Physical Geography: Chapter 3 Air Temperature

Ozone layer (ozonosphere)

(9 to 30 miles up) is called the ozonosphere. It is not entirely made up of ozone- but where we find the greatest concentration of ozone.

Surface soil temperature throughout the day

5 A.M- surface is colder 8 A.M.- the air and soil temperature is the same 12 PM- surface and soil below warmer than air 3 PM- soil surface is much warmer than the air 8 PM- the surface is cooler than the air

What happens to the temperature in each sphere?

Beginning at sea level, temperature first decreases steadily with increasing altitude. It then remains constant through the remainder of the troposphere and well into the stratosphere. At 12 miles, air temperature actually begins to increase with increasing altitude, reaching the bottom of the mesosphere. the temperature decreases throughout the remainder of the mesosphere reaching the top layer at 50 miles above sea level. Temperature remains constant for several miles in the thermosphere and then begins to increase until , at an altitude of 125 miles it higher than the maximum temperature in the troposphere.

Distribution of Land and Water

Continents (landmasses) heat up and cool off very quickly and to extreme temperatures. Very hot in summer and very cold in winter over landmasses!

Heat source of the thermosphere?

In the thermosphere atoms and molecules also absorb uv rays and are split and heated.

Temperature Vertical Structure of the Atmosphere

Troposphere-11 miles above sea level at the equator and 5 miles above sea level at the poles. Stratosphere-stratosphere extends from an altitude of 11 miles to 30 miles above sea level. Mesosphere- begins at 30 miles and extends 50 miles above sea level Thermosphere- begins at 50 miles above sea level and has no definite top Exosphere-concept of temperature no longer applies. Tropopause Stratopause Mesopause

Carbon dioxide is on the increase (greenhouse gasses are in increasing in the atmosphere)

True

The earth surface heats the atmosphere

True

General Circulation of the Atmosphere

the wind direction at different latitudes In the tropics, near the Equator the winds come from the east (easterly) In the midlatitudes (for example the United States) the winds come from the west (westerly) High latitudes (Polar regions) the winds are easterly

Elevation (altitude)

- temperature, pressure, and moisture content (3 of the 4 weather elements) decrease with altitude in the troposphere. -These elements are controlled by elevation or altitude.

Homosphere

- this low zone of the atmosphere (lowest 50 miles) is homogenous in composition

The Controls of Temperature (7)

1. Latitude (most important control) 2. Distribution of Land and Water (2nd important) 3. General Circulation of the Atmosphere (Wind direction) 4. General Circulation of the Oceans (warm and cool ocean currents) 5. Elevation (altitude) 6. Topographic Barriers 7. Storms

Heat source of the stratosphere?

The warm zone at the stratopause is near the top of the ozone layer, where ozone absorbs the uv rays of sunlight which warms this portion of the atmosphere.

Urban surfaces

are composed of asphalt, concrete, building stone, and similar materials. sewers drain away rainwater keep urban surfaces dry causing evapotranspiration to be limited which causes surface & air temp. to be hotter

Rural surfaces

are composed of moist soil, covered largely by vegetation evapotranspiration keeps these surfaces cooler

General Circulation of the Oceans

Warm water from the Equator moves toward the poles. Cool water from the Poles moves toward the Equator. Warm ocean currents are found on the east coast of continents. Cool ocean currents are found on the west coast of continents. The winds propel the ocean water currents

Ionosphere

a deep layer of ions (electrically charged molecules and atoms.) located at an altitude of 40 to 60 miles above Earth's surface. aids long-distance communications by reflecting radio waves back to Earth.

Temperature

a measure of the level of kinetic energy of the atoms in a substance, in form of gas, liquid, or solid.

Oceans, coastal areas, maritime areas :

heat up and cool off very, very slowly. Ocean areas always have milder temperatures- not very hot summer, not very cold winter.

Heterosphere

higher zone of the atmosphere where the air is sparse and gasses are layered according to their atomic weight. Nitrogen (lowest layer) followed by oxygen, helium, and hydrogen above.

Urban vs. Rural area temperatures

hot vs cooler

Air temperature

is measured under standard conditions at 1.2 m (4ft) above the ground. max and minimum temperatures are recorded

Environmental temperature lapse

known as the temperature drops at an average rate of 6.49 C/1000m (3.56F/1000ft)

Latitude

most important control of temperature the equator, low latitudes, the tropics get concentrated high doses of solar energy