Layer of the Atmosphere
Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere
Exosphere
What it measures:
Air Pressure
Wind Direction
Wind Speed
Temperature
Humidity
What is found in this
layer?
Where weather occurs
Where the ozone layer is
found
Where meteoroids burn
up
Hottest layer
Where satellites are
found
Tool that is used:
Barometer
Weather vane
Anemometer
Thermometer
Hydrometer
Storms
Storm
Thunderstorm
Tornado
Hurricane
Snow storm
“Electrical storms”- presence
of lightning and thunder.
Brief , intense and effect a
small area
Violent whirling winds
sometime visible as a funnel
shaped cloud.
Huge, rotating storms that
form over the ocean near the
equator. They produce very
strong winds , heavy rains,
and very powerful waves.
Quickly moving cold fronts
and they produce high winds,
and very low temperatures
feature
Cloud types associated
with these are the
cumulonimbus. Strong
winds, heavy rain and
sometimes hail, snow or
no precipitation at all.
Spiraling high winds and
extremely low pressure
Flooding is what does the
most damage and causes
the most deaths during a
hurricane. This happens
mostly when people
choose to ignore the
evacuation demands.
Can result in blizzards,
ice storms and a large
accumulation of snow.
Clouds
Type
stratus
Location
High level clouds. Almost
always frozen to form ice
crystals
Low level
Weather
If isolated- clear weather
If dense- stormy weather
ahead
Layered- brings drizzle
and near the ocean- heavy
rain
cumulus
Low level
Neutral weather
cirrus
Weather map
satellite
radar
Ways to Forecast Weather
Useful for making predictions. Can show
precipitation, wind direction, temperature,
cloud cover, high or low pressure, cold or
warm fronts, stationary or occluded fronts.
A satellite image is a picture of the earth
taken from an earth orbital satellite.
Most modern weather radars use the pulsedoppler technique to examine the motion of
precipitation, but it is only a part of the
processing of their data
Air Quality affects the quality of life for all organisms.
Good health of individuals requires monitoring of the soil, air, and water and taking steps to make
sure they are safe.
 Technology has helped monitor the air quality. Best way to improve air quality is to
stop the Burning of fossil Fuels (transportation)
Smog-smoke and fog
Acid rain- caused by the burning of fossil fuels
EPA-Environmental protection agency- protects air quality
Natural pollutants-radon, mold, spores, volcanic eruptions, forest fires, plant pollen
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Ways to Forecast Weather
Weather systems generally move west to east across the US.
Long range weather forecasting is more difficult than short range.
Satellite images and radar – enable forecasters to track movements of large scale weather
systems like air masses and fronts. Data such as wind direction, wind speed, air
temperature, humidity and air pressure
3 Ways heat is transferred
Conduction- transfer of heat from one object to another through DIRECT CONTACT
-warmer object transfers energy to cooler object until equal temp
- Conductors – transfers heat well like metals
- Insulators – poor conductors of heat such as wood, paper, and plastic foam
- Convection- transfer of heat by movement of liquid or gas
- Increase temp of causes density of substance to decrease and move upward
- Radiation- transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves
- Sun is biggest source of radiation heat transfer
 The gases of the atmosphere are used than renewed by the process of respiration,
photosynthesis, evaporation and condensation.
Air Pressure- refers to the weight of the earth’s atmosphere pressing down on everything at the
surface.
Low pressure systems- associated with storms
High pressure systems- associated with clear and dry conditions
Relative humidity- compares the actual amount on water in the air to the amount that the air can
hold at that temperature.
Meteorologists- study and predict weather.
 Differences in air pressure causes of weather.
 The uneven heating of the earth’s surface causes winds
 Air has weight
 Air changes with elevation. As you move up in the atmosphere, air molecules move farther
apart. So, as air pressure decreases, distance above the earth’s surface increases.
 Warm air is less dense than cool air (higher temperature=lower air pressure)
 The cycling of water into and out of the atmosphere makes weather.
 The more energy the molecules in air have, the hotter it feels.
 Winds are caused by differences in air pressure.