Factors that control our weather: the daily weather cycle and the seasons

Temps are usually lowest right before sunrise and warmest in the mid-afternoon

Short-term factors that affect temps: Cloud cover and regional weather systems

Long-term factor that affects temps.: Seasons

Heating of the Atmosphere- Complete the Handout-page 108Conduction moves heat from Earth into the atmosphere as air touches Earth’s surface

Direct absorption of insolation from the sun by gases and aerosols moves heat into the atmosphere

Absorption of long-wave infrared radiation from Earth’s surface moves heat into the atmosphere

Much of the infrared absorption by the atmosphere is due to the presence of water vapor, methane and carbon dioxide

The larger the amounts of these greenhouse gases, the more heat is absorbed by the atmosphere

Condensation and sublimation release large amounts of stored heat, directly heating the atmosphere

Condensation and sublimation release this energy when clouds, fog, dew and frost form

The Coriolis Effect, which results from the rotation of Earth and wind, causes friction where the atmosphere and Earth’s surface meet

This friction produces heat, which is absorbed by the atmosphere

Heat energy is transferred within the atmosphere by convection, caused by differences in air pressure

Convection currents/Convection cells: energy within the atmosphere moves in a circular pattern, transferring heat

Winds are parts of the convection currents that are parallel to Earth’s surface

When a gas expands, its temperature decreases

When a gas is compressed, its temperature increases

When air rises in the atmosphere it expands and its temperature decreases

When air descends, it is compressed and its temperature increases

Usually, air temperature in the troposphere decreases with increasing altitude because as air rises there is less air above it and less air pressure, and thus the air expands and cools.

Cloud cover during the day reflect solar energy back into space generally making temps colder

Cloud cover at night acts like a blanket, holding heat energy to Earth, generally making temps warmer

We measure temperature with a thermometer

Typically, a thermometer has a bulb of liquid that expands when heated and contracts (moves down the neck) when it is cooled

Temperature is measured in Fahrenheit, Celsius or Kelvin

ESRT PAGE 13Lines of equal temperature are calledisotherms

Air pressure is caused by the weight of the atmosphere

DO NOT WRITE: Air is relatively light, but the atmosphere goes many miles above Earth, exerting a pressure of nearly 15 pounds per square inch

Write This: Air pressure is greatest at Earth’s surface and decreases with altitude

Air pressure is exerted in all directions, which is why we can’t feel it

Air pressure allows us to drink through straws- as you drink, you lower the air pressure in the straw. The air pressure on the surface of the liquid outside the straw is now higher than inside the straw.

Barometer: instrument used to measure air pressure

All barometers measure the effect of the weight of the atmosphere

Meteorologists measure pressure in millibars (mb)

Pressure at sea level: 1013.2 mb

ESRT page 13

In groups of 3-4.. WITHOUT LOOKING AT YOUR NOTES!

a.List two differences between rotation and revolution

b.What is condensation?c.What is sublimation?d.What happens to air temperature as a gas

expands?e.What happens to air temperature as a gas

compresses or contracts?f. Draw a picture of a convection cell