Three Atmospheres of history

Archaen Air; water vapor/no oxygen Carbon Dioxide, sequestered through archean Modern; rise of oxygen

Oxygenation of the Atmosphere

Photochemical Disassociation and Photosynthesis

Albedo

Percentage of incidence radiation that is reflected back to space

Solar Energy Redistribution

Equator, incoming radiation greater than outgoing, opposite at the poles

Levels

Troposphere (where weather occurs), Stratosphere, Ozone Layer, Upper Atmosphere

Convection Cells

warm air less dense, creates low pressure, cool air denser so it sinks, creates high pressure at the surface

Wind

Air movement from high pressure regions to low pressure regions

Coriolis Effect

Changes intended path of a moving body, causes objects to follow curved paths, caused by rotation of the Earth

Atmospheric Circulation

Hadley Cell: (0 to 30 degrees) Ferrel Cell: (30 to 60 degrees) Polar Cell: (60 to 90 degrees)

ITCZ

Caused by convergence of northern and southern winds, location shifts with seasonal change in position of solar energy surplus

Trade Winds

masses of air that move from subtropical high-pressure belts toward the ITCZ

Westerlies

Some of the air from masses that descend at subtropical highs deflect northward

Seabreeze

Rising air during late afternoon over a heated surface pulls air toward the land from the ocean

Landbreeze

At night, land surface cools quicker than ocean