Unit 5. The Atmosphere
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Natural Science
Sección Bilingüe. IES Aljanadic
Unit 5: The Atmosphere 1. Parts of the Atmosphere Concept -The atmosphere is a gaseous layer which surrounds our planet. It is about 500 kilometres thick although the majority of the gases are in the layer which is from 0 to 16 kilometres above the Earth’s surface. The atmosphere’s layers There are 5 different layers in the Earth’s atmosphere. From bottom to top these layers are the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, thermosphere (this layer is also known as the ionosphere) and exosphere.
1
Natural Science
Sección Bilingüe. IES Aljanadic
a. The troposphere This layer is quite thin but it contains 80% of the total mass of the atmosphere. This is where meteorological phenomena are formed. The higher you go up, the lower the temperature. b. The stratosphere This layer is about 30 km thick. This is where the ozone layer is (ozonosphere). The higher you go up, the higher the temperature. c. The mesosphere This layer is about 40 km thick. It contains clouds of ice and dust. The meteorites that fall to the Earth become incandescent in this layer (shooting stars). The higher you go up, the lower the temperature. d. The thermosphere This layer is also known as the ionosphere. It is the highest and the thickest layer. The outer most part is called the exosphere. The higher you go up, the higher the temperature. e. The exosphere The exosphere starts at the top of the thermosphere and continues until it merges with interplanetary gases, or space. In this region of the atmosphere, Hydrogen and Helium are the prime components and are only present at extremely low densities.
ORAL QUESTIONS ON THE PARTS OF THE ATMOSPHERE: 12345678-
Is the atmosphere a solid layer? Name all the layers of the atmosphere without looking at your notes. In which layer are meteorological phenomena formed? Which is the thinner and denser layer? In which layer is the ozone layer? In which layer do the meteorites that fall tot he Earth become incandescent? Which is the highest and thickest layer? What gases can especially be found in the exosphere?
2
Natural Science
Sección Bilingüe. IES Aljanadic
Exercise: put the different layer in the correct place.
2. The air and its components The Earth’s atmosphere is made up of air -The material in the atmosphere that we, and all the other living beings on the planet, breathe is air. -Air is a mixture of gases. It is made up of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% of other gases: water vapour, carbon dioxide and ozone.
3
Natural Science
Sección Bilingüe. IES Aljanadic
-The density of the air on the Earth’s surface is approximately 1kg/m3. This means that 1m3 (1,000l) of air weighs more or less 1kg. -The density of the air diminishes as we move upwards through the Earth’s atmosphere. It is lower on the top of the mountains than it is at sea level and much lower still in the highest layers of the Earth’s atmosphere. 3. Formation of the atmosphere -At the beginning, our planet didn’t have an atmosphere. The atmosphere began to develop out of gases from the interior of the Earth, namely methane gas, ammoniac, water vapour and carbon dioxide. -Oxygen appeared in the atmosphere when plants started to generate it through photosynthesis. -A billion years ago, ozone began to accumulate at a height of 30 km, and the ozonosphere started to protect the Earth from ultraviolet radiation. Oral questions (They can also answer them in their notebooks) The Earth and its components: 1. What is “air”? 2. What is air made up of? 3. How much does 1 m3 of air weigh? 4. Where is the density of the air higher? On the top or the foot of a mountain? Why? Formation of the atmosphere: 1. How did the atmosphere come into existence? 2. Was oxygen from the beginning a part of the atmosphere? How did it come into existence in the atmosphere? 3. What is the ozonosphere? Why is it important? 4. Air pollution Air Pollution is the human introduction into the atmosphere of chemicals or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or damage the environment.
There are two types of contaminators: the primary contaminators and secondary contaminators.
4
Natural Science
Sección Bilingüe. IES Aljanadic
The primary contaminators come directly from fossil fuels, for example when car engines, lorries and airplanes are consuming petrol and when factories produce primary contaminators. Examples of primary contaminators are carbon oxides (COx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx), hydrocarbons, etc. The secondary contaminators come from the interaction between the primary contaminators, for instance the different oxides react with the rain water and form different acids such as carbonic acid, nitric acid, sulphuric acid. These new substances produce acid rain.
5. Contamination, environment and health The effects of contamination on the environment The pollution harms the environment. The most important problems are the following: 1. The deterioration of the ozone layer The ozone layer protects living beings from the harmful solar radiation, such as ultraviolet radiation. Some years ago, it was discovered that there is an area of the ozone layer where the concentration of gases is much less than in the rest of the layer. This area with reduced levels of ozone gas is known as the hole in the ozone layer. It is thought that the disappearance of the ozone from the atmosphere is caused by contaminating substances called CFCs.
