SLE102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Westerlies, Thermosphere, Shielding Gas

• School: Deakin University
• Department: Science, Engineering and Built Environment
• Course: SLE102
• Professor: Nick Porch

Document Summary

Weather: the state of the atmosphere at a given time and place. U(cid:374)"s heat + earth"s rotatio(cid:374) energise the atmosphere. Solar energy energy source for clouds, rain, snow storms and local weather. Tilt of earth"s a(cid:454)is of rotatio(cid:374) responsible for the seasons. Atmosphere: nitrogen, oxygen and argon make up 99. 96% of air, carbon dioxide, water vapour, methane, ozone and nitrous oxide are minor gases, ozone: occurs in small amounts high in atmosphere; absorbs uv rays coming into earth; shielding gas. 4 temperate zones of the atmosphere: troposphere: lowest level; where all weather happens; hottest near surface of land. When sunlight enters the atmosphere, it can either: Pass through unchanged and be absorbed by land/sea. Be scattered by particles in the air. Can be absorbed by gases in the atmosphere. Blue wavelength radiation strikes air molecules in the atmosphere blue radiation scatters make sky appear blue.