Physical Geography

Yr 13 AS
 Element 3 (a)
• The processes that shape our weather
and climate
 The Atmosphere
• ‘The envelope of gases that surrounds the
Earth.’
• Gases in the atmosphere (for dry air) are-
– Nitrogen (78%)
– Oxygen (20%)
– Carbon Dioxide (1%)
– Water (1%)
– Some trace gases.

• It is made up of many layers.

 The Atmosphere

Weather systems
occur here & 80%
of all atmospheric
gases
 Weather and Climate
• Weather- The state of the atmosphere at
a particular place and at a particular time.

• Climate- This is the average weather over

a long period of time. (Usually 30-35
years)
 The Atmosphere

Our weather
occurs in the
Troposphere
 The Energy Budget
• The Atmosphere is a system.
• It is a closed system
– Energy can move in and out but matter does
not.
• Sunshine is the prime source of energy.
Without sun-shine there would be no
weather!!
• Energy is heat (and light!). Without it our
atmosphere could not function.
• Energy from the sun (light & heat) is called
Insolation
– This is short wave radiation
– Of this radiation, about 50% reaches the earths
surface.
– That leaves 50% that is absorbed by the
atmosphere or reflected.
• Reflected by clouds, gas & dust, the earths surface
• The reflective nature of clouds and the earths surface
is known as The Albedo effect
• The energy that reaches the earths
surface heats that surface and energy is
re-emitted in the form of long wave
radiation.
• That energy heats the air above.
• Sketch figure 104, pg 92
• The earth and processes within it try to
maintain equilibrium- a balance.
• So in theory inputs should equal outputs.
– But is this the case?
– Greenhouse effect? Global Warming?
– What affects these?