THE ATMOSPHEREReview: General characteristics, greenhouse effect, air mass, circulation, cyclone & anticyclone, contamination & energy resources

October 1 2012

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Layers of Atmosphere

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Composition

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Greenhouse Effect

Fig. 3: http://www.nps.gov/goga/naturescience/images/Greenhouse-effect.jpg

Air Mass•Air mass: a large expanse of the

atmosphere with relatively uniform temperature and humidity. ▫Moves both horizontally (parallel to the

Earth’s surface) and vertically.

•Front: the line where two air masses of different temperature and humidity meet.

Atmospheric Pressure

1. Number of air molecules

2. Temperature of air

3. Move from high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas, resulting in winds.

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Cold Front•Cold front: Advancing cold air meets

warm air warm air rises rapidly cools into thick cumulus clouds wind and heavy rain

Fig. 5: http://apollo.lsc.vsc.edu/classes/met130/notes/chapter11/cf_xsect.html

Warm Front•Warm front: Advancing warm air meets

cold air warm air rises gently thin, light nimbostratus clouds long-lasting cloudy weather and showers.

Fig. 6: http://earth.usc.edu/~stott/Catalina/WeatherPatterns.html

Prevailing Winds

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Anticyclones & Depressions

Fig. 8: http://www.atmos.umd.edu/~meto200/3_13_03_lecture_files/slide0030_image276.jpg

Air Pollution

Fig. 9: http://www.earthlyissues.com/images/Air_pollution_pathways_textbox.gif

Seasons

Fug. 10: http://okfirst.mesonet.org/train/meteorology/Seasons.html

Tides

Fig. 11: http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/oceanography/tide-table1.htm

Spring Tides

Fig. 12: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tide_schematic.svg

Solar to Electricity

Fig. 13: http://visual.merriam-webster.com/images/energy/solar-energy/production-electricity-from-solar-energy.jpg

Wind to Electricity

Fig. 14: http://images.tutorvista.com/content/sources-energy/working-of-windmill.jpeg