-
seasons determined by earth's tilt (23.5 deg.)
if North Hem. tilted to the Sun -> summer highest solar radiation
Solar radiation
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2 main gases in the air
Nitrogen & Oxygen
-
percentage of each type of gas?
- 78% nitrogen (can't be used; only for planets to convert to use)
- 21% Oxygen
- 1% left are trace gases (CO2 , CH4)
-
divided into 4 years
function: to protect Earth's surface from radiation, to keep planet warm
trace gases
-
1st layer
- Trophosphere!
- -we live here
- -weather occurs
- -0 - 10/15 km up
- -go up -> temp. drops
-
cool air on top, warm air below
normal conditions
-
cool air on bottom, warm air on top
- temperature inversion
- -cold air (heavy) -> traps pollutants (air pollution)
-
Case Study: London Smog 1952
- Death of 12,000
- -cold fog in London -> Londoners began burning more coal to keep warm
- -air pollution trapped by a thermal inversion (cold air below, warm air on top)
-
-metro area where temp. is hotter in city vs. outside city
-caused by buildings blocking cooler air
-also by asphalt and cement absorbing heat during day and releasing it at night
-little veggies evaporation causes cities to remain warmer than the surrounding country side
Urban Heat Island
-
2nd layer
- Stratosphere!
- -above trophosphere
- -10-50 km up
- -go up -> increase in temp.
- -contains ozone (absorb UV light)
-
-absorb UV rays produced from sun
-acts as a shield to prevent exposure
The Ozone Layer
Stratospheric Ozone: made up of 3 Oxygens, O3
-
3rd Layer
- Mesosphere!
- above stratosphere
- coldest layer
- -50-80 km up
- Go up -> temp. falls
-
4th layer!
- Thermosphere!
- -80-480 km up
- -go up -> temp rise
-
-found in between layers; temp. are constant
-
pauses
-
found in between troposphere and stratosphere (jet stream)
tropopause
-
-created when differences in air pressure
-movement of air from high pressure to low pressure areas
winds
-
differs in troposphere
air pressure
-
-force exerted on a unit of area of a surface
pressure
-
warm air = ?
cold air = ?
-
-controlled by earth's rotation
wind and ocean current direction
-
because of earth's rotation, objects are deflected
-No. Hem. = right of equator
-So. Hem = left of equator
Coriolis Effect
-
Global Conidtion where waters of tropical East Pacific are warm
-Normal conidtions: trade winds blow west accross Pacific Ocean; warm water reaches Indonesia and causes rain
-colder water replaces warm water in South America (upwelling)
El Nino (ENSO) -> El Nino Southern Oscillation
-
opposite of El Nino
-cold air oscillations
usually happen after an El Nino Year
La Nina
-
El Nino
- CA = storms in E. Pacific, Lots of Rain (Hot water), migration of tropical orgs. (water if warmer now)
- S. America = massive floods, mud slides, fisheries collapse (little upwelling)
- S. Pacific = typhoons (coral bleaching)--> sensitive to heat
- -Australia = extreme drought in E. Pacific, dust storms, fires
-
-enter atmosphere directly
examples?
- Primary pollutants
- ex. CO2, NOx, SOx, particulates and Hydrocarbons
-
-form due to chemical reaction that occur in air
examples?
- secondary pollutants
- ex. Trop. Ozone & Acid Rain
-
effects of air pollution
- -damages lungs
- -reduces visibility
- -corrodes materials such as plastic metals and stone
- -contribute to global warming, acid rain and ozone depletion
-
causes most air pollution
-energy fossil fuel: a fuel formed in earth from ancient plant or animal remains
examples?
- burning fossil fuels
- ex. (C.O.N.) coal, oil natural gas
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