Listed below are the major concepts that you should knowwhen finished with this unit.

Objective 1: Compare earth's early atmosphere with that found today, and identify the origins of its constituents.

Objective 2: Describe the layers of the earth's atmosphere, and analyze the temperature and pressure changes with height.

Two important notes on the profile of our atmosphere:

1) Notice the "layers" are delineated by temperature changes (the temperature in thetroposphere decreases with height; in the stratosphere, the temperature increaseswith height, etc.)

2) Notice the drop in air pressure is much greater over a smaller vertical distance thecloser you are to the surface. There are two reasons for this: the heaviest gases (like molecular nitrogen and oxygen) are found in the greatest concentration close to the surface. These relatively heavy gases create a greater pressure drop as they thin out. Secondly, the atmosphere packs its gases that are close to the surface more tightly (due to overlying air pressure), so that highup in the atmosphere the less densely packed

Objective 3: Identify the ways the earth is heated unequally on a global, regional, and local scale, and explain the effects this unequal heating has on the atmosphere:

Remember, more intense solar energy strikes the equatorial regions, so there is greater heating at low latitudes. Also, the earth's tilt provides and unequal balance of heat. On a more regional scale, the amount of cloud cover and the type of surface also influence the amount of heating.

Objective 4: Analyze the global wind circulation patterns and relate these patterns to our weather:

Note the direction of the winds at each latitude...in the continental U.S., we are in an area of prevailing winds which blow from the west (hence the name "prevailing westerlies"). This is why most of our weather travels from west-to-east across the United States! If you look at the direction between 0 and 30 degrees, you will notice the winds travel from east-to-west: This is why we get slammed from time to time from hurricanes which form in the tropical waters of the Atlantic...if they formed further to the north, they wouldn't make it to the U.S. !

Special Note: Remember, the earth's rotation deflects winds to the right in the Northern Hemisphere! The diagram above bears that out. This rightward deflection is called the Coriolis Effect. It has the opposite effect in the Southern Hemisphere.

Objective 5: Analyze surface maps using station model data:

Be able to compare station models, and make sure you know each and every feature on them!

You will need to be able to look at surface data plots and find the reporting stations with the following: highest windspeeds; highest pressure(mb); highest and lowest temperatures and dewpoints; cloud coverage and present weather conditions.

Objective 6: Interpret cloud top heights, cell movement, and convective characteristics on composite radar summaries.

These are very important radar signatures...known them!!!!