2. Greenhouse effect It has been discovered that, over the last one hundred years, the average temperature of the planet has risen from between 0.3 and 0.6 º C. This phenomenon is known as global warming. One of the main gases that causes this is carbon dioxide emitted from vehicles, factories, central heating and animals breathing.
5
Natural Science
Sección Bilingüe. IES Aljanadic
3. Acid rain Some industries and the traffic emit gases into the atmosphere that react with each other (secondary contaminators) and make the rain more acidic than normal (acid rain). The water from acid rain is very prejudicial for plants and eventually kills them. It also damages buildings causing stone erosion.
Effects on Health Atmospheric pollution has negative effects on the health of all human beings. For instance, breathing problems (asthma, bronchitis…), allergies, heart problems, digestive problems and itchy eyes. The progressive reduction of the ozone layer causes burns to the exposed skin including skin cancer, infectious diseases… Questions 1. Fill the gaps: This area with reduced levels of ……….. …….. is known as the ………in the ………. …………. It is thought that the disappearance of the ozone from the atmosphere is caused by contaminating substances called ………. 2. Name three causes of the greenhouse effect 3. What is acid rain? What is it related to? 4. Fill the gaps: Some industries and the traffic emit …………into the atmosphere that react with each other (………….contaminators) and make the rain more acidic than normal (…….. ………). 5. Name three effects of pollution on health 6
Natural Science
Sección Bilingüe. IES Aljanadic
6. The Atmosphere and the Weather Weather and Climate The weather includes temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind and clouds in a determined time and place. Climate is the weather over a longer period of time (minimum of 30 years).
6.2 Atmospheric Pressure Atmospheric pressure is the force that a column of air exercises on a surface area of 1m2. We can measure atmospheric pressure in several units: millimetres of mercury (abbreviated to mm Hg), hectopascals (hPa) or atmospheres (atm), millibars (mbar). At sea level, atmospheric pressure is 760mm of mercury = 1 atm = 1013 mbars = 1013 hPa 6.2 Atmospheric Pressure Atmospheric pressure is the force that a column of air exercised on a surface area of 1m2. We can measure atmospheric pressure in several units: millimetres of mercury (abbreviated to mm Hg), hectopascals (hPa) or atmospheres (atm), millibars (mbar). At sea level, atmospheric pressure is 760mm of mercury = 1 atm = 1013 mbars = 1013 hPa
7
Natural Science
Sección Bilingüe. IES Aljanadic
6.3 The temperature The atmospheric temperature measures the heat of the air caused by the solar radiation. The temperature varies from place to place because of the altitude, the distance from the sea, the latitude etc.
6.4 The air humidity Absolute humidity is the quantity of water (vapour) in a particular volume of air. The most common units are grams per cubic meter. The vapour comes from the evaporation of water, not only from the sea, oceans, rivers and lakes, but also from the transpiration of living beings.
6.5 The meteorological instruments There are different instruments to measure the meteorological variables, such as pressure, temperature, humidity, precipitations, the direction and strength of the wind. The pluviometer is used to measure the amount of rain that falls down in a certain amount of time. A thermometer is used to measure the minimum and maximum temperature of a day. An anemometer is used to measure the velocity of the wind. The weathercock is used to measure the direction of the wind. The windsock shows the strength and the direction of the wind. The barometer is used to measure the atmospheric pressure.
8
Natural Science
Sección Bilingüe. IES Aljanadic
The hygrometer is used to measure the humidity. Oral Questions 1. What is the difference between weather and climate? 2. Define atmospheric pressure. 3. How many units of atmospheric pressure can you name? 4. Where is atmospheric pressure greater: at sea level or on top of a mountain? Why? 5. What causes the air to heat up? 6. What causes the temperature of the air to vary? 7. What is atmospheric humidity? 8. What units are used to measure it? 9. Where does the water vapour come from? 10. What are the following instruments used for? -Barometer -Pluviometer -Anemometer -Thermometer -Hygrometer -Weathercock -Windsock 7. Atmospheric phenomena The wind The wind is the movement of the air from one place in the world to another. Winds are the result of many complex situations.
