Chapter 7: The Atmosphere pg.250-293

Chapter 7: The Atmosphere pg.250-293

1. Section 1: The Air Around You pg.256-261

   • Composition of the Atmosphere
     • Nitrogen
       • Nitrogen is the most common gas in the atmosphere.
     • Oxygen
       • Oxygen is the second most abundant gas in the atmosphere.
     • Carbon Dioxide
       • Carbon Dioxide has one atom of carbon and and two atoms of oxygen.
     • Other Gases
       • This 1% of the air is mostly made up of argon and carbon dioxide. The rest of the gases present are called trace gases for only small amounts of them exist.
     • Water Vapor
       • The amount of water vapor in the atmosphere varies greatly from time to time and place to place.
     • Particles
       • Dust, gas, smoke, salt, and other chemicals are on the gas we breathe.
   • Importance of the Atmosphere
     • The atmosphere makes Earth's suitable for living things.
   • Air Quality
     • Sources of Pollution
       • Some pollution occurs naturally but most of it comes from burning fossil fuels.
     • Smog and Acid Rain
       • Smog and Acid Rain are caused by the burning of fossil fuels.
   • Improving Air Quality
     • Even though we have laws that monitor air pollution, we are still where we were earlier in terms of pollution.

2. Section 2: Air Pressure pg.262-266

   • Properties of Air
     • Density
       • Density is the mass in a given volume of air.
     • Pressure
       • Pressure is the force pushing on an area or surface.
   • Measuring Air Pressure
     • A barometer is an instrument used to measure air pressure.
     • Mercury Barometers
       • Mercury barometers have a glass tube that is open at the bottom end and partially filled with mercury. The mercury rises as the temperature rises.
     • Aneroid Barometers
       • Aneroid barometers have airtight metal chambers that are sensitive to air pressure. These cause the needles on the barometer's dial to move.
     • Units of Air Pressure
       • If the mercury in a barometer rises to 21 in., the air pressure is "21 in. of mercury".
   • Altitude and the Properties of Air
     • Altitude is the distance above sea level.
     • Altitude Affects Air Pressure
       • Air pressure decreases as altitude increases. 
     • Altitude Also Affects Density
       • As air pressure decreases, so does density.

3. Section 3: Layers of the Atmosphere pg.267-271

   • The Troposphere
     • The troposphere is the layer of the atmosphere in which weather happens.
   • The Stratosphere
     • The stratosphere contains the ozone layer.
   • The Mesosphere
     • The mesosphere protects Earth from being hit by most meteors.
   • The Thermosphere
     • The thermosphere has two parts: the ionosphere and the exosphere. The aurora occurs in the ionosphere. Communication satellites are located in the exosphere.

4. Section 4: Energy in Earth's Atmosphere pg. 272-275

   • Energy from the Sun
     • Visible Light
       • All the colors of the rainbow are visible light.
     • Non-visible Radiation
       • Infrared radiation and ultraviolet radiation are both types of non-visible radiation. Infrared radiation has the longest wavelengths. Ultraviolet radiation has the shortest wavelengths.
   • Energy in the Atmosphere
     • Some of the sunlight is absorbed and reflected by the atmosphere before it can reach the surface.
   • Energy at Earth's Surface
     • When the land and sea are heated, most of the energy is radiated back into the atmosphere.

5. Section 5: Heat Transfer in Earth's Atmosphere pg.278-281

   • Thermal Energy and Temperature
     • Temperature Scales
       • The Celsius scale and the Fahrenheit scale. These scales measure in degrees.
     • Measuring Temperatures
       • Air temperature is usually measured with a thermometer.
   • How Heat is Transfered
     • Radiation
       • The direct transfer of energy by elctromagnetic waves is known as radiation.
     • Conduction
       • The direct transfer of heat from one substance to another substance is called conduction.
     • Convection
       • Convection is the transfer of heat by the movement of a fluid.
     • Heating the Troposphere
       • All of the previously listed work together to heat the troposphere.

6. Section 6: Winds pg.282-288

   • What is Wind?
     • Measuring Wind
       • Wind speed can be measured with an anemometer.
     • Wind-Chill Factor
       • The wind-chill factor is the increased cooling that a wind can cause.
   • Local Winds
     • Sea Breeze
       • A sea breeze is a local wind  that blows from an ocean or lake.
     • Land Breeze
       • A land breeze is the flow of air from land to a body of water
   • Global Wind Belts
     • Doldrums
       • Doldrums are a calm area where warm air rises.
     • Horse Latitudes
       • Horse latitudes are calm areas of falling air.
     • Jet Streams
       • Jet streams are bands of high-speed winds 10 kilometers above Earth's surface.
     • Trade Winds
       • Trade winds blow from the horse latitudes toward the equator.
     • Prevailing Westerlies
       • Prevailing westerlies blow away from the horse latitudes.
     • Polar Easterlies
       • Polar easterlies blow cold air away from the poles.
   • Global Winds
     • Global Convection Currents
       • Global convection currents form with temp. differences in 
     • The Coriolis Effect
       • The Coriolis Effect is the way that the rotation of Earth makes wind curves.