Atmosphere, Weather, and Climate

Atmosphere, Weather, and Climate

Middle School

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Learning Objectives

• Describe the composition and different layers of Earth's atmosphere.

• Explain how latitude, altitude, and ocean currents influence weather and climate.

• Differentiate between the five layers of the atmosphere using their key characteristics.

• Understand the greenhouse effect and phenomena like air pressure and weather fronts.

Key Vocabulary

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Atmosphere

The blanket of gases which surrounds Earth, held by gravitational pull, making life possible.

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Climate

The average weather conditions in a specific region over a very long period of time.

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Air Pressure

The amount of air that is pushing down on any object from the column of air above it.

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Jet Stream

Fast-flowing, narrow air currents found in the upper atmosphere or in the troposphere of our Earth.

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Greenhouse Effect

A process where certain gases in the atmosphere trap heat, keeping temperatures on the Earth steady and livable.

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What's in Our Atmosphere?

• Our atmosphere is a gas mixture: 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, and other gases.

• Nitrogen gas must be converted into nitrates for plants to use for growth.

• Oxygen is vital for breathing and forms the protective ozone layer (O₃).

• Plants use carbon dioxide (CO₂) for photosynthesis, and it helps warm Earth.

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Multiple Choice

What is the most abundant gas in our atmosphere?

• Oxygen

• Ozone

• Carbon Dioxide

• Nitrogen

Multiple Choice

What is a key difference in how oxygen and nitrogen are used by living things?

• Animals breathe nitrogen, while plants use oxygen for growth.

• Nitrogen helps warm the Earth, while oxygen forms the ozone layer.

• Oxygen is essential for breathing, while nitrogen must be converted for plants to use.

• Both oxygen and nitrogen are used by plants for photosynthesis.

Multiple Choice

If a planet's atmosphere lacked carbon dioxide but had all the other gases, what would be a likely consequence?

• Animals on the planet would be unable to breathe.

• The planet would be much colder and its plants could not perform photosynthesis.

• Plants on the planet would be unable to get the nitrates they need for growth.

• The planet's ozone layer would disappear.

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The Lower Atmosphere: Troposphere & Stratosphere

Troposphere

• The troposphere is the lowest and most dense atmospheric layer, and it is closest to Earth.

• This is the layer where we live and where most of our planet's weather occurs.

• It contains nearly all of the atmosphere's water vapor, clouds, and air pollution.

Stratosphere

• The stratosphere is the layer above the troposphere, where gases are layered and do not mix.

• It contains the ozone layer, which absorbs the Sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

• This absorption of UV radiation causes the temperature to increase as the altitude gets higher.

Multiple Choice

Which layer of the atmosphere is closest to Earth's surface and contains most of the planet's weather?

• The Stratosphere

• The Upper Atmosphere

• The Ozone Layer

• The Troposphere

Multiple Choice

What is the relationship between the ozone layer and the temperature in the stratosphere?

• The ozone layer mixes gases, which keeps the temperature stable and constant.

• The ozone layer absorbs UV radiation, which causes the temperature to increase with altitude.

• The ozone layer reflects sunlight, which causes the temperature to be very cold.

• The ozone layer traps water vapor, which makes the temperature decrease with altitude.

Multiple Choice

A weather balloon is released from the ground. Which of the following best describes the conditions it would experience as it rises through the troposphere and then into the stratosphere?

• The temperature will increase, and then gases will become denser and start to mix.

• It will pass through clouds and pollution, and then enter a layer where temperature increases with altitude.

• It will pass through the ozone layer, and then enter a layer with all the atmosphere's water vapor.

• Gases will become layered, and then weather phenomena like clouds will appear.

The Upper Atmosphere: Meso, Thermo, & Exo

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Mesosphere

• ​This is the middle and coldest layer of the atmosphere.

• ​​Temperature decreases as you go higher in this atmospheric layer.

• ​It provides protection to the Earth by burning up incoming meteors.

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Thermosphere

• ​It is an upper layer where temperatures increase with the altitude.

• ​​Solar energy creates charged particles that form the ionosphere here.

• ​These particles result in auroras or the Northern and Southern Lights.

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Exosphere

• ​The exosphere is the outermost layer of the Earth’s atmosphere.

• ​​The atmosphere here is very thin and fades into outer space.

• ​This is the specific layer where most of the satellites orbit Earth.

Multiple Choice

Which layer of the upper atmosphere is known for being the coldest and providing protection by burning up incoming meteors?

• Exosphere

• Thermosphere

• Ionosphere

• Mesosphere

Multiple Choice

What is a key difference in how temperature and atmospheric phenomena are related in the mesosphere versus the thermosphere?

• The mesosphere is heated by auroras, while the thermosphere is cooled by burning meteors.

• Both layers are extremely cold, but the thermosphere is where meteors burn up.

• Temperatures in both layers increase with altitude, but only the mesosphere has auroras.

• Temperature decreases with altitude in the mesosphere, while it increases in the thermosphere where auroras occur.

Multiple Choice

A research satellite orbiting Earth begins to lose altitude and descends through the upper atmospheric layers. Which of the following accurately predicts the sequence of environmental changes the satellite would experience?

• Passing through a very hot layer with charged particles, then entering a much colder middle layer.

• Experiencing rising temperatures in the aurora zone, followed by even hotter temperatures in the meteor zone.

• Moving through a cold layer where meteors burn, then entering an even colder layer with auroras.

• Entering a very thin layer with no particles, then a much colder layer where meteors burn up.

