Urban Heat Island Effect
The Urban Heat Island Effect is a situation in which an urban area becomes more heated than the surrounding rural areas. There are heat islands on the surface and in the atmosphere. Urban areas become warmer and the surface becomes dry because buildings, roads, and high populations make an "island" of higher temperatures. Urban Heat Islands affect a community and the people's way of life. It may seem positive because it increases the length of plant life, but it has many other concerning effects. First, it increases energy consumption. Heat Islands are responsible for a peak of electricity usage in the summers. Next, a high energy demand results in a large emission of greenhouse gases and air pollutants. Also, Heat Islands create general discomfort, not only illness because of heat, but also because air pollutants can cause respiratory difficulties. Finally, the Urban Heat Island Effect can impair water quality. Temperature changes in water can be harmful to aquatic ecosystems. In Gilbert, Arizona, and Tuscan, Arizona, cool roofs, cool pavements, and trees and vegetation are used to reduce the heat resulted from UHI. Another way to mitigate the impact of UHI is by installing a "green roof." Combining multiple of these strategies is the most effective way to reduce the effects of Urban Heat Islands.
Aerosols
Aerosols are tiny particles that are suspended in the atmosphere. When they get larger, they scatter into and absorb sunlight. When the sunlight is scattered, it reduces haze and causes sunrises and sunsets to be reddened. Aerosols are important because they affect the Earth's climate and radiation budget. In a direct way, they carry sunlight back into space. Indirectly, aerosols in the lower atmosphere can change the size of cloud particles, which changes how clouds absorb and reflect sunlight, which affects the Earth's usage of energy. Aerosols are also sites for chemical reactions to take place. The reactions that take place on these large cloud particles form highly reactive chlorine and result in the destruction of the ozone.Volcanic aerosols are formed by sulfur dioxide gas, which converts into sulfuric acid droplets. Desert dust from over the Atlantic Ocean and deserts in Asia also create aerosols. Aerosols also come from human activities. Burning coal and oil forms sulfate aerosols. In fact, human made sulfate aerosols outweigh natural sulfate aerosols. These aerosols enter clouds, which reflect sunlight. Additional reflection caused by pollution aerosols actually cools areas.
Greenhouse Effect
The greenhouse effect is a process where radiation is absorbed by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and is re-radiated in all directions. This re-radiation causes global temperatures to get warmer because the gases are being put into lower parts of the atmosphere. Carbon Dioxide, Methane, and Nitrous Oxide are the top three greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases are gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. The increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is caused by human activity. Burning fossil fuel for electricity, heat, and transportation is a major source of greenhouse gases. Also agriculture and land use create greenhouse gases. Infrared radiation is related to global warming and the greenhouse effect. It is a light with a longer wavelength than the red color in the visible part of the spectrum, but shorter than microwave radiation. It may be perceived as heat. The Earth's surface and atmosphere give off infrared radiation.
Monday, March 10, 2014
Monday, November 18, 2013
Water Cycle Expository Essay
Lydia Waybright
Mr. Sharpe
Earth Science
November 8, 2013
Water Cycle Expository Essay
The water cycle is a vital part of our day to day life. We experience it every single day. There are three phases of the water cycle—evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. It is important to know about each phase of the water cycle and how they impact the world.
The water cycle does not occur in any particular order, but one phase to study is evaporation. In evaporation, water changes from liquid to gas. Water evaporates because the energy from heat breaks the bonds that hold water molecules together. In this phase Latent Heat is absorbed. Transpiration is the form of evaporation that comes from plants, and evapotranspiration is the process of water vapor being released into the atmosphere because of transpiration. Evaporation is also useful in producing some consumer products. For example, seawater is put in evaporation ponds so that salt and other minerals will be obtained when the water evaporates. The evaporation process is constantly happening and is useful for all humans.
Another phase of the water cycle is condensation, where gas becomes liquid. In this phase, Latent Heat is released. Because of condensation, clouds are formed when vapor in the atmosphere becomes liquid, and clouds are formed to hold the water. Fog is similar. It is water droplets suspended in the atmosphere near ground level; fog is essentially clouds closer to the ground. Contrails are man-made clouds. When a jet flies by and leaves water vapor in the cold atmosphere, that is a contrail. They can be used for weather forecasting. If they go away quickly, there will be good weather. That is how condensation is experienced every day.
The last phase of the water cycle is precipitation, which is when water is released from the clouds in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail. The water in the clouds gets too heavy and drops back down to the Earth. Once water hits the ground, it soaks into the ground and becomes groundwater. Precipitation also feeds the oceans. The water falls into lakes and rivers and eventually flows into the oceans.
