Weather and Climate

Weather and Climate

Glenco Chapter 17Pearson Chapter 24

Earth’s Atmosphere

• The air is a mixture of gases, Nitrogen, Oxygen and trace gases.

• Microorganisms produce the gases.• The theory is that over time the atmosphere

developed into the air we now breath.

http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/educators/resources/spacesuit/composition.asp

Atmospheric structure

• Weather takes placein the Troposphere.• Ozone is in theStratosphere.As altitude increases,Air pressure and density Decrease.

Latitudes and Longitudes

Latitude and Longitude• These affect the climate based on the angle of

the Sun’s rays.

Heating (energy in) the Atmosphere

Wind

• Winds are caused by differences in air pressure

• Local Winds: are caused by unequal heating of the earth’s surface in a small area.

Global Winds

• Winds that blow over long distances from a specific direction.

• Move in huge bands called convection cells• Warm air at the equator rises and replaced by

cooler air.• Called, Trade winds,Westerlies, and polar

easterlies

http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-wind.htm

Water in the Atmosphere

Humidity

• The amount of water vapor in the air• This can condenses as dew, frost or fog if the

air temperature drops.

Cloud formationhttp://www.vivoscuola.it/us/rsigpp3202/umidita/lezioni/form.htm

Classifying clouds

• Using your book add details to the types of clouds. Pg 762-763

Weather Patterns

• Pg 765- 771 in Pearson book• Answer 24.5 assessment questions 1-6 pg 771

Climates

• Two things determine a regions climate:• Temperature and Precipitation

Temperature

• Latitude• Distance from large bodies of water• Ocean currents• altitude

Precipitation• Latitude• Distribution of air pressure systems• Global winds• Mountain barriers

http://mycozynook.com/102RGCh34OH.htm

El Nino

• Warming of water in central and eastern Pacific Ocean

• A current of water moves west • Causes a different weather pattern

Global Warming now called Climate Change

• One possible theory is the increase of Co2 and other gases in the atmosphere is causing climate change.

• The green house effect.

Possible cures

• Energy Conservation• Alternative non carbon producing power

sources: Please list them for yourselves.• Reduce the amount of gases produced.

Research

• Using your laptops please research and write a one paragraph summation of current US policy addressing Climate Change.

• Google: “current US policy on climate change”

• EPA.gov/ climate change