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What Shapes Climate? Latitude & Altitude

Latitude

• ​Latitude is the distance of a location north or south of the equator.

• ​​Areas near the equator, at low latitudes, have hotter climates.

• ​Regions near the poles, at high latitudes, have much colder climates.

Altitude

• ​Altitude is the height of a location in relation to the sea level.

• ​​As the altitude of a location increases, the average temperature becomes colder.

• ​This is why tall mountains have cold climates, even near the equator.

Multiple Choice

Latitude and altitude are two major factors that work together to determine a location's what?

• Length of its days

• Average climate

• Frequency of tides

• Distance from the sun

Multiple Choice

What is the general relationship between a location's latitude and its temperature?

• Latitude does not have a consistent effect on a location's climate.

• Locations at lower latitudes are farther from the equator and have hotter climates.

• Locations at higher latitudes are closer to the equator and have colder climates.

• The higher the latitude of a location, the colder its climate tends to be.

Multiple Choice

Why would a tall mountain located near the equator have a cold climate with snow at its peak?

• Because locations near the equator always have cold climates.

• Because its high altitude results in colder temperatures, even at a low latitude.

• Because all mountains are located at high latitudes.

• Because its low latitude causes the temperature to be colder.

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Global Movers: Ocean & Air Currents

Ocean Currents

• ​Ocean currents continuously move seawater, circulating warm and cold water around the globe.

• ​​Coastal areas often have milder temperatures than inland areas because of these currents.

• ​Warm currents bring warmer, humid climates, while cold currents create cooler, drier climates.

Air Currents

• ​Air currents are complex movements of air that transfer warm and cold air across the world.

• ​​These include powerful jet streams located high up in the atmosphere.

• ​They play a crucial role in determining temperature and our daily weather patterns.

Multiple Choice

What is the primary role of ocean and air currents in the Earth's systems?

• To form the physical features of the continents

• To circulate warm and cold water and air around the globe

• To create powerful jet streams in the atmosphere

• To make inland areas have more stable temperatures

Multiple Choice

How do ocean currents influence the climate of coastal areas?

• They help moderate the temperatures of coastal areas compared to inland areas.

• They have no significant effect on the climate of coastal areas.

• They only affect the weather patterns of inland areas.

• They cause coastal areas to have more extreme temperatures than inland areas.

Multiple Choice

A coastal region that is typically warm and humid suddenly experiences the arrival of a new cold ocean current offshore. What is the most likely effect on the region's climate?

• The climate will become even warmer and more humid.

• The daily weather patterns will be determined by jet streams.

• There will be no change to the region's climate.

• The climate will become cooler and drier.

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Weather Fundamentals

• An air mass is a large body of air with similar temperature.

• Cold, high-pressure air pushes warm air up, often causing storms.

• Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air.

• Precipitation is water released from clouds as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

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Multiple Choice

What is an air mass?

• The amount of water vapor in the air

• A large body of air with similar temperature

• Water that is released from clouds

• A type of storm caused by high pressure

Multiple Choice

What is the relationship between a cold, high-pressure air mass and a warm air mass?

• The warm air mass absorbs the cold air, leading to clear skies

• The cold air mass pushes the warm air up, which can cause storms

• The cold air mass lowers the humidity of the warm air mass

• The two air masses combine to form a single, larger air mass

Multiple Choice

If a cold air mass moves into a region with very high humidity, what is the most likely weather outcome?

• A calm, clear day with very low humidity

• A storm with some form of precipitation

• A gradual increase in temperature and clear skies

• A windy day, but with no chance of rain or snow

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The Greenhouse Effect

• The greenhouse effect is a natural process that traps the sun's heat.

• This keeps Earth's temperature stable and warm enough for life.

• Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a major greenhouse gas from many sources.

• Sources include volcanoes, animal respiration, and burning fossil fuels.

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Multiple Choice

What is the main function of the greenhouse effect for Earth?

• To create more carbon dioxide for plants

• To keep the planet's temperature stable and warm

• To block all of the sun's heat from reaching the surface

• To increase the number of volcanoes on the planet

Multiple Choice

What is the relationship between carbon dioxide (CO₂) and the greenhouse effect?

• CO₂ helps to cool down the Earth's surface.

• CO₂ is a gas that helps trap heat in the atmosphere.

• CO₂ has no role in the greenhouse effect.

• CO₂ is a process that releases trapped heat into space.

Multiple Choice

If the amount of CO₂ produced by burning fossil fuels increased significantly, what would be the most likely impact on the greenhouse effect?

• The amount of animal respiration would decrease.

• The Earth's temperature would become less stable.

• More of the sun's heat would be trapped.

• Less of the sun's heat would be trapped.

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Common Misconceptions

Misconception	Correction
The atmosphere has the same temperature and density throughout.	Temperature and pressure in the atmosphere change significantly with altitude.
The ozone layer is harmful to life on Earth.	The ozone layer protects us from the Sun's harmful UV radiation.
The greenhouse effect is entirely man-made and harmful.	The greenhouse effect is a natural process that keeps our planet warm.
Weather and climate are the same thing.	Weather is short-term, while climate is the average over a long time.

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Summary

• Earth's atmosphere is a mix of gases essential for life and has five layers.

• Climate is shaped by long-term factors, while weather describes short-term conditions.

• Air pressure decreases with altitude, and interacting air masses create weather fronts.

• The greenhouse effect regulates Earth’s temperature and is impacted by human activity.

Poll

On a scale of 1-4, how confident are you about the concepts covered in today's review?

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