The air moves due to the difference in temperature and atmospheric pressure between two different areas in the atmosphere. Winds play a very important role in the surface temperature of the planet, because it moves heat from one place to another. The air moves from high pressure areas to low pressure areas. Depending on the strength of the wind, there exist different names: wind, breeze, storm and hurricane. Its speed varies between 6 km/h and more than 120 km/h when there is a hurricane.
9
Natural Science
Sección Bilingüe. IES Aljanadic
7.2. The Breeze The breeze is a light wind that always moves in the same direction: On a sunny day, the direction of the breeze is from the sea to the continent, this is known as the sea breeze. During the night the breeze moves from the continent to the sea which is known as the land breeze.
A: Sea breeze, B: Land breeze
7.3.
Electrical Phenomena
Storms are intense rainfalls with thunder and lightning. Lightning is an electric discharge between a cloud and the ground.
10
Natural Science
Sección Bilingüe. IES Aljanadic
A flash of lightning refers to the light emitted and thunder is the sound that is produced by lightning.
7.4.
The Clouds
Clouds are a group of small drops of water or ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere. They are produced when water vapour cools down. Their shape and colour are different and they appear at different altitudes. The main types of clouds are: cumulus, stratus, cirrus and nimbus Cumulus clouds look like cotton wool. Stratus are usually seen as a low band lying horizontally to the land. Cirrus are long white clouds which are formed in the highest layers (even above 9,000 metres), so they are normally made up of crystals or needles of ice. Nimbus or nimbostratus are clouds which are located in the lower layers of the atmosphere. They cause rain or snow to fall.
Questions 1. Fill in the gaps: The air moves due to the difference in …………… and atmospheric …………. between two different areas in the atmosphere. The air moves from high pressure areas to …… …………… areas. Depending on the strength of the wind, there exist different names: wind, br…….. , s……. and hu……….. During the day the breeze moves from the ………… to the ………… This is known as a …… ………..
11
Natural Science
Sección Bilingüe. IES Aljanadic
During the night the breeze moves from the ……….. to the ………… This is known as a …….. ………. A thunderstorm is an ………….. phenomena which has fl……..s of lightning and t………. that is the sound emitted. 2. Match the pairs: Cumulus Stratus Cirrus Nimbus
They cause rain or snow to fall Long white clouds which are formed in the highest layers Usually seen as a low band lying horizontally to the land Clouds look like cotton wool
12
Sección Bilingüe. IES Aljanadic
Unit 5: The Atmosphere 1. Parts of the Atmosphere Concept -The atmosphere is a gaseous layer which surrounds our planet. It is about 500 kilometres thick although the majority of the gases are in the layer which is from 0 to 16 kilometres above the Earth’s surface. The atmosphere’s layers There are 5 different layers in the Earth’s atmosphere. From bottom to top these layers are the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, thermosphere (this layer is also known as the ionosphere) and exosphere.
1
Natural Science
Sección Bilingüe. IES Aljanadic
a. The troposphere This layer is quite thin but it contains 80% of the total mass of the atmosphere. This is where meteorological phenomena are formed. The higher you go up, the lower the temperature. b. The stratosphere This layer is about 30 km thick. This is where the ozone layer is (ozonosphere). The higher you go up, the higher the temperature. c. The mesosphere This layer is about 40 km thick. It contains clouds of ice and dust. The meteorites that fall to the Earth become incandescent in this layer (shooting stars). The higher you go up, the lower the temperature. d. The thermosphere This layer is also known as the ionosphere. It is the highest and the thickest layer. The outer most part is called the exosphere. The higher you go up, the higher the temperature. e. The exosphere The exosphere starts at the top of the thermosphere and continues until it merges with interplanetary gases, or space. In this region of the atmosphere, Hydrogen and Helium are the prime components and are only present at extremely low densities.
ORAL QUESTIONS ON THE PARTS OF THE ATMOSPHERE: 12345678-
Is the atmosphere a solid layer? Name all the layers of the atmosphere without looking at your notes. In which layer are meteorological phenomena formed? Which is the thinner and denser layer? In which layer is the ozone layer? In which layer do the meteorites that fall tot he Earth become incandescent? Which is the highest and thickest layer? What gases can especially be found in the exosphere?
2
Natural Science
Sección Bilingüe. IES Aljanadic
Exercise: put the different layer in the correct place.
2. The air and its components The Earth’s atmosphere is made up of air -The material in the atmosphere that we, and all the other living beings on the planet, breathe is air. -Air is a mixture of gases. It is made up of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% of other gases: water vapour, carbon dioxide and ozone.
