Helgers, ESC 101

1. Earth’s Atmosphere andEarth’s Atmosphere and
OceansOceans
Weather, Climate and theWeather, Climate and the
AtmosphereAtmosphere

2. What’s your ideal climate?What’s your ideal climate?
Why?Why?
 What type of information would you want toWhat type of information would you want to
know if you were moving to a new area?know if you were moving to a new area?
 Or, in other words….. What are theOr, in other words….. What are the
characteristics of climate that vary fromcharacteristics of climate that vary from
place to place?place to place?

3. Weather or Climate?Weather or Climate?
 Maple trees don’t make syrup in VirginiaMaple trees don’t make syrup in Virginia
 Summer ‘09 was cold and rainy in NYSummer ‘09 was cold and rainy in NY
 Tomorrow will be in the 90’sTomorrow will be in the 90’s
 Albany, NY gets on average 40” of snowAlbany, NY gets on average 40” of snow
 Hurricanes are most common in SeptemberHurricanes are most common in September
 2005 was a bad hurricane year2005 was a bad hurricane year
 Hurricanes are common along the GulfHurricanes are common along the Gulf
coastcoast
 Arizona is drier than GeorgiaArizona is drier than Georgia

4. Weather vs. ClimateWeather vs. Climate
 Weather – day to day and place to placeWeather – day to day and place to place
fluctuations in the state of our atmosphere.fluctuations in the state of our atmosphere.
 Climate – long-term and regional summaryClimate – long-term and regional summary
of weather conditions, including averagesof weather conditions, including averages
and extremes.and extremes.

5. Mohonk DataMohonk Data

6. An Ocean of AirAn Ocean of Air

7. Earth’s AtmosphereEarth’s Atmosphere
 GasesGases

8. Water VaporWater Vapor
 Amount varies (humidity)Amount varies (humidity)
 YOU CANNOT SEE WATER VAPORYOU CANNOT SEE WATER VAPOR
 Very important in weatherVery important in weather
 Gaseous form of waterGaseous form of water
 What about steam????What about steam????

9. AerosolsAerosols

10. How does Ozone get destroyed?How does Ozone get destroyed?
 Animation for ozone destructionAnimation for ozone destruction

11. Ozone Layer ThinningOzone Layer Thinning
 Caused by CFCsCaused by CFCs

12. Air PollutionAir Pollution
 Types: Gases, Aerosols, ParticulatesTypes: Gases, Aerosols, Particulates

15. SmogSmog

17. How does the atmosphere changeHow does the atmosphere change
with altitude?with altitude?

18. Mt. EverestMt. Everest

19. Structure of the AtmosphereStructure of the Atmosphere

20. The Earth and SunThe Earth and Sun

21. UNEQUAL HEATING OF THEUNEQUAL HEATING OF THE
EARTH’S SURFACE!!!!!!!!!EARTH’S SURFACE!!!!!!!!!
 This is one of the basic causes of weatherThis is one of the basic causes of weather
 Know this – it will come up again and again!Know this – it will come up again and again!

22. Day and NightDay and Night

23. Why do we have seasons?Why do we have seasons?

24. Is it the distance between earth andIs it the distance between earth and
sun during earth’s revolution?sun during earth’s revolution?
 Perihelion vs. AphelionPerihelion vs. Aphelion

25. Earth-Sun RelationsEarth-Sun RelationsEarth-Sun Relations

26. Tilt of EarthTilt of Earth

27. What causes seasons?What causes seasons?
 23.5 degree tilt from “plane of the ecliptic”23.5 degree tilt from “plane of the ecliptic”

28. Solstices and EquinoxesSolstices and Equinoxes

29. Variation of noon Sun’s angleVariation of noon Sun’s angle

30. Why is it warmer in summer?Why is it warmer in summer?

31. Daylight hours throughout the yearDaylight hours throughout the year

32. Number of Daylight HoursNumber of Daylight Hours

33. The end of Power Point #1The end of Power Point #1

34. Why is theWhy is the
sky blue?sky blue?

www.norriselectric.com/ photos/agri_sun_sky_fiwww.norriselectric.com/ photos/agri_sun_sky_fi......

35. Why is the Sky Blue?Why is the Sky Blue?
 www.sciencemadesimple.net/ img_sky/bluesky.gifwww.sciencemadesimple.net/ img_sky/bluesky.gif

36.  www.people.fas.harvard.edu/. ../Photos/sunset.jpgwww.people.fas.harvard.edu/. ../Photos/sunset.jpg

37.  The Physics and Relativity FAQ, as a collection, is © 1992--2002 by Scott Chase, Michael Weiss,The Physics and Relativity FAQ, as a collection, is © 1992--2002 by Scott Chase, Michael Weiss,
Philip Gibbs, Chris Hillman, and Nathan UrbanPhilip Gibbs, Chris Hillman, and Nathan Urban