EARTHS SYSTEMS
ATMOSPHERE
• Invisible layers of air primarily made up of
Nitrogen (75%), Oxygen (20.9%), and Argon
(.9%) gases.
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
• Radiation from the sun is reflected by earth and then
bounced in to the atmosphere where the water
particles in the air trap the heat. The water particles
remain in the troposphere causing the lowest layer
of atmosphere to be warmer.
TROPOSPHERE
• Zone where weather occurs; a dense layer of
air in which molecules are fueled by sunlight
and create energy for weather.
STRATOSPHERE
• Above the troposphere; temperature
increases and contains the ozone layer.
MESOSPHERE
• Above the stratosphere; has the same
pattern as the troposphere.
THERMOSPHERE
• Above the mesosphere; temperature
increases with increasing altitude. This layer is
less dense because molecules are widely
spaced and have less pressure.
CORIOLIS EFFECT
• Affects the direction of winds.
CUMULUS CLOUDS
• Moist air collects rapidly over a small area.
• Cumulonimbus clouds cause thunderstorms.
STRATUS
• Air rising gently over a large area and then cools
slowly. Makes sunlight seemed filtered. They contain
ice crystals that can make the sun or moon appear
to have a halo.
CIRRUS
• High in the atmosphere and look wispy. They form
when water vapor condenses directly in to ice
crystals.
AIR MASSES
• Large areas of air with the same temperature and
moisture levels of the surface.
COLD AIR MASS
• Produces cold weather.
WARM AIR MASS
• Produces warm weather.
MARITIME AIR MASS
• Moist air that forms over the ocean.
CONTINENTAL AIR MASS
• Dry air that forms over the continents.
COLD FRONT
• Leading edge of a cold air mass. These fronts
bring snow, thunderstorms, and heavy rains.
WARM FRONT
• Leading edge of a warm air mass. These bring
rainy weather followed by clear weather.
LOW PRESSURE
• Causes cloudy and rainy weather. Rapid low
pressure changes cause storms.
BAROMETER
• Measures the
pressure of air
pushing down on
the tube of
mercury.
WIND VANE
• Measures the direction of the wind.
ANEMOMETER
• Measures wind speed.
RAIN GAUGE
• Measures the amount of rain.
OCEAN CURRENTS
• Large rivers of water flow through the ocean.
• Cold Currents- run deep below the surface
and creep along the bottom of the ocean
until they reach the tropics.
• Warm Currents- water heated by the sun and
are pushed along by steady winds from the
equator.
JET STREAM
• Fast moving air
GULF STREAM