GEO 211 1st Edition Lecture 2 Outline of Last Lecture I. Weather and ClimateA. Definition of weather and climateII. Elements of Weather and ClimateB. TemperatureC. Air Pressure D. HumidityE. CloudsF. PrecipitationG. Wind H. VisibilityI. Earth’s Systems that Affect WeatherJ. AtmosphereK. Variable GasesOutline of Current Lecture III. Earth’s Atmosphere’s vertical profile based on:A. Temperaturea. Troposphere1. Environmental or Normal Lapse Rate2. Radiosode3. Tropopauseb. Stratosphere1. Isothermal2. Stratopausec. Mesosphere1. Mesopaused. Thermopause1. MesosphereB. Compositiona. Homosphereb. HeterosphereThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.Current Lecture III. Earth’s Atmosphere’s vertical profile based on:A. Temperaturea. Troposphere-height varies in latitude, about 11 miles high near the equator and 6 miles near the North and South pole, temperatures decreases upward at lapse rate of 3.5°F per 1000 feet (this is the environmental or normal lapse rate)1. Radiosode- instrument package carried upward by weather balloons measuring the vertical profile of weather elements- Tropopause- upper limit of the troposphereb. Stratosphere- temperature increases upward, the layer with maximum ozone concentration, less turbulent layer than troposphere- Isothermal- lowermost portion, air temperature is constant with height- Stratopause- upper limit of the stratosphere- Average temperature is 32°F (0°C)c. Mesosphere- temperature decreases upward, atmospheric pressure is very low ( few molecules), thin air- Mesopause- upper limit of the mesosphere - Average temperature is -130°Fd. Thermosphere- extends to about 300 miles from mesosphere, temperature increases upward- Thermopause- upper limit of thermosphere (top of Earth’s atmosphere)- Exosphere- beyond thermopause, outer spaceB. Composition (2 layers)a. Homosphere- layer below about 50 miles, composition of air is fairly constant(homogeneous)b. Heterosphere- upper atmosphere above 50 miles, composition of air varies with height (heterogeneous)- Reveals 4 layers of gases arranged according to their atomic weight- From above:1. Hydrogen atom (H)2. Helium (He)3. Atomic Oxygen (O)4. Molecular Nitrogen
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