The document discusses key concepts about the atmosphere including: 1) It describes the different states of matter - solids, liquids, and gases - and how their densities and movements differ. 2) It explains how wind is created by differences in air pressure as gases move from high to low pressure areas to equalize pressure. 3) Sea breezes and land breezes are discussed as occurring due to differences in air pressure over land and sea during the day and night as each heat up at different rates.

1. The Atmosphere
Module 3
Part 1

2. Molecules
 Everything in the world is made up of atoms and molecues
 These molecules move differently depending on their state of
matter – solid, liquid, or gas

3. Density
 The density of solids does not change shape. Solids
will keep their shape even when moved.

4. Liquids
 The density of liquids changes slightly
 Liquids will change shape, but are still bound together
 If you spill a glass of water, the water changes its shape to a
puddle, but the water stays together

5. Gasses
 The molecules in glasses are not bound at all
 They are free to move about and will only stop when they are
confined to a container or by gravity

6. Wind
 Gases in the air move around
trying to equalize the pressure
 When a low pressure area is
next to a high pressure area,
the gases will move from the
high to low pressure areas to
try to equalize the pressure
 The moving about of this
pressure is wind
 Remember winds blow from
HIGH to LOW

7. Water
 Water, unlike air and land,
does not change
temperature quickly
 It can absorb a lot of heat
energy before the
temperature of the water
changes
 The same is true in reverse
– Water must loose a lot of
heat energy before it cools
noticeably

8. Sea Breezes
 During the day the sun heats the land quickly
 As the land heats, the air above the land is heated
 The hot air rises becoming less dense creating a low
pressure
 The air over the sea is cooler because it takes much
longer to heat the water
 The air over the sea keeps its high pressure

9. Sea Breezes
 The difference in
pressure creates wind
or a breeze
 Wind blows from the
sea to the land to try to
equalize the pressure –
this is called sea breeze

11. Which One?

12. Land Breeze
 At night the land cools rapidly
 Because the air of the sea is warmer, the
wind direction changes
 The cooler heavier air over the land forms a
high pressure causing the air to move
towards the sea where the air pressure is
lower
 This is called a land breeze

13. Currents
 Ocean currents are like large rivers that run
within the ocean
 Without this motion the equator regions
would be much warmer and the polar regions
would be much colder
 Both the atmosphere and the ocean are in
constant motion

14. Currents

15. Barometer
 What is a barometer?
 An instrument used to
measure atmospheric
pressure
 Uses mercury as its
liquid – not water

16. Atmosphere
 Homosphere: The lower layer of earth’s
atmosphere, which exists from ground level
to roughly 80 kilometers (50 miles) above
sea level
 Heterosphere: The upper layer of earth’s
atmosphere, which exists high than roughly
80 kilomters (50 miles) above sea level

17. Layers of the Earth’s Atmosphere
The atmosphere is divided into five layers. It is thickest near the
surface and thins out with height until it eventually merges with
space.
 1) The troposphere is the first layer above the surface and
contains half of the Earth's atmosphere. Weather occurs in this
layer.
 2) Many jet aircrafts fly in the stratosphere because it is very
stable. Also, the ozone layer absorbs harmful rays from the
Sun.

19. Layers of the Earth’s Atmosphere
 3) Meteors or rock fragments burn up in the
mesosphere.
 4) The thermosphere is a layer with auroras. It is
also where the space shuttle orbits.
 5) The atmosphere merges into space in the
extremely thin exosphere. This is the upper limit of
our atmosphere.

21. Atmosphere

22. Mount McKinley

23. Facts
 Location: Mount Mckinley is located in south
central Alaska; in the Alaska range.
 Absolute Location: It is located 63 degrees
north, and 151 degrees West.
 Famous for: It is the highest peak in North
America. It is 6,194 m. (20,230ft.) above sea
level.

24. Facts
 Description: The Native American knew Mount McKiley as
"Denli" meaning the high one. Some convient centers near
Mount McKinley are Talkeenta, Alaska. The nearest major
airport is in Anchorage, Alaska.
 Three Interesting Facts: 1. Mount McKinley was named after
President William McKinley in 1896.
 2. An Anglo-American clergyman, Hudson Stuck first reached
the summit in1913.
 3. Some of the very best months to climb Mount McKinley are:
April, May, and June.

28. Mt.McKinley – from Anchorage, Alaska – 200 miles away!