Earth is presumably the only planet in this solar system that can sustain life, this is because the earth has the right conditions. Of which are in the earths atmosphere. The earths atmosphere serves a function of heating the itself by absorbing the radiation emitted by the sun. Approximately 30% of the sun is absorbed or reflected in the atmosphere, but 50% of the radiation go pass the atmosphere and reach earth. When the radiation is absorbed in the atmosphere and heats the air, its is called the greenhouse effect .The radiation heats the surface and atmosphere, heating it into the right temperature for life to be sustained. Radiation from the sun is transmitted or absorbed in three ways, radiation, convection, and conduction.
Radiation- the heating of the earths surface by direct heating. The suns radiations that managed to pass through the earths atmosphere directly heat the earths surface.
Conduction- the heating of earths surface through the heated air. The air that is in direct contact with the earths surface heats the surface by conduction. The suns radiation heats the air and the air then heats the surface.
Convection: The rise and descend of earths air (energy). Hot air sinks and heat the surface and then the rises again after transmitting it into the surface. They get heated again in the atmosphere and returns back, and repeats the cycle.
Another phenomena that occurs when air is heated unequally is wind. Wind is the movement of air from high to low pressure regions. Due to the unequal heating of the surface, high and low pressure regions are created. Therefore wind form everywhere on the earth. Wind that form around the earth is categorised into two forms, local winds and global winds.
Local winds- wind that occurs when land meets a large body of water. But within this wind are two other categories which are sea breeze and land breeze
Global Winds - wind that flows over long distances, thus meaning the movement of bigger air masses. Even though theoretically winds would travel in a straight manner, the rotation of the earth causes the earth to move in a curved manner. This is called the Coriolis effect.
Because each region's has different air identities, they are constantly causing wind by interacting with different air. Technology has allowed us to observe the amount of energy each region gets therefore we are able to see determine where winds occur. The bands that global wind travel in is called Convection cells. The air inside each convection cell creates wind with each other, therefore we call them convection cells. There are numerous cells on earth and are categorised by the location which the wind takes place.
Other phenomenas caused by low and high pressure regions are jet stream, and monsoon.
Monsoon- a system that occurs in the seasonal reversal of direction. Strong wind is accompanied with strong rain and usually lasts a for a long period.
Jet Stream- a fast air in the upper troposphere caused by great differences in pressure.
Radiation- the heating of the earths surface by direct heating. The suns radiations that managed to pass through the earths atmosphere directly heat the earths surface.
Conduction- the heating of earths surface through the heated air. The air that is in direct contact with the earths surface heats the surface by conduction. The suns radiation heats the air and the air then heats the surface.
Convection: The rise and descend of earths air (energy). Hot air sinks and heat the surface and then the rises again after transmitting it into the surface. They get heated again in the atmosphere and returns back, and repeats the cycle.
Another phenomena that occurs when air is heated unequally is wind. Wind is the movement of air from high to low pressure regions. Due to the unequal heating of the surface, high and low pressure regions are created. Therefore wind form everywhere on the earth. Wind that form around the earth is categorised into two forms, local winds and global winds.
Local winds- wind that occurs when land meets a large body of water. But within this wind are two other categories which are sea breeze and land breeze
- Sea Breeze- when the air above the surface is heated and rises up, the cool air above the water flows into land. The movement is what causes wind
- Land Breeze- When the land stops receiving light, it starts cooling. The air above it becomes dense and cool. It then flows into the sea which still has hot air above it. The movement of air from land to sea is what causes wind.
Global Winds - wind that flows over long distances, thus meaning the movement of bigger air masses. Even though theoretically winds would travel in a straight manner, the rotation of the earth causes the earth to move in a curved manner. This is called the Coriolis effect.
- Coriolis effect- the curve path of a free moving object due to the rotation of the earth.
Because each region's has different air identities, they are constantly causing wind by interacting with different air. Technology has allowed us to observe the amount of energy each region gets therefore we are able to see determine where winds occur. The bands that global wind travel in is called Convection cells. The air inside each convection cell creates wind with each other, therefore we call them convection cells. There are numerous cells on earth and are categorised by the location which the wind takes place.
Other phenomenas caused by low and high pressure regions are jet stream, and monsoon.
Monsoon- a system that occurs in the seasonal reversal of direction. Strong wind is accompanied with strong rain and usually lasts a for a long period.
Jet Stream- a fast air in the upper troposphere caused by great differences in pressure.
HUMIDITY & CLOUDS.
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Whenever your skin feels sticky and uncomfortable, this is because of humidity. Humidity is the amount of water vapour in air and this causes the sticky and wet feeling. Depending on the region, the humidity may feel higher. This is because the amount of water vapour the air can hold depends on the temperature. This is called relative humidity. Relative humidity is the ratio amount of water vapour there is in air and the maximum amount of water vapour the air can hold. The higher the temperature the more water vapour the air can hold, and the lower the temperature the fewer water vapour it can hold. When the temperature decreases to the dew point, the water becomes saturated and turn into water. And if the temperature decreases even further it becomes frost, dew, cloud, or fog.
Clouds are puffy with structures we see in the sky, they are created when moist air rises and condenses in higher altitudes. This is because the pressure decreases as you gain altitude, which then condenses. Clouds can be identified by its width, altitude, and many other factors. But they are usually classified into 3 categories which are Stratus Clouds, Cumulus Clouds, and Cirrus clouds. Each of the categories have their own identity and are unique in their way.
Stratus Clouds- lat layer of cloud that cover much of the sky, and can cause stable rain.