3
Natural Science
Sección Bilingüe. IES Aljanadic
-The density of the air on the Earth’s surface is approximately 1kg/m3. This means that 1m3 (1,000l) of air weighs more or less 1kg. -The density of the air diminishes as we move upwards through the Earth’s atmosphere. It is lower on the top of the mountains than it is at sea level and much lower still in the highest layers of the Earth’s atmosphere. 3. Formation of the atmosphere -At the beginning, our planet didn’t have an atmosphere. The atmosphere began to develop out of gases from the interior of the Earth, namely methane gas, ammoniac, water vapour and carbon dioxide. -Oxygen appeared in the atmosphere when plants started to generate it through photosynthesis. -A billion years ago, ozone began to accumulate at a height of 30 km, and the ozonosphere started to protect the Earth from ultraviolet radiation. Oral questions (They can also answer them in their notebooks) The Earth and its components: 1. What is “air”? 2. What is air made up of? 3. How much does 1 m3 of air weigh? 4. Where is the density of the air higher? On the top or the foot of a mountain? Why? Formation of the atmosphere: 1. How did the atmosphere come into existence? 2. Was oxygen from the beginning a part of the atmosphere? How did it come into existence in the atmosphere? 3. What is the ozonosphere? Why is it important? 4. Air pollution Air Pollution is the human introduction into the atmosphere of chemicals or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or damage the environment.
There are two types of contaminators: the primary contaminators and secondary contaminators.
4
Natural Science
Sección Bilingüe. IES Aljanadic
The primary contaminators come directly from fossil fuels, for example when car engines, lorries and airplanes are consuming petrol and when factories produce primary contaminators. Examples of primary contaminators are carbon oxides (COx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx), hydrocarbons, etc. The secondary contaminators come from the interaction between the primary contaminators, for instance the different oxides react with the rain water and form different acids such as carbonic acid, nitric acid, sulphuric acid. These new substances produce acid rain.
5. Contamination, environment and health The effects of contamination on the environment The pollution harms the environment. The most important problems are the following: 1. The deterioration of the ozone layer The ozone layer protects living beings from the harmful solar radiation, such as ultraviolet radiation. Some years ago, it was discovered that there is an area of the ozone layer where the concentration of gases is much less than in the rest of the layer. This area with reduced levels of ozone gas is known as the hole in the ozone layer. It is thought that the disappearance of the ozone from the atmosphere is caused by contaminating substances called CFCs.
2. Greenhouse effect It has been discovered that, over the last one hundred years, the average temperature of the planet has risen from between 0.3 and 0.6 º C. This phenomenon is known as global warming. One of the main gases that causes this is carbon dioxide emitted from vehicles, factories, central heating and animals breathing.
5
Natural Science
Sección Bilingüe. IES Aljanadic
3. Acid rain Some industries and the traffic emit gases into the atmosphere that react with each other (secondary contaminators) and make the rain more acidic than normal (acid rain). The water from acid rain is very prejudicial for plants and eventually kills them. It also damages buildings causing stone erosion.
Effects on Health Atmospheric pollution has negative effects on the health of all human beings. For instance, breathing problems (asthma, bronchitis…), allergies, heart problems, digestive problems and itchy eyes. The progressive reduction of the ozone layer causes burns to the exposed skin including skin cancer, infectious diseases… Questions 1. Fill the gaps: This area with reduced levels of ……….. …….. is known as the ………in the ………. …………. It is thought that the disappearance of the ozone from the atmosphere is caused by contaminating substances called ………. 2. Name three causes of the greenhouse effect 3. What is acid rain? What is it related to? 4. Fill the gaps: Some industries and the traffic emit …………into the atmosphere that react with each other (………….contaminators) and make the rain more acidic than normal (…….. ………). 5. Name three effects of pollution on health 6
Natural Science
Sección Bilingüe. IES Aljanadic
6. The Atmosphere and the Weather Weather and Climate The weather includes temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind and clouds in a determined time and place. Climate is the weather over a longer period of time (minimum of 30 years).
