An introductory Powerpoint to the final module, this civers the basics of the climate system, how the atmosphere is layered, the effects on all layers caused by increasing altitude, the global pattern of surface wind circulation and an introduction to ocean circulation

1. Climate basics

2. This is covering up the map key This is covering up the map key

4. Greatest challenge? The issue of climate change is one that we ignore at our own peril….. ….. unless we free ourselves from a dependence on these fossil fuels and chart a new course on energy in this country, we are condemning future generations to global catastrophe George W Bush

5. Atmosphere Gas, solids and liquids held in place by gravity 50% is found below 6km

6. Troposphere – 0 to 12km(av) Temperatures decrease with altitude - why? Wind speeds increase – why? Temperature levels out at Tropopause

7. Stratosphere – 12 to 50km Temperatures increase – why? Ozone layer at 25 to 30km No water vapour or dust Temperature levels out at the Stratopause

8. Mesosphere – 50 to 80km Temperatures drop until the mesopause (coldest place on Earth, down to -100C

9. Thermosphere – 80 to 310/620km Temperatures increase with altitude due to absorption of solar radiation

12. Climatic Zones

14. Latitude and Radiation The variation with latitude of the solar radiation absorbed by the Earth–atmosphere system (solid curve) and the outgoing longwave radiation lost to space (dashed curve).

16. Therefore, more solar radiation is always absorbed at low latitudes than high At high latitudes more is lost The net result is a surplus of heat at the equator Basic principles of thermodynamics: heated substances always move towards cooler areas and away from their source of heat – hence the earths circulatory system

17. Temperature with altitude

18. Factors affecting the heat budget The solar constant The distance from the sun – this varies and can cause a 6% change The altitude of the sun in the sky – the equator is hotter The length of day and night – some regions have 24 hour darkness for two months

19. The effects of a sphere Earth being a sphere alters the angler of incidence the suns rays make with the surface as latitude varies. Page 5 in module

20. Sphericity and the sun There are three elements to this: The thickness of the atmosphere – higher latitudes make a lower angle to the sun and the atmosphere is thicker The suns rays are constant, therefore the more spherical the surface, the more diffuse the effects of the suns rays The poles are further away from the sun than the equator

21. Insolation over a year Seasonal variation of daily incoming solar radiation (in 10 7 J m −2 ) at the Earth’s surface, taking account of absorption by the atmosphere but ignoring the effect of topography. Note that this is not an ordinary spatial map, but a map, or plot, of incoming solar energy against latitude on the one axis and time of year on the other.

22. The earths climate system….

24. Seasons The four seasons (here given for the Northern Hemisphere) related to the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. When the Sun is overhead at one or other of the tropics, it is the summer solstice (the longest day) in the hemisphere experiencing summer, and the winter solstice (the shortest day) in the other. The red arrows mark the positions in the orbit where the Earth and the Sun are closest and furthest apart. These do not coincide with the black dashed lines, which mark the positions of solstices and equinoxes

25. Cloud types