atmosphere - structure and composition. atmospheric composition

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Atmosphere - Structure and Composition

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Page 1: Atmosphere - Structure and Composition. Atmospheric Composition

Atmosphere - Structure and Composition

Page 2: Atmosphere - Structure and Composition. Atmospheric Composition

Atmospheric Composition

Page 3: Atmosphere - Structure and Composition. Atmospheric Composition
Page 4: Atmosphere - Structure and Composition. Atmospheric Composition

Variable Gases:

Water Vapor 0.1% to 5% (by volume)

Carbon Dioxide 365 ppm Other "Greenhouse" gases

Page 5: Atmosphere - Structure and Composition. Atmospheric Composition

Water Vapor Pressure (mb) - January

Page 6: Atmosphere - Structure and Composition. Atmospheric Composition
Page 7: Atmosphere - Structure and Composition. Atmospheric Composition

Since the 1950s, the concentration of carbon dioxidehas increased at a rate of about 1.8 ppm per year.

The increase has occurred mainly because of anthropogenic combustion and deforestation

of large tracts of woodland.

Carbon dioxide increase since the 1950s

Page 8: Atmosphere - Structure and Composition. Atmospheric Composition
Page 9: Atmosphere - Structure and Composition. Atmospheric Composition
Page 10: Atmosphere - Structure and Composition. Atmospheric Composition

Experts Predict Polar Bear DeclineGlobal Warming Is Melting Their Ice Pack HabitatBy Blaine HardenWashington Post Staff WriterThursday, July 7, 2005

Page 11: Atmosphere - Structure and Composition. Atmospheric Composition

The photograph taken in 1928, above, shows how the Upsala Glacier, part of the South American Andes in Argentina, used to look. The ice on

the Upsala Glacier today, shown in 2004 below, is retreating at least 180 ft. per year

Time Magazine – March 26, 2006

Page 12: Atmosphere - Structure and Composition. Atmospheric Composition
Page 13: Atmosphere - Structure and Composition. Atmospheric Composition
Page 14: Atmosphere - Structure and Composition. Atmospheric Composition
Page 15: Atmosphere - Structure and Composition. Atmospheric Composition

Particulates (Aerosols)

Page 16: Atmosphere - Structure and Composition. Atmospheric Composition

Aerosols - particulates

.....increasing?….decreasng?

Page 17: Atmosphere - Structure and Composition. Atmospheric Composition

Atmospheric Aerosol Properties and Climate Impacts

U.S. Climate Change Science Program

Synthesis and Assessment Product 2.3

January 2009

Page 18: Atmosphere - Structure and Composition. Atmospheric Composition

Vertical Structure is Crucial

The world is a big place, but the atmosphere is very thin, and most of it is close to the ground The atmosphere is most dense near the

surface At the top of Mount Denali (18,000 feet

above sea level), the figure is 50%

Changes in atmospheric temperature and composition with height above the surface account for our weather and account for the “greenhouse effect”

Page 19: Atmosphere - Structure and Composition. Atmospheric Composition

Vertical Structure of the Atmosphere

Page 20: Atmosphere - Structure and Composition. Atmospheric Composition

Atmospheric Pressure (millibars)

Page 21: Atmosphere - Structure and Composition. Atmospheric Composition

18,000 feet --- 500 mb level

Sea Level Pressure --- 1013 millibars

Page 22: Atmosphere - Structure and Composition. Atmospheric Composition

Atmospheric pressure is routinely plotted on maps by theuse of lines called isobars. Each isobar connects points

having equal air pressure with the pressure being expressed in units of millibars (mb) in the United States

and kilopascals (kPa) in Canada.

A surface weather map

Page 23: Atmosphere - Structure and Composition. Atmospheric Composition

Surface Maps

Page 24: Atmosphere - Structure and Composition. Atmospheric Composition

500-mb Level Maps

Page 25: Atmosphere - Structure and Composition. Atmospheric Composition

Vertical Thermal Structure

Heated from below by latent and sensible heat fluxes

Heated in stratosphere by ozone absorption

Page 26: Atmosphere - Structure and Composition. Atmospheric Composition

Interview

Q&A: Dr. Stephen Schneider, one of the world's leading climatologists, discusses the line between science and activism. The New Republic; Nov, 2009.

July 19, 2010, 12:45 pm The Passing of a Climate Warrior