6.2 Atmospheric Pressure Atmospheric pressure is the force that a column of air exercises on a surface area of 1m2. We can measure atmospheric pressure in several units: millimetres of mercury (abbreviated to mm Hg), hectopascals (hPa) or atmospheres (atm), millibars (mbar). At sea level, atmospheric pressure is 760mm of mercury = 1 atm = 1013 mbars = 1013 hPa 6.2 Atmospheric Pressure Atmospheric pressure is the force that a column of air exercised on a surface area of 1m2. We can measure atmospheric pressure in several units: millimetres of mercury (abbreviated to mm Hg), hectopascals (hPa) or atmospheres (atm), millibars (mbar). At sea level, atmospheric pressure is 760mm of mercury = 1 atm = 1013 mbars = 1013 hPa
7
Natural Science
Sección Bilingüe. IES Aljanadic
6.3 The temperature The atmospheric temperature measures the heat of the air caused by the solar radiation. The temperature varies from place to place because of the altitude, the distance from the sea, the latitude etc.
6.4 The air humidity Absolute humidity is the quantity of water (vapour) in a particular volume of air. The most common units are grams per cubic meter. The vapour comes from the evaporation of water, not only from the sea, oceans, rivers and lakes, but also from the transpiration of living beings.
6.5 The meteorological instruments There are different instruments to measure the meteorological variables, such as pressure, temperature, humidity, precipitations, the direction and strength of the wind. The pluviometer is used to measure the amount of rain that falls down in a certain amount of time. A thermometer is used to measure the minimum and maximum temperature of a day. An anemometer is used to measure the velocity of the wind. The weathercock is used to measure the direction of the wind. The windsock shows the strength and the direction of the wind. The barometer is used to measure the atmospheric pressure.
8
Natural Science
Sección Bilingüe. IES Aljanadic
The hygrometer is used to measure the humidity. Oral Questions 1. What is the difference between weather and climate? 2. Define atmospheric pressure. 3. How many units of atmospheric pressure can you name? 4. Where is atmospheric pressure greater: at sea level or on top of a mountain? Why? 5. What causes the air to heat up? 6. What causes the temperature of the air to vary? 7. What is atmospheric humidity? 8. What units are used to measure it? 9. Where does the water vapour come from? 10. What are the following instruments used for? -Barometer -Pluviometer -Anemometer -Thermometer -Hygrometer -Weathercock -Windsock 7. Atmospheric phenomena The wind The wind is the movement of the air from one place in the world to another. Winds are the result of many complex situations.
The air moves due to the difference in temperature and atmospheric pressure between two different areas in the atmosphere. Winds play a very important role in the surface temperature of the planet, because it moves heat from one place to another. The air moves from high pressure areas to low pressure areas. Depending on the strength of the wind, there exist different names: wind, breeze, storm and hurricane. Its speed varies between 6 km/h and more than 120 km/h when there is a hurricane.
9
Natural Science
Sección Bilingüe. IES Aljanadic
7.2. The Breeze The breeze is a light wind that always moves in the same direction: On a sunny day, the direction of the breeze is from the sea to the continent, this is known as the sea breeze. During the night the breeze moves from the continent to the sea which is known as the land breeze.
A: Sea breeze, B: Land breeze
7.3.
Electrical Phenomena
Storms are intense rainfalls with thunder and lightning. Lightning is an electric discharge between a cloud and the ground.
10
Natural Science
Sección Bilingüe. IES Aljanadic
A flash of lightning refers to the light emitted and thunder is the sound that is produced by lightning.
7.4.
The Clouds
Clouds are a group of small drops of water or ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere. They are produced when water vapour cools down. Their shape and colour are different and they appear at different altitudes. The main types of clouds are: cumulus, stratus, cirrus and nimbus Cumulus clouds look like cotton wool. Stratus are usually seen as a low band lying horizontally to the land. Cirrus are long white clouds which are formed in the highest layers (even above 9,000 metres), so they are normally made up of crystals or needles of ice. Nimbus or nimbostratus are clouds which are located in the lower layers of the atmosphere. They cause rain or snow to fall.
Questions 1. Fill in the gaps: The air moves due to the difference in …………… and atmospheric …………. between two different areas in the atmosphere. The air moves from high pressure areas to …… …………… areas. Depending on the strength of the wind, there exist different names: wind, br…….. , s……. and hu……….. During the day the breeze moves from the ………… to the ………… This is known as a …… ………..
11
Natural Science
Sección Bilingüe. IES Aljanadic
During the night the breeze moves from the ……….. to the ………… This is known as a …….. ………. A thunderstorm is an ………….. phenomena which has fl……..s of lightning and t………. that is the sound emitted. 2. Match the pairs: Cumulus Stratus Cirrus Nimbus
They cause rain or snow to fall Long white clouds which are formed in the highest layers Usually seen as a low band lying horizontally to the land Clouds look like cotton wool
12
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