Atmosphere: Layers, Weather, and Processes PDF

Atmosphere What it is: The atmosphere is a layer of gases around the Earth, like a big blanket. It is about 1,000 kilometers thick. Think of it like a bubble protecting the Earth. Layers: The atmosphere has different layers, each with its own characteristics: Exosphere: The top layer, almost like...

Atmosphere What it is: The atmosphere is a layer of gases around the Earth, like a big blanket. It is about 1,000 kilometers thick. Think of it like a bubble protecting the Earth. Layers: The atmosphere has different layers, each with its own characteristics: Exosphere: The top layer, almost like space, with very little air. Thermosphere: The layer where the space shuttle flies. Very hot because of the sun\'s rays. Mesosphere: A cold layer where meteors burn up, like a shield protecting us. Stratosphere: This layer has the ozone layer, which protects us from the sun\'s harmful rays. Troposphere: The layer where we live and where weather happens. Temperature Changes: The temperature changes as you go higher in the atmosphere: Troposphere: Temperature gets colder as you go higher. Like climbing a mountain, it gets colder the higher you go. Stratosphere: Temperature gets warmer as you go higher because of the ozone layer. Mesosphere: Temperature gets colder again. Thermosphere: Temperature gets very hot because of the sun\'s energy. Exosphere: Temperature is hard to measure because there\'s almost no air. Tropopause: The boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere. Weather What it is: Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a certain time and place. It can change from day to day. For example, one day can be sunny, and the next day can be rainy. Weather elements: We describe weather using these elements: Temperature: How hot or cold it is, measured in degrees Celsius (°C) or Fahrenheit (°F). Precipitation: Water falling from the sky like rain, snow, or hail. Measured in millimeters (mm) or centimeters (cm). Humidity: The amount of moisture in the air, making it feel sticky or dry. Air Pressure: The weight of the air pushing down on us. Wind Speed: How fast the wind blows. Wind Direction: Where the wind comes from (north, south, east, west). Cloud Cover: How much of the sky is covered by clouds. PM10/PM2.5: Tiny particles in the air that can be harmful to breathe. UV: The sun\'s rays that can cause sunburn. Weather Measurement: We use special tools to measure weather: Thermometer: Measures temperature. Rain Gauge: Measures rainfall, like a cup that collects rain. Hygrometer: Measures humidity. Barometer: Measures air pressure. Anemometer: Measures wind speed, like a windmill that spins faster in strong wind. Wind Vane/Wind Sock: Shows wind direction. Optical Particle Counter: Measures PM10/PM2.5. Stevenson Screen: A box to protect weather tools from sun and rain. Atmospheric Processes Convection Currents: Warm air rises, cool air sinks, creating a cycle. Like boiling water, the hot water goes up, and the cool water goes down. Wind Formation: Wind blows from high pressure to low pressure. Like air rushing out of a balloon when you let it go. Precipitation Formation: Water vapor in the air cools and forms clouds. When the clouds get heavy, it rains, snows, or hails. Solar Radiation: The sun\'s energy heats the Earth unevenly, making some places hotter than others. Uneven Heating: This uneven heating causes differences in air pressure, leading to wind and weather patterns. Formation of Rain and Clouds: Warm, moist air rises, cools, and forms clouds. When the water droplets get heavy, they fall as rain. Fog Formation: Fog forms when water vapor near the ground cools and condenses, making it hard to see. Like when moisture forms on a cold glass on a hot day. Weather Phenomena and Extreme Weather Extreme Weather: Unusual and severe weather like storms, floods, or heatwaves. Thunderstorms: Storms with heavy rain, lightning (a bright flash of electricity), and thunder (loud sound from lightning). Flooding: When water overflows onto land that is usually dry. Impacts of Extreme Weather: Extreme weather can harm people, businesses, and the environment. Social Impact: People can get hurt or sick, houses can be damaged. Economic Impact: Businesses can close, crops can be destroyed, things get expensive to fix. Environmental Impact: Nature gets damaged, and pollution can increase. Weather Monitoring and Forecasting Weather Stations: Places where weather data is collected, located on land, sea, or even space. Weather Balloons: Instruments carried by balloons to measure weather high in the atmosphere. Satellites: Orbiting the Earth, taking pictures and collecting data about weather. Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG): The organization that monitors and forecasts weather in Macao. Aviation and Weather Airplanes and the Stratosphere: Airplanes fly high in the stratosphere to avoid the turbulent weather in the lower troposphere. Climate and Geography Latitude and Temperature: Places near the equator are hotter because they get more direct sunlight. Earth\'s Shape and Solar Radiation: The Earth\'s round shape causes sunlight to hit different parts of the Earth differently, leading to temperature differences. Rainforests: Found near the equator where it\'s warm and rainy. Atmospheric Dynamics Pressure Gradient Force: Difference in air pressure makes wind blow. Coriolis Force: Earth\'s rotation makes wind curve. High and Low Pressure Systems: Areas of high and low pressure create different weather patterns. Specific Weather Phenomena Fog: A cloud near the ground that reduces visibility. Radiation Fog: Forms on clear nights when the ground cools down quickly. Smog: Fog mixed with smoke and pollution. Global Weather Patterns Factors Influencing Global Weather: Things like the sun\'s energy, Earth\'s rotation, and land and water distribution affect global weather. Equatorial Low-Air Pressure Belt: A zone of low pressure near the equator, causing rising air and lots of rain.