These are details about each phase of the water cycle. Evaporation, condensation, and precipitation happen every day. Without the water cycle, things that occur normally every day would not be able to function. The water cycle is extremely important to our world.
Weather Videos
How is a warming climate changing weather? *Current examples
How does weather affect our lives?
What should we do to prepare?
How important are accurate weather reports?
The warming climate is changing weather patterns because of the heat in the atmosphere. It causes more flooding and increases the dangers of hurricanes in certain zones.
Weather affects our lives because we have to plan how to be prepared for it day to day. We have to have accurate weather reports to know how to prepare for each day. It could be something small like whether to carry an umbrella, but it can also be much more detrimental. If there is a tornado or hurricane on its way, people have to know to get out of the area and go somewhere safe.
There are many ways that people can prepare for inclimate weather. For one thing, they can rely on weather reports, which is why it is important for accurate weather reports to be accurate. In addition, people can take precautions such as getting a small generater or having a plan in case of a tornado. People have to be educated about the safest ways to get through storms.
Weather has been very harsh lately. There have been several tornadoes in Indiana and severe storms in the Philippines. The people affected by these storms have to have plans of action when these storms are coming along. Preparation and knowledge are key because these storms are not going to stop occuring.
How does weather affect our lives?
What should we do to prepare?
How important are accurate weather reports?
The warming climate is changing weather patterns because of the heat in the atmosphere. It causes more flooding and increases the dangers of hurricanes in certain zones.
Weather affects our lives because we have to plan how to be prepared for it day to day. We have to have accurate weather reports to know how to prepare for each day. It could be something small like whether to carry an umbrella, but it can also be much more detrimental. If there is a tornado or hurricane on its way, people have to know to get out of the area and go somewhere safe.
There are many ways that people can prepare for inclimate weather. For one thing, they can rely on weather reports, which is why it is important for accurate weather reports to be accurate. In addition, people can take precautions such as getting a small generater or having a plan in case of a tornado. People have to be educated about the safest ways to get through storms.
Weather has been very harsh lately. There have been several tornadoes in Indiana and severe storms in the Philippines. The people affected by these storms have to have plans of action when these storms are coming along. Preparation and knowledge are key because these storms are not going to stop occuring.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Questions Surface Temperature Analysis
Lydia Waybright and
Keely Adkins
Mr. Sharpe
2nd mod
October 16, 2013
Question
Is the temperature of a
wet surface different than the temperature of a dry surface? Why or why not?
Abstract
This project determines
whether a wet surface has a different general temperature than a dry surface. We hypothesized that a wet surface would be
cooler. By examining the steps of the process and analyzing a chart of the data
from the Softball field, it is clear that there is not a correlation between
temperature and wetness/ dryness. The
temperatures were scattered and there was no direct line regarding whether the
surface was wet or dry.
Hypothesis
The temperature of a
surface will change depending on if it is wet or dry. A dry surface will be warmer than a wet
surface because wet surfaces have moisture to keep them cool.
Procedure
1.
Gather in
classroom
2.
Take a surface
sheet with a specific surface. Fill in
the information- names, date, school
3.
Walk to the edge
of the teacher’s parking lot and examine cloud coverage as a group
4.
Break off into
different groups and go to specific surface
5.
Mark whether the
surface is wet or dry
6.
Take the temperature
with an IRT
7.
Repeat 9 times
in different areas of the surface
8.
Record data on
surface sheet
9.
Return to
classroom and return IRT
10. Record data into excel spreadsheet and globe.gov
Collect Results
Softball Infield
Analysis
The chart comes from
the temperatures of the surface and whether it was wet or dry. This is taken from the softball infield. It shows that there is not a correlation
between the wetness and dryness and the temperature of the surface. It is all scattered.
Conclusion
The temperature of a
dry surface is not different than the temperature of a wet surface. Based on
the chart, there is no correlation between the surface temperature and the
dryness or wetness of the surface. The
chart is scattered. The temperature
differences are based on other factors, but whether the surface is wet or dry
does not affect it.
Presentation
Brief Power Point based
on your report and delivered to the class
Monday, September 30, 2013
Atmosphere Notes
The atmosphere is a thin layer of air that protects the Earth's surface from extreme temperatures. It has four layers: the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere. It is a mixture of solids, liquids, and gases.
The early atmosphere was different than it is today. Volcanoes produced nitrogen and carbon dioxide, but little oxygen. Early organisms began producing oxygen over two billion years ago. Eventually, the oxygen formed an ozone layer that protects the Earth from harmful rays.
