Temperature Is Controlled By Atmospheric Layers
Author: Jack Blacksmith
Weather patterns on planet Earth, the everyday conditions experienced by plants and animals, are the product of a complex set of factors that work together and against each other to produce certain results. For centuries men and women fascinated by weather have tried to forecast conditions for the following day or the next week. Efforts have been made to put together long-range plans for precipitation and temperature for a year or more in the future.
Fortunately, in recent years, advancement in computer technology and measuring devices has allowed more accurate weather prediction than ever before. Along with a greater understanding of the laws of physics, human beings have benefited from information gathered by weather satellites. The mass of information from these orbiting recording stations is now more efficiently handled by the powerful computers assembled for just this task. Add to this the dozens of specialized aircraft, ships and remote reporting stations and scientists are beginning to understand just what creates Earth’s unique climate conditions.
But what have human beings learned from all of this measurement and observation? One of the key facts uncovered is that the atmosphere that sustains life on Earth is an amazingly thin layer of protection. Yet this thin layer is actually composed of several distinct layers, five that we are aware of so far. The first was identified as recently as 1899.
While there are five separate pieces to the atmospheric puzzle, the level closest to Earth is the breeding ground for nearly all the weather. The troposphere literally starts at ground level and extends up to 10 miles above the Earth’s surface. Careful study and observation indicate that this layer is thinnest near the North Pole and South Pole, while it extends almost twice as high at the equator.
Meteorologists and other scientists working in this specialized field have found that, in the troposphere, temperatures gradually decrease with altitude (4 degrees for each 1,000 feet). At the outer edge of this first layer, where temperatures can be as low as -70 degrees (Fahrenheit) the boundary is called the tropopause.
Beyond this life-sustaining layer is the stratosphere, which reaches to an altitude of about 30 miles. Temperatures change drastically through this level, increasing 40 degrees or more in some cases. Scientists have also found that the protective ozone layer so familiar to most people, is located in the stratosphere (about 15 miles above the Earth’s surface).
Beyond these first two levels are: the mesosphere - this layer extends about 50 miles above the surface; the thermosphere or ionosphere, where temperatures can be close to 3,000 degrees. It is interesting to note that this layer provides a lot of protection for life on Earth, usually burning up meteors and other objects that pass through. At the far reaches of the known levels is the exosphere, composed of different kinds of gases that often escape into what is commonly known as outer space.
Even with the best measuring instruments, accurate weather predication and observation would not be possible without cooperation from the various countries around the world. Weather systems and huge air masses move around the globe and it is important for observers to know about conditions in other regions. One result of this cooperation is the World Meteorological Organization, formed more than 50 years ago to build a weather database on a global scale.
Just as the layers of the atmosphere work together to sustain life on Earth, nations of the world work together to continue learning about Earth’s weather.
Weather Changes Can Determine What Color The Sky Will Be
Author: Linden Walhard
The ageless, timeless, complicated and forever ongoing interaction between the Earth’s atmosphere and the sun’s heat results in the weather. The awesome, amazing colors that we see in the sky are produced storms and ever-changing weather systems as the atmosphere is without color on its own. Then how does this astounding display of color come about?
Air molecules and dust particles that are present in our atmosphere collide with the light waves from the sun and scatter in various directions as it enters our atmosphere. The waves that have shorter wavelengths like violet and blue waves get more effectively scattered than the orange and red waves having longer wavelengths. As a result varying mixtures of green, violet and blue waves along with small quantity of other colors scattered across the vast expanse of the sky. The blue that we see as our sky is formed due a combination of this mixture. But the exact shade varies depending on how the amount of dust particles and water vapor are present in that portion of the air. The shape of blue will get paler as the amount of particles and droplets increase in the air.
All the colors of the spectrum gets scattered by the water droplets that make up the clouds and thus making the clouds appear white. Meaning reconstitution occurs to the white light originally emitted by the sun. But the clouds appear gray or black if they are thick thus preventing light from passing through.
During sunsets and sunrises, the sky changes color frequently. The phenomena happens due the scattering of orange and red waves that gets though because as the sun is at a lower position in the sky during these times, the light gets to travel further into the Earth’s atmosphere. The orange and red hew gets more enhanced due to the presence of ash, dust and pollution in the atmosphere.
Weather Watcher who are Beginners
An intriguing array of changes in weather pattern is created by Earth’s atmosphere. Constant changes in weather in various parts of the world challenge our lifestyle as we adjust to it. For weather forecasting professional level, quality instruments have been introduction for the use of enthusiasts and amateurs in recent times. Contribute collected data by setting up your own weather station at home to the Internet and local professional forecasters is possible now because of these instruments.
Making distinction between high-level, middle-level and low-level clouds is a good thing to learn. An increase in the high and mid level clouds generally indicates the approach of frontal systems. Snow and rain is always a probability if low-level clouds follow these clouds.
A small chance of precipitation if there is fair weather accompanied by cumulus clouds that’s indicative of stable atmosphere. Although you might be in for heavy rain, gusty winds and can even experience a hailstorm if you observe explosive and rapidly developing cumulus clouds.
Weather can be forecasted by keeping a close watch on the barometric pressure and the direction of wind Winds movement from the southwest and falling pressure on the barometer are often indicators of frontal systems in the Northern Hemisphere.
You can improve the accuracy of your forecasting by maintaining logs of actual weather events along side your predictions and observations. You will learn the correct local conditions with the help of these logs.