Cumulus Clouds- Puffy clouds that we see on sunny days, usually forms 2km above sea level
Cirrus Clouds- formed in very high altitudes, seen on sunny days with clear sky, does not produce rain
Stratus Clouds
*Key terms
Clouds are puffy with structures we see in the sky, they are created when moist air rises and condenses in higher altitudes. This is because the pressure decreases as you gain altitude, which then condenses. Clouds can be identified by its width, altitude, and many other factors. But they are usually classified into 3 categories which are Stratus Clouds, Cumulus Clouds, and Cirrus clouds. Each of the categories have their own identity and are unique in their way.
Stratus Clouds- lat layer of cloud that cover much of the sky, and can cause stable rain.
- Nimbostratus- clouds that produces precipitation
- Altostratus- can produce light rain or snow
Cumulus Clouds- Puffy clouds that we see on sunny days, usually forms 2km above sea level
- Cumulonimbus- produces heavy rain
Cirrus Clouds- formed in very high altitudes, seen on sunny days with clear sky, does not produce rain
- Cirrus clouds are mostly ice crystals not water vapour
Stratus Clouds
*Key terms
- Alto- Medium Altitude
- Stratus- wide,and spread out
- Nimbus- produces precipitation
- Cumulus- fair weather clouds
- Cirro- high altitude
WEATHER PATTERNS.
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Extreme weathers such as cyclones, hurricanes and tornadoes all start out in huge air masses. Air masses are large bodies of air that are characterised by their temperature and moisture. They form when they are stationary over one area for a long period of time, and are determined by their origin. Air masses such as the Polar and Tropic air masses are characterised by where they are formed, thus we know that polar air masses are cold, and the tropical air masses are warm and form in the tropical climate zones. Global winds then carry air masses around the globe while maintaining their properties. When two air masses collide, they create weather fronts. They are two types of weather fronts which are cold fronts and warm fronts, stationary fronts, and occluded fronts.
Cold Fronts- Happens in North America, when polar air masses and Maritime air masses collide. This forms when cold air masses take over a warm air mass. The slope between the two air masses can be very steep causing heavy rain for a very short time. After this front passes, the temperature decreases significantly.
Cold Fronts- Happens in North America, when polar air masses and Maritime air masses collide. This forms when cold air masses take over a warm air mass. The slope between the two air masses can be very steep causing heavy rain for a very short time. After this front passes, the temperature decreases significantly.
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Warm Front- Happens when warm air masses take over cold air masses. Usually happens between continental polar air masses and maritime tropical air masses. The slope between the two air masses would not have been gradual causing rain for an extended time. After the front passes, warm air settles , thus the increase in temperature.
Stationary Fronts- When two unlike air masses collide but neither moves nor goes under each other. This creates slow and steady rain.
Occluded Fronts- Forms when warm air masses gets caught between two cold air masses. The two cold air masses then cuts a portion of the warm air mass, trapping the warm air in the cold air mass. The warm air rises, and condenses, and creates cloudy skies and precipitation.
But different extreme weather can happen, such as cyclones, thunderstorm, tornadoes, and Hurricanes
Cyclones- a weather system with a centre of low pressure. As the warm air rises, the pressure decreases. Because air travel from high pressure to low pressure, the air spiral towards the centre. This creates stormy weathers, and precipitation.
Thunderstorms- a small weather system accompanies by thunder, lighting, strong wind, and heavy rain. Forms when a column of air rises in a cumulonimbus cloud. When a front forms, the cold air masses push up warm air masses and this forms thunderstorms. Thunderstorms are well known for its lightning. Lighting is caused when negative and positive charges collide and create an electric discharge. Negative charges form in lower altitudes and positive charges tend to form in higher altitudes. Another characteristic of a thunderstorm is thunder, thunder is a noise caused by lighting expanding air particles and exploding.
Tornadoes- a small but intense windstorm that takes form of rotating columns of air touching the ground. Forms when a vertical cylinder of rotation air develops in a thunderstorm. A thunderstorm is created when there is a great temperature difference, therefore it happens during spring when temperature differences is the greatest.
Hurricanes- cyclones in the tropic that can cause tropical storm. Tropical storms is a intense low pressure wind that happen over tropical regions.
Stationary Fronts- When two unlike air masses collide but neither moves nor goes under each other. This creates slow and steady rain.
Occluded Fronts- Forms when warm air masses gets caught between two cold air masses. The two cold air masses then cuts a portion of the warm air mass, trapping the warm air in the cold air mass. The warm air rises, and condenses, and creates cloudy skies and precipitation.
But different extreme weather can happen, such as cyclones, thunderstorm, tornadoes, and Hurricanes
Cyclones- a weather system with a centre of low pressure. As the warm air rises, the pressure decreases. Because air travel from high pressure to low pressure, the air spiral towards the centre. This creates stormy weathers, and precipitation.
- Anticyclones- a weather system with a centre with a high pressure. Air moves away from the centre, and causes clear skies, and calm conditions. Opposite of cyclones.
Thunderstorms- a small weather system accompanies by thunder, lighting, strong wind, and heavy rain. Forms when a column of air rises in a cumulonimbus cloud. When a front forms, the cold air masses push up warm air masses and this forms thunderstorms. Thunderstorms are well known for its lightning. Lighting is caused when negative and positive charges collide and create an electric discharge. Negative charges form in lower altitudes and positive charges tend to form in higher altitudes. Another characteristic of a thunderstorm is thunder, thunder is a noise caused by lighting expanding air particles and exploding.
Tornadoes- a small but intense windstorm that takes form of rotating columns of air touching the ground. Forms when a vertical cylinder of rotation air develops in a thunderstorm. A thunderstorm is created when there is a great temperature difference, therefore it happens during spring when temperature differences is the greatest.
Hurricanes- cyclones in the tropic that can cause tropical storm. Tropical storms is a intense low pressure wind that happen over tropical regions.