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Temperature and the Atmosphere

Temperature and the Atmosphere. Without heat there is no weather. The most influential factor effecting weather in the atmosphere is heat. Solar Heating. Most of heat found in our atmosphere comes from the Sun. The Sun produces a massive amount of energy, every moment of every day.

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Temperature and the Atmosphere

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  1. Temperature and the Atmosphere

  2. Without heat there is no weather. • The most influential factor effecting weather in the atmosphere is heat.

  3. Solar Heating • Most of heat found in our atmosphere comes from the Sun. • The Sun produces a massive amount of energy, every moment of every day. • Most of the energy is radiated outward into the furthest reaches of the Solar System.

  4. Electromagnetic Spectrum • The heat produced by the Sun travels from the Sun to the Earth via waves known as electromagnetic waves. • All these waves together are known as the electromagnetic spectrum. • Broken into three separate categories • Ultra violet waves - the shortest • Visible light - the medium sized waves • Infrared - the longest waves • Microwaves and radio waves

  5. Ultraviolet Waves • Waves measuring under 0.4 micrometers • These short waves are extremely dangerous to living organisms. • Long term exposure to ultraviolet radiation would seriously hurt and even kill most life forms on Earth, including humans. • Most of these waves never reach the surface of the Earth. • They are either absorbed, or reflected and bounced away by molecules in the upper atmosphere.

  6. Visible Light Waves • Waves with a length of between 0.4 and 0.7 micrometers • Can be detected by the human eye. • Shorter visible light wavelengths, are bluer in color, while longer visible light wavelengths are redder in color. • The wavelengths detectible by the human eye represent only about 3% of the total electromagnetic spectrum.

  7. Infrared Waves • Infrared waves are commonly referred to has heat rays. • Heat is in infrared radiation.

  8. Transferring Heat • There are three natural processes that can be used to transfer heat. • Radiation • conduction • Convection

  9. Radiation • All objects radiate energy and heat. • Radiation leaves an object in the form of waves. • The hotter an object, the shorter the wavelength of this radiation. • The infrared waves, or heat rays leave the hot fire, and radiate out towards your hands.

  10. Conduction • As one molecule is heated it begins to move and shake rapidly. • As it does so, it passes some of its heat energy to other molecules around it. • All the molecules of an object pass heat from one to another, until they are all hot. • As the hotdog cooks, the fire heats the end of the hanger. • Eventually the end we are holding will become too hot for us to handle. • Heat was transferred from the flames to the metal, and than from molecule to molecule in the hanger via conduction until it reached your sensitive fingers

  11. Convection • Convection takes place when heated molecules move from one place to another, taking the heat with them. • Common in both the atmosphere, as well as in the oceans. • Heated air in our atmosphere expands, becoming less dense and rises upward. Cooler air rushes in to replace the air that lifted up. • As warm air rises, and cool are falls, a giant circular pattern is created. • Eventually the warmer air cools, and begins to fall again.

  12. Objects React To Heat • What happens to that heat once it arrives at a destination depends on a number of factors. • Size of object • Current temperature of object • Material object made of • As heat reaches its destination it will either be absorbed, reflected, scattered, or transmitted

  13. Heat Absorption • Heat enters an object, warming it. • The longer the object is exposed to the heat source, the more heat that it absorbs. • Different objects absorb heat at different rates. Some objects are excellent absorbers, while others are very poor absorbers. • Dark colored objects absorb well • Absorb more light • Light colors do not absorb heat well

  14. Heat Reflection • The opposite of absorption • Heat energy is bounced, or reflected off in the opposite direction. • Objects which are good at absorption are as a result poor reflectors, and vice versa.

  15. Scattering • The waves of light, heat, and ultraviolet radiation interact with the particulates found in the atmosphere and water • Dust, gases, water and pollution • Electromagnetic waves hit these particulates they are bounced off in random directions. • Direction depends on size and shape of particles. • Smaller wavelengths, such as blue light tend to scatter more than longer wavelengths. • This is why the sky looks blue

  16. Heat Transmission • Occurs when electromagnetic energy is allowed to pass completely through an object • glass window, or through water in a lake or stream.

  17. Adiabatic Temperature Changes • Heated air expands becoming less dense and lighter • Rises upwards and continues to expand because of decreasing air pressure • Spreading out of molecules requires energy and air lose energy and temperature drops • Cooler air begins to fall and becomes compressed causing it to heat up and temperature rises

  18. Latent Heat • Water allows the atmosphere to store heat • Stored heat is latent heat • Water evaporates off Earth’s surface and rises into air carrying heat into the atmosphere • Water condenses and falls to ground as precipitation and heat returns to ground

  19. The Heat Budget • Heat coming into the atmosphere is generally balanced with the heat leaving the atmosphere • This keeps the planet’s temperature stable • It may vary from day to day and place to place but overall it relatively stable

  20. Heat And Weather • Unequal heating of the surface of the Earth is the principal cause of weather • As the gases in Earth’s atmosphere heat up, they begin to expand, or spread out. Air begins to rush outward towards places where there is less pressure. • This rushing air is what causes wind.

  21. Latitude Affects Temperature • Latitude – the distance from the Earth’s equator contributes to unequal heating of the Earth’s surface. • The farther from the equator a location is the less sunlight it receives and thus less heat.

  22. Day Length Affects Temperature • The longer that a day lasts, the more time that there is for Earth to absorb energy from the Sun. • Longer days result in warmer days • Shorter days result in cooler days. • On the equator the length of days changes very little throughout the year. • Day is almost exactly 12 hours and night is 12 hours. • The further away that one travels from the equator the more variation in length of day that will be observed.

  23. Atmospheric Obstructions Affect Temperature • Clouds can block light and heat from reaching from reaching the surface • Causes a drop in temperature

  24. Land And Water Affect Temperature • The atmosphere of the Earth is primarily heated by radiation coming off of the Earth. • 50% of the Sun’s energy is absorbed by the Earth, and than released back into the atmosphere. • The temperature of the air in a location can be effected by the materials found on the surface. • Forest (absorb) vs. Desert (reflect) • Water absorbs heat slowly and releases heat slowly

  25. Our Atmosphere Transfers Heat • Earth is constantly trying to balance temperature differences. • Cooler areas attract warm air • Warmer areas push air outward in an attempt to cool itself down • Locally air rushes from one place to another, as it attempts to balance temperature and pressure

  26. Homework • Chapter 3 Section 2 Assessment Questions • Winds Worksheet • Weather Worksheet

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