The gases in the atmosphere are 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, .04% water vapor, .037% Carbon Dioxide, and .93% Argon. Each gas has a different purpose, and there are also traces of neon, helium, methane, krypton, xenon, hydrogen, and ozone.
The atmosphere is changing because of pollution. Pollutants mix with oxygen and other chemicals and form smog. There are solids such as dust, salt, and pollen; and there are liquids which include water droplets and droplets from volcanoes.
The troposphere is the lowest layer. It extends up to 10 kilometers, and it contains 99% of the water vapor and 75% of the atmospheric gases. It is the first layer above the surface, and it contains most of the clouds and half of the Earth's atmosphere. Weather occurs in the troposphere. Most of the layer's heat is from the Earth, and temperature cools about 6.5 degrees C per kilometer of altitude.
The next layer is the stratosphere which is from 10 kilometers to 25 kilometers above the Earth's surface. A portion of this layer contains the ozone layer, which absorbs harmful rays from the sun. Th ozone layer is necessary for life! However, pollutants called CFC's are destroying the ozone. Planes fly in the stratosphere because it is very stable.
The next layer is the mesophere; it goes to 85 kilometers above the surface. It is the coldest layer and contains little ozone. Meteors or rock fragments burn up here. The ionosphere, a layer of charged particles, is in this layer.
The thermosphere is the thickest layer; it goes from 85 to 500 kilometers above the surface. It has auroras and is known for high temperatures. It warms as it filters out X-Rays and gamma rays from the sun. The ionosphere is here as well; it helps carry out radio waves.
Next is the exosphere, which merges into space. This is the upper limit of our atmosphere. It is the outer layer where space shuttles orbit.
The sun's energy is either reflected or absorbed. Albedo is the fraction of solar radiation reflected back into space; it is harmless. Absorbtion is the fraction of solar radiation NOT reflected into space; this is greenhouse. The greenhouse effect is solar energy that is absorbed by the Earth's land, and water is changed to heat that moves/radiates back into the troposphere where gases absorb the heat.
The Urban Heat Island Effect occurs when a metropolitan area is warmer than the surrounding rural areas. UHI Effect is caused primarily by modification of land surfaces in developments that use materials that retain heat.
The early atmosphere was different than it is today. Volcanoes produced nitrogen and carbon dioxide, but little oxygen. Early organisms began producing oxygen over two billion years ago. Eventually, the oxygen formed an ozone layer that protects the Earth from harmful rays.
The gases in the atmosphere are 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, .04% water vapor, .037% Carbon Dioxide, and .93% Argon. Each gas has a different purpose, and there are also traces of neon, helium, methane, krypton, xenon, hydrogen, and ozone.
The atmosphere is changing because of pollution. Pollutants mix with oxygen and other chemicals and form smog. There are solids such as dust, salt, and pollen; and there are liquids which include water droplets and droplets from volcanoes.
The troposphere is the lowest layer. It extends up to 10 kilometers, and it contains 99% of the water vapor and 75% of the atmospheric gases. It is the first layer above the surface, and it contains most of the clouds and half of the Earth's atmosphere. Weather occurs in the troposphere. Most of the layer's heat is from the Earth, and temperature cools about 6.5 degrees C per kilometer of altitude.
The next layer is the stratosphere which is from 10 kilometers to 25 kilometers above the Earth's surface. A portion of this layer contains the ozone layer, which absorbs harmful rays from the sun. Th ozone layer is necessary for life! However, pollutants called CFC's are destroying the ozone. Planes fly in the stratosphere because it is very stable.
The next layer is the mesophere; it goes to 85 kilometers above the surface. It is the coldest layer and contains little ozone. Meteors or rock fragments burn up here. The ionosphere, a layer of charged particles, is in this layer.
The thermosphere is the thickest layer; it goes from 85 to 500 kilometers above the surface. It has auroras and is known for high temperatures. It warms as it filters out X-Rays and gamma rays from the sun. The ionosphere is here as well; it helps carry out radio waves.
Next is the exosphere, which merges into space. This is the upper limit of our atmosphere. It is the outer layer where space shuttles orbit.
The sun's energy is either reflected or absorbed. Albedo is the fraction of solar radiation reflected back into space; it is harmless. Absorbtion is the fraction of solar radiation NOT reflected into space; this is greenhouse. The greenhouse effect is solar energy that is absorbed by the Earth's land, and water is changed to heat that moves/radiates back into the troposphere where gases absorb the heat.
The Urban Heat Island Effect occurs when a metropolitan area is warmer than the surrounding rural areas. UHI Effect is caused primarily by modification of land surfaces in developments that use materials that retain heat.
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