Unit+3+-+Atmosphere,+Climate

Unit 3 - Atmosphere, Climate
Layers of the Atmosphere //What are the layers of the atmosphere and describe what is significant about each layer. //

This is the lowest layer of the Earth's atmosphere between 0 to 12 kilometers from Earth's crust.
 * __ The Troposphere __**

This is the second lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere at 12 to 50 kilometers above Earth's crust.
 * __ The Stratosphere __**

The Mesosphere is third layer of Earth's atmosphere. It is from 50 kilometers to 80 kilometers above Earth's crust.
 * __ The Mesosphere __**

The Thermoshpere is the fourth layer of Earth's atmoshpere. It's above 80 kilometers above the Earth's surface.
 * __ The Thermosphere __**

The Ionoshpere is practically the fourth layer of the atmosphere, but it is not a distinct layer. It is above 80 kilometers above the Earth's surface. Weather What is weather? Provide specific exampels of types of weather.
 * __ The Ionosphere __**

Temperature is included in the definition of weather. Temperature in weather is the speed of the air molecules are moving.
Wind is part of weather as it moves from high pressure to low pressure areas. Humidity; moisture in the air, is also weather, including relative humidity, when humidity is relative to temperature. Dew Point is the point when condensation occurs and clouds form. Weather is ultimately dependant on climate and will likely never be unfamilliar to a similar climate. Climate ====What is climate? Provide specific examples of types of climate (include a map of climate zones). List and explain 3 factors that determine the climate of an area. ==== Climate is the long term weather conditions of a place or region**.** The two main factors that determine a region**'**s climate are temperature and precipitation**.** Factor's that affect a region**'**s temperature include its latitude**,** distance from large bodies of water**,** ocean currents**,** and altitude**.**

Climate is the long-term weather conditions of a place or region, as said above**.** There are six major factors that shows the type of climate for an area**.** Depending on how much a factor affects an area**,** the climate of an area differs from other areas**.** There are probably a few smaller factors that affect climate**,** than just the factors listed below and above in the first paragraph**.**


 * 1.** Latitude**-** the distance from the equator**.**
 * 2.** Elevation**-** the distance from sea level**.**
 * 3.** Topography**-** mountains**.**
 * 4.** Water Bodies**-** oceans**,** lakes**,** and large rivers**.**
 * 5.** Atmospheric Circulation**-** a fancy name for wind**.**
 * 6.** Vegitation**-** trees**,** bushes**,** etc**.;** affects temperature and precipitation **(**rain**,** snow**,** etc**.)**

Side Note**:** Mountains create a Rain Shadow which causes less precipitation in some valleys**.** A rain shadow is created when cool air gathers on one side of a mountain and causes rain**.** This side is called the Windward side or the side of a mountain that gets the most rain and most of the vegitation is found on this side**.** When the air finally gets over to the other side**,** it becomes dry, warm air, and not much vegitation can be found on this side**,** the Leeward side**,** of the mountain**.** The warm**,** dry air is known as the rain shadow**.** Atmosphere What is meant by closed and open systems in science? Explain 2 arguments for earth's atmosphere being a closed system and 2 arguments for earth's atmosphere being an open system. A open system exchanges both heat and matter with its surrounding while a closed system exchanges only heat (no matter). I believe that the earths atmosphere is a closed system that is why our atmosphere works to keep space junk out of the earth. You could aslo argue that it is open because some debris and tiny metiorites do hit the earth. It can also be closed because of the air in the atmosphere never changes but some people say that the ozone layer is being destroyed which would result in letting more materials through to the earth making it a open system. A close system exchanges only heat(no matter). An open system exchanges both heat and matter with its surroundings.