Atmosphere

• Atmosphere


  Layer of gases that surrounds the Earth
• Components of the Atmosphere


  • Nitrogen (78%)
  • Oxygen (21%)
  • Others (1%)
  • Argon (0.9%)
  • Carbon dioxide (0.035)
  • Neon, helium, methane, krypton, hydrogen, nitro oxide, carbon monoxide, xenon, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, iodine, ammonia
• Atmosphere


  • Provides protection, maintains temperature, and supports weather and climate systems
• Layers of the Atmosphere


  • Troposphere
  • Stratosphere
  • Mesosphere
  • Thermosphere
  • Exosphere
• Troposphere


  The lowest layer which only extends 14 to 18 km from the surface, where wind, clouds, water vapor, and weather occurs
• Tropopause


  The boundary zone between Troposphere and Stratosphere
• Stratosphere


  The second layer that is about 50 km above the surface, ideal for aircraft, contains the Ozone layer which shields the earth from harmful UV radiation
• Mesosphere


  The third layer which extends 90 km above the earth, the coldest region with thin air and low atmospheric pressure, where meteors burn upon entry
• Thermosphere


  Topmost part extending 1000 km above earth, composed of individual gas molecules, holds the Ionosphere, where auroras occur
• Exosphere


  Outermost layer of the earth's atmosphere into the vacuum of space, mostly contains hydrogen and helium gases, where satellites and other human-made objects in the Earth's orbit are found
• Atmospheric Pressure


  Downward force that applies pressure to the earth surface, determined by air mass and temperature
• Types of Air Mass


  • Continental
  • Maritime
• Continental Air Mass


  Air mass that originates from the land and are dry
• Maritime Air Mass


  Air mass that originates from the sea and are moist
• Air warms up when it rises

  Air cools when it sinks
• The nearer it is to the ground


  The higher the pressure will be
• Wind


  Moving Air, caused by the uneven heating of the earth's surface
• Types of Wind


  • Global Winds (trade winds, westerlies, polar easterlies, doldrums)
  • Local Winds (sea breeze, land breeze)
• How wind is produced


  Warm air goes up, surrounding cold air moves to replace it
• Land breeze


  Breeze or wind blowing from the land towards the sea, usually occurs during the night or early in the morning when the land air is cooler than sea air
• Sea breeze


  Breeze or wind blowing from the sea towards the land, usually occurs during the summer days
• Precipitation


  Movement of water from the atmosphere to earth's surface, can be liquid (rain) or solid (snow, freezing rain, sleet, hail)
• Types of Precipitation


  • Rain
  • Snow
  • Freezing Rain
  • Sleet
• Thunderstorm


  A small scale weather system that has lightning and thunder produced by funnel-cumulonimbus clouds and brings gusty winds, heavy rains and sometimes hail
• Lightning


  Build-up of discharge electrical energy
• Thunder


  The very loud sound created when electrical discharge heats up its surrounding air
• Tropical Cyclone


  A low pressure system that forms in tropical areas of the ocean near the equator, with a cyclonic swirl around a central eye and counterclockwise wind direction
• Names of Tropical Cyclone


  • Cyclone (South Pacific And Indian Ocean)
  • Hurricane (North Pacific and Atlantic Ocean)
  • Typhoon (Northwest Pacific)
• PAGASA


  Authorized to provide protection against natural calamities, ensure safety and well-being, and promote national progress through scientific and technological services
• Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR)


  The red boundary where tropical cyclones with 62 km/h wind speed from the West Philippine sea are likely to enter
• Types of tropical cyclones in the Philippines

  • Tropical Depression (TD)
  • Tropical Storm (TS)
  • Severe Tropical Storm (STS)
  • Typhoon (TY)
  • Super Typhoon (STY)
• Monsoon


  Seasonal winds, large scale sea breeze, Southwest Monsoon is warm and humid, Northeast Monsoon is cold and dry
• Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)


  Where hot and cold trade winds from the Northern hemisphere and Southern hemisphere meet
• George Hadley