Weather and Atmosphere Review

Weather and Atmosphere Review

1. Layers of the atmosphere

   • Troposphere
     • The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere which starts at the Earth's surface and extends from 5 to 9 miles. It is the densest and the most weather is in this layer. The temperature and pressure drop as you go higher in the troposphere.
     • What is in it: Humans, landforms, living organisms, man-made objects, contraptions, buildings, etc.
   • Stratosphere
     • Ozone
       • A thin layer in the stratosphere which contains ozone that absorbs and releases the sun's ultraviolet radiation.
     • The stratosphere is just above the troposphere and extends to 31 miles high. It is warmer at the top than at the bottom.
     • What is in it: Balloons, planes, jets
   • Mesosphere
     • The mesosphere is above the stratosphere and is 53 miles high. This is where meteors burn up when they are in this layer.
     • What is in it: Airglow, polar mesospheric clouds
   • Thermosphere
     • The thermosphere is above the mesosphere and is 372 miles high. The temperature is so high that it may be in the thousands; however some of the molecules in the thermosphere would feel very cold on our skin
     • What is in it: Auroras and sattelites
   • Exosphere
     • The last layer of the atmosphere which is 6,200 miles high.

2. The Water-Cycle

   • 1.) Evaporation
     • When water is heated by thermal energy, it turns to water vapor or steam which rise up to the air.
     • Transpiration
       • Transpiration is the process when plants release water from their leaves, or basically "plant sweat".
   • 2.) Condensation
     • The process when water vapour cools in the air, turns back to liquid, forming clouds. —Or basically water vapour forming clouds.
   • 3.) Precipitation
     • Precipitation happens when enough water has made a cloud heavy that it can't hold it anymore; so, the water falls back to Earth. —Or, you can just call it rain or snow
   • REPEAT
     • After precipitation(raining), the process keeps repeating forever.

3. How can solar energy impact the water cycle?

   • Solar energy is one of the main sources of running the water cycle; it evaporates water and helps plants grow.

4. What are the effects of certain human activity on climate?

   • Deforestation
     • Deforestation is the act of cutting down trees for space or for creating products.
     • It can harm the climate because deforestation can reduce trees which mean less transpiration