Layers of the Atmosphere

Check out the Northern Lights

NASA | The Mystery of the Aurora - YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/auroras

http://www.youtube.com/Dance of the Spirit (Auroras)

http://www.youtube.com/auroras, Alaska

StudyJams

click the link then type “atmosphere” into the search box.

StudyJams

Jet Stream Air Movement

DON’T FORGET THE JET STREAM………It affects our weather patterns…..what layer of the atmosphere is it located in?

Why Study the Atmosphere?http://www.theozonehole.com/atmosphere.htm

http://weathervortex.com/images/clouds-14.jpg

http://eo.ucar.edu/webweather/images/cloudchart.gif

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/nonpwdpubs/young_naturalist/images/pg_134_135_clouds_lg.jpg

Cloud Types

• 20,000 – 43,000 ftCirrus• High Level• wispy, feathery, hairlike, delicate fibers, streaks or plumes

Cirrocumulus• High Level• Appears as tufts, in lines or groups, sometimes in ripples

Cirrostratus• High Level• Veil of fused sheets of ice crystals, milky.• Sun and moon halos.

Cloud TypesMid-level

Altocumulus• Middle Level• Patches of cotton balls

Altostratus • 6,500 – 20,000 ft.Altostratus• Middle Level• Thin to thick with no halos, sun’s outline just visible, grey day

Cloud TypesLow Level

Nimbostratus• Grey dark low clouds with drizzling rain

Stratus• Low Level• Uniform, featureless, grey, like high fog

Stratocumulus• Low Level• Soft, grey, globular mases in lines, groups, or waves, heavy rolls, irregular overcast patterns.

Cloud TypesVertically developed

Cumulus• Vertically developed• Sharply outlined, puffy, billowy, flat based, swelling tops, fair weather

Cumulus• Vertically developed• Sharply outlined, puffy, billowy, flat based, swelling tops, fair weather

Cumulonimbus• Vertically developed• Dense, heavy, dark massive thunderstorms• hard showers, explosive top, great vertical development• cirrus topped plume blown into anvil shaped head.

Cumulonimbus• Vertically developed• Dense, heavy, dark massive thunderstorms• hard showers, explosive top, great vertical development• cirrus topped plume blown into anvil shaped head.

Jet Stream Air Movement

DON’T FORGET THE JET STREAM………It affects our weather patterns…..what layer of the atmosphere is it located in?