Instructor Manual: C. Donald Ahrens and Robert Henson, Essentials of Meteorology: An Invitation to the
Atmosphere, 9e ©2024, 9780357857557; Chapter 1: Earth’s Atmosphere
Instructor Manual
C. Donald Ahrens and Robert Henson, Essentials of Meteorology: An Invitation to the Atmosphere, 9e
©2024, 9780357857557; Chapter 1: Earth’s Atmosphere
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Purpose and Perspective of the Chapter..................................................................................................2
Chapter Objectives....................................................................................................................................2
Complete List of Chapter Activities and Assessments............................................................................3
Key Terms..................................................................................................................................................3
What's New in This Chapter....................................................................................................................5
Chapter Outline.........................................................................................................................................5
Teaching Suggestions................................................................................................................................6
Student Projects.........................................................................................................................................7
Group Work...............................................................................................................................................8
Answers to Questions for Review.............................................................................................................8
Answers to Questions for Thought and Exploration.............................................................................11
Answers to Everyday Scenarios..............................................................................................................12
Additional Resources...............................................................................................................................13
External Videos or Playlist....................................................................................................................13
Appendix..................................................................................................................................................14
Generic Rubrics.....................................................................................................................................14
Standard Writing Rubric........................................................................................................................14
Standard Discussion Rubric...................................................................................................................15
© 2024 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 1
accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: C. Donald Ahrens and Robert Henson, Essentials of Meteorology: An Invitation to the
Atmosphere, 9e ©2024, 9780357857557; Chapter 1: Earth’s Atmosphere
PURPOSE AND PERSPECTIVE OF THE CHAPTER
The purpose of this chapter is to overview the Earth’s atmosphere and the many ways weather and
climate influence our lives. Students should look briefly at the weather map and a satellite image and
observe that dispersed throughout the atmosphere are storms and clouds of all sizes and shapes.
Students should learn that our atmosphere is one that is rich in nitrogen and oxygen as well as smaller
amounts of other gases, such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other greenhouse gases. Increased
concentrations of greenhouse gases from human activity are leading to global warming and other forms of
climate change.
Students find the various layers of the atmosphere: the troposphere (the lowest layer), where almost all
weather events occur, and the stratosphere, where ozone protects us from a portion of the sun’s harmful
rays. Above the stratosphere lies the mesosphere, where the air temperature drops dramatically with
height.
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
The following objectives are addressed in this chapter:
LO1 List three ways the scientific method can be applied to studying the atmosphere and weather.
LO2 Differentiate between weather and climate.
LO3 Interpret a weather map, applying storm types and concepts such as low pressure, high pressure,
and front.
LO4 List the positive and negative effects of climate and weather on human health, agriculture,
infrastructure, and the economy.
LO5 Outline the sequence of changes in nitrogen, oxygen, and water vapor over Earth’s history.
LO6 Explain the role of gases (including water vapor, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and other greenhouse
gases) and pollutants in Earth’s atmosphere.
LO7 Describe how air density and air pressure are determined and how they vary as you move upward
through Earth’s atmosphere.
LO8 Describe the layers of the atmosphere, including their altitudes, temperatures, compositions, and
functions.
[return to top]
COMPLETE LIST OF CHAPTER ACTIVITIES AND ASSESSMENTS
The following table organizes activities and assessments by objective, so that you can see how all this
content relates to objectives and make decisions about which content you would like to emphasize in your
class based on your objectives. For additional guidance, refer to the Teaching Online Guide.
© 2024 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 2
accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: C. Donald Ahrens and Robert Henson, Essentials of Meteorology: An Invitation to the
Atmosphere, 9e ©2024, 9780357857557; Chapter 1: Earth’s Atmosphere
Chapter PPT Slide Activity/Assessment Duration
Objective
LO1-LO8 N/A Knowledge Check 3–5 minutes
LO1-LO8 N/A Check Your Understanding 5–10 minutes
LO1, LO2 N/A Concept Visualizations 5–10 minutes
LO2, LO4 N/A Everyday Scenarios 10–20 minutes
LO1 8–9 Knowledge Check 1 2–3 minutes
LO3 18–19 Knowledge Check 2 2–3 minutes
LO4 24–25 Role-Play Activity 1 5–7 minutes
LO6 31–32 Self-Assessment 1 3–5 minutes
LO8 40–41 Discussion Activity 1 7–10 minutes
[return to top]
KEY TERMS
atmosphere: The envelope of gases that surround a planet and are held to it by the planet’s gravitational
attraction. Earth’s atmosphere is mainly nitrogen and oxygen.
aerosols: Tiny suspended solid particles (dust, smoke, etc.) or liquid droplets that enter the atmosphere
from either natural or human (anthropogenic) sources, such as the burning of fossil fuels. Sulfur-
containing fossil fuels, such as coal, produce sulfate aerosols.
air density: The ratio of the mass of a substance to the volume occupied by it. Air density is usually
expressed as g/cm3 or kg/m3.
air pressure: The pressure exerted by the mass of air above a given point, usually expressed in millibars
(mb), inches of mercury (Hg), or in hectopascals (hPa).
carbon dioxide: A colorless, odorless gas whose concentration is about 0.039 percent (390 ppm) in a
volume of air near sea level. It is a selective absorber of infrared radiation and, consequently, it is
important in Earth’s atmospheric greenhouse effect. Solid CO 2 is called dry ice.
climate: The accumulation of daily and seasonal weather events over a long period of time.
front: The transition zone between two distinct air masses.
hurricane: A tropical cyclone with sustained winds of at least 64 knots (74 mi/hr).
ionosphere: An electrified region of the upper atmosphere where fairly large concentrations of ions and
free electrons exist.
lapse rate: The rate at which an atmospheric variable (usually temperature) decreases with height.
mesosphere: The atmospheric layer between the stratosphere and the thermosphere. Located at an
average elevation between 50 and 80 km above Earth’s surface.
meteorology: The study of the atmosphere and atmospheric phenomena as well as the atmosphere’s
interaction with Earth’s surface, oceans, and life in general.
middle latitudes: The region of the world typically described as being between 30° and 50° latitude.
© 2024 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 3
accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: C. Donald Ahrens and Robert Henson, Essentials of Meteorology: An Invitation to the
Atmosphere, 9e ©2024, 9780357857557; Chapter 1: Earth’s Atmosphere
middle-latitude cyclonic storm: A cyclonic storm that most often forms along a front in middle and high
latitudes. Also called a middle-latitude cyclonic storm, a depression, and a low. It is not a tropical storm
or hurricane.
nitrogen: A colorless and odorless gas that occupies about 78 percent of dry air in the lower atmosphere.
outgassing: The release of gases dissolved in hot, molten rock.
oxygen: A colorless and odorless gas that occupies about 21 percent of dry air in the lower atmosphere.
ozone: An almost colorless gaseous form of oxygen with an odor similar to weak chlorine. The highest
natural concentration is found in the stratosphere where it is known as stratospheric ozone. It also forms
in polluted air near the surface where it is the main ingredient of photochemical smog. Here, it is called
tropospheric ozone.
pollutants: Any gaseous, chemical, or organic matter that contaminates the atmosphere, soil, or water.
radiosonde: A balloon-borne instrument that measures and transmits pressure, temperature, and humidity
to a ground-based receiving station.
stratosphere: The layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere and below the mesosphere (between 10
km and 50 km), generally characterized by an increase in temperature with height.
temperature inversion: An increase in air temperature with height, often simply called an inversion.
thermosphere: The atmospheric layer above the mesosphere (above about 85 km) where the temperature
increases rapidly with height.
thunderstorms: A convective storm (cumulonimbus cloud) with lightning and thunder. Thunderstorms
can be composed of an ordinary cell, multicells, or a rapidly rotating supercell
tornadoes: An intense, rotating column of air that often protrudes from a cumuliform cloud in the shape
of a funnel or a rope whose circulation is present