• layers of gases that surround the earth is called the atmosphere
• Consist of nitrogen and oxygen
• Contain  water vapor, carbon dioxide, and traces of other gases
• atmosphere forms five layers
• closest to Earth surface -- troposhere
• above troposhere 
• 1. stratosphere
• 2. mesosphere
• 3. thermosphere
• 4. exosphere

WEATHER

• Weather is the condition of the troposhere at a particular time and place.
• Almost ALL weather occur in the troposphere
• Weather can be:
• 1. hot or cold
• 2. wet or dry
• 3. calm or stormy
• 4. sunny or cloudy

CLIMATE

•  Climate is the average weather of a place
• Average temperature and average precipitation are important variables in determining climate.
• Latitude --- distance north or south of the equator,has the strongest effect on climate.

AIR PRESSURE

• Particles of gas press on Earth's surface and everything they surround
• The Force placed in any given area by the weight of th air above it is called air pressure or atmospheric pressure.
• Do not feel weight because atmospheric pressure pushes in all direction.

• Bodies of water and areas of land affect the temperature of the air above them.
• Air that is in contact with a body of water is warmed in the winter adn cooled in the summer.
• Temperature of the land increases faster than temperature of the water.

SEA BREEZE

• The air above land also warms faster than air above the sea.
• warm air above land becomes less dense,atmospheric pressure decreases and warm air rises
• Air above the ocean has higher pressure than air above land
• Cooler higher pressure air above the ocean moves toward warmer lower pressue air above land.
• Movement of air from the water to the land is called SEA Breeze

LAND BREEZE

• At night the land and water both begin to cool.
• Land cools faster than water, so air above the water stays warmer and has a lower pressure than air above the land
•  Warm air rises and cooler higher pressure air above land moves toward the water.
• The movement of air from the land to water is called land breeze
• In fall and winter ocean slowly loses heat it gain in the summer
• In winter air above the water usually stays warmer than air above land

• Constant movement of Ocean water is called current
• Gulf Stream - runs along the east coast of US and across the Atlantic Ocean- carries water near equator toward the poles
• Other currents carry cold water from the POLES to the equator
• Temperature of CURRENT affects Climate of land nearby
• Areas with cool currents like California have cool temperature
• Lands areas near warm currents like the GULF Stream have warm temperture
• Ocean Currents move heat around the world in the oceans.
• they move heat around the work in the ATMOSPHERE through water vapors
• Global winds carry water vapor to cooler regions from the equator -- then water vapor condenses releasing heat into the atmosphere.
• Transfer of heat through atmosphere and through the water keeps temperature on Earth with a narrow range

MOUNTAIN RANGES

• Altitude is a measure of how high a place is above sea level.
• Higher the altitude the cooler the climate
• Rain patterns affect mountain ranges
• Warm moist air moves up a mountain it gets colder water vapor codenses precipitation falls on one side of the mountain --- this side is called windward side
• Air that moves down the other side of the mountain is leeward side-- which is dry and hot which is called rain shadow.

• Every 2 to 7 years cold  current sinks and stops pushing cold water to the surface which causes a change in weather conditions called EL Nino
• El nino warmer temperature at the surface of the water near Peru causes the air pressure there to decrease
• Change in air pressure may cause the winds to reverse direction