ATOC 184 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Solar Thermal Collector, Longwave, Trade Winds
9 Jul 2018
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Document Summary
Ocean circulation is principally due to exchanges with the atmosphere in the form of heat, water, and mechanical energy. Atmosphere: layer of gases and particles that envelops earth. Main gases are: nitrogen at 78. 1% and oxygen at 20. 9% Water vapour can occupy as much as 4% of air volume. Troposphere: lowermost and most important layer of the atmosphere. Contains 75% of atmosphere"s mass and 99% of atmosphere water vapour and dust particles. Almost all weather and clouds occur in this layer. Stratosphere: extends from the top of the troposphere to the bottom of the mesosphere. Mesosphere: cold and tenuous layer above stratosphere. Air density is influenced by temperature, water vapour content and pressure (hence altitude) Warm air less dense than cold air. Humid air less dense than dry air. Air has mass: 1 cm2 of a column of dry air of the atmosphere weights 1. 04 kg. When air rises, it expands, cools and can hold less water vapor.
