☁️Meteorology Unit 2 – Atmospheric Composition and Structure
The atmosphere is a complex system of layers with distinct properties. From the troposphere where weather happens to the thermosphere absorbing solar radiation, each layer plays a crucial role in Earth's climate and weather patterns.
Understanding atmospheric composition is key to grasping climate change and air quality issues. Gases like nitrogen, oxygen, and trace amounts of greenhouse gases interact with aerosols and water vapor to influence our planet's energy balance and weather.
we crunched the numbers and here's the most likely topics on your next test
Key Concepts and Terminology
Atmosphere consists of layers with distinct properties (temperature, pressure, density)
Troposphere is the lowest layer where most weather phenomena occur
Contains ~75% of the atmosphere's mass and ~99% of its water vapor and aerosols
Stratosphere is the second layer characterized by increasing temperature with height due to ozone absorption
Mesosphere is the third layer where temperature decreases with increasing altitude
Thermosphere is the uppermost layer with extremely high temperatures due to solar radiation absorption
Exosphere is the outermost region of the atmosphere that gradually fades into space
Homosphere and heterosphere describe the atmosphere's composition at different altitudes
Scale height measures the decrease in atmospheric pressure with altitude
Layers of the Atmosphere
Troposphere extends from Earth's surface to an average height of ~12 km (varies with latitude and season)
Tropopause marks the boundary between the troposphere and stratosphere
Stratosphere extends from the tropopause to an altitude of ~50 km
Stratopause separates the stratosphere from the mesosphere
Mesosphere spans from the stratopause to an altitude of ~85 km
Mesopause is the boundary between the mesosphere and thermosphere
Thermosphere extends from the mesopause to ~500-1000 km
Exosphere is the outermost part of the thermosphere that gradually transitions into space
Ionosphere is an electrified region within the thermosphere containing charged particles (ions and electrons)
Magnetosphere is the region around Earth dominated by its magnetic field, extending thousands of kilometers into space
Karman line at 100 km altitude is considered the beginning of space
Atmospheric Composition
Atmosphere is a mixture of gases, with nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%) being the most abundant
Trace gases include argon (0.93%), carbon dioxide (0.04%), and others (neon, helium, methane, krypton, hydrogen)
Water vapor content varies significantly with location and time (0-4%)
Plays a crucial role in weather phenomena and heat transfer
Aerosols are solid or liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere (dust, smoke, salt, pollen)
Affect air quality, visibility, and climate by scattering and absorbing radiation
Ozone is a key component in the stratosphere, absorbing harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun
Atmospheric composition is generally uniform up to ~80 km (homosphere) and varies above that (heterosphere)
Temperature Profile
Temperature varies with altitude in the atmosphere, creating distinct layers
Troposphere experiences a decrease in temperature with increasing altitude (lapse rate)
Average lapse rate is ~6.5°C/km, but varies with location and time
Stratosphere has an increasing temperature profile due to ozone absorption of ultraviolet radiation
Temperature inversion in the stratosphere creates a stable layer that limits vertical mixing
Mesosphere exhibits a decreasing temperature profile, reaching the coldest temperatures at the mesopause
Thermosphere has a rapidly increasing temperature profile due to absorption of solar radiation by oxygen and nitrogen
Temperatures can exceed 1000°C, but the air is too thin to effectively transfer heat
Pressure and Density Changes
Atmospheric pressure decreases exponentially with altitude, with the most rapid decrease in the lower atmosphere
Pressure at sea level averages ~1013 hPa and drops to ~1 hPa at 50 km
Density also decreases with altitude, as the air becomes thinner and less dense
Density at sea level is ~1.225 kg/m³ and decreases to ~0.001 kg/m³ at 80 km
Scale height is the distance over which atmospheric pressure decreases by a factor of e (~2.718)
Varies with temperature and molecular mass, averaging ~8 km for Earth's atmosphere
Hydrostatic balance describes the equilibrium between the vertical pressure gradient force and gravity
Explains why atmospheric pressure decreases with altitude
Atmospheric Phenomena
Weather occurs primarily in the troposphere and is driven by energy from the sun
Includes phenomena such as clouds, precipitation, winds, and storms
Jet streams are fast-moving air currents in the upper troposphere that influence weather patterns
Atmospheric tides are global-scale pressure oscillations caused by solar heating and lunar gravitational pull
Gravity waves are disturbances that propagate through the atmosphere, often generated by topography or convection
Play a role in transferring energy and momentum between atmospheric layers
Auroras (northern and southern lights) occur in the ionosphere due to collisions between energetic particles and atmospheric gases
Airglow is a faint emission of light by atmospheric gases, visible primarily at night
Noctilucent clouds form in the mesosphere at altitudes of ~80 km, visible during summer twilight
Measurement Techniques
Radiosondes are balloon-borne instruments that measure pressure, temperature, humidity, and wind as they ascend through the atmosphere
Weather satellites provide global observations of atmospheric conditions using visible, infrared, and microwave sensors
Geostationary satellites orbit at ~36,000 km and continuously monitor a fixed area
Polar-orbiting satellites circle Earth at lower altitudes (~800 km) and provide detailed observations of the entire globe
Radar systems detect precipitation, measure wind speed and direction, and track severe weather
Lidar (light detection and ranging) uses laser pulses to measure atmospheric properties such as temperature, density, and composition
Aircraft-based measurements provide detailed in-situ observations of atmospheric conditions
Ground-based instruments include weather stations, air quality monitors, and atmospheric observatories
Environmental Impacts and Climate Change
Greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor) absorb and emit infrared radiation, warming Earth's surface
Increasing greenhouse gas concentrations due to human activities are driving global climate change
Ozone depletion, caused by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other substances, allows more harmful ultraviolet radiation to reach Earth's surface
Montreal Protocol has successfully phased out ozone-depleting substances, and the ozone layer is slowly recovering
Air pollution, including particulate matter and ground-level ozone, adversely affects human health and the environment
Sources include transportation, industrial activities, and biomass burning
Acid rain results from the reaction of atmospheric pollutants (sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides) with water, damaging ecosystems and infrastructure
Climate change impacts include rising sea levels, more frequent and intense extreme weather events, and shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns
Mitigation efforts focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while adaptation strategies help communities prepare for and respond to climate-related risks