Thin air frigid conditions o ice crystals o 90

Thin air, frigid conditions
o Ice crystals
o -90 degrees C
 Mesopause
o Slight reduction in temp, but increases again
 Thermosphere
o 80 km +
o Temp conditions increase with altitude
o There is greater degree of ionization
o …

 Ionosphere
o In Thermosphere
o Transition layer between Mesosphere and Thermosphere
o Great absorption or x rays, gamma rays and UV rays
o Able to change these atoms into positively charged ions
 Test question
o What are the key characteristics of the Ionosphere?
o What properties are common between the mesosphere and the troposphere?
 Temp reduces as you go higher
Wind
 Wind is air in motion
 Caused by differences in atmospheric pressure between 2 locations
 Pressure is measured in millibars or Kilopascal
 Pressure can be measured using mercury barometer or aneroid barometer
 Anemometer is used to measure wind speed. (Km/h, MPH, Nautical MPH or Knots)
 Wind vane is used to measure wind direction
 Evangelista Torricelli…
Wind pattern development
The exact path taken by wind is influenced by the balance of three forces
 Pressure gradient force
o Cause by differences in pressure between 2 diff. locations
o Causes air to move from a high to low pressure zone
o Isobars… >>
 Coriolis force
o Caused by rotation of the earth
o