GPHY 102 Lecture 6: Air Temperature Cont. AND Winds & Global Circulation

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19 Jan 2019
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Temperature structure of the atmosphere: atmosphere divided into different layers based on temperature. Heterosphere: above 100 km, gas molecules become sorted by molecular weight and electrical charge (sorted) Homosphere: composition of atmosphere is uniform for first 100km (mixed) Temperature increases with altitude in the stratosphere because it contains the ozone layer, which absorbs high energy uv radiation (reemitting as heat). Temperatures then start to cool with altitude (again) in the mesosphere without ozone. Above that there is warming due to rapid movement of molecules in the very thin atmosphere. Lowest layer of the atmosphere: thickest in tropics, thinnest at poles, most direct influence on earth surface processes, temperature declines at the environmental lapse rate of 6. 4 degrees celsius/ 1000 m to tropopause. Its where most weather occurs: where the atmospheres water vapor is stored, contains tiny dust particles called aerosols. Important as nuclei for condensation of water vapor creating fog or clouds.

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