I can describe the atmosphere, how heat energy is transferred in the atmosphere, how the uneven heating of the earth creates wind and water currents and which clouds are responsible for which type of weather,
5 Exosphere - THINNEST LAYER - somes gases escape and satellites orbit in this layer 4 Thermosphere - HOTTEST LAYER - Ionosphere (Where Auroras - Northern & Southern Lights) 3 Mesosphere - Middle layer and Meteors burn due to friction also the COLDEST LAYER 2 Stratosphere - Ozone layer & Jet planes fly 1 Troposphere - Weather occurs in this layer & Airplanes fly
3 Ways of Heat Transfer
1 Conduction - Direct Contact 2 Convection - Through Air or Water 3 Radiation - Through Space
Wind is created by the uneven heating of the earth's atmosphere Wind moves from HIGH PRESSURE to :LOW PRESSURE High Pressure is COLD AIR MASS Low Pressure is HOT AIR MASS Wind in the U.S. usually moves from WEST to EAST
Types of WINDS Named according to direction came from: Polar Easterlies Westerlies Trade Winds Doldrums - No or little wind at the Equator THE JET STREAM comes from the northwest or west and will zig-zag across the U.S, affecting the weather in WEST TN!!!
WATER CURRENTS act like WIND CURRENTS HOT will RISE COLD will sink
BOTH WIND AND WATER Hot from equator will travel towards the poles Cold from the poles will travel towards the equator
Surface currents move because of Wind Deep currents move because of Temperature Differences
Surface currents are WARM CURRENTS Deep Currents are COLD CURRENTS
The Gulf Stream is a warm ocean current that carries warm water and warm the air above it causing places like France to be warmer than other areas at the same latitude.
The California Current is a cold current that helps keep cool the areas around the California coast and the Hawaiian Islands.
Clouds -- Created by condensed water vapor
Cumulus - white puffy and fair weather Stratus - low clouds that may have rain, snow, or sleet Cirrus - high clouds that have ice crystals and fair weather Nimbostratus - low dark clouds that have rain or snow Cumulonimbus - Tall dark stacking clouds that have thunderstorms and tornados
Weather Tools: Barometer - measures Air Pressure Thermometer - Measures heat in the air / temperature Hydrometer - measures humidity in the air Psychrometer - measures humidity in the air Wind Vane or Wind Sock - show air direction Anemometer - measures wind speed Rain Gauge - measure precipitation
To Predict the Weather:
What is the Humidity? Is the Humidity rising or falling? Rising Humidity = Precipitation Falling Humidity = Fair weather What type of Clouds are there? Status clouds = White = Fair weather Nimbostratus clouds = Rain, snow, sleet, freezing rain Cumulus = Fair Weather Cumulonimbus = Thunderstorms, possible hail & tornadoes Cirrus Clouds = High, made of ice crystals = Fair weather What is the Air Pressure? Is the Air Pressure rising or falling? Rising = Good weather Slowly falling = clouds first then, rain, snow, sleet, freezing rain Quickly falling = Storm! Take Cover!! Tornado/Hurricane What is the temperature? Is the temperature above or below freezing? Magic Numbers 32 Degrees F or 0 Degrees C Above 32 = Rain Below 32 = Snow, Sleet, Freezing Rain What direction is the wind? How fast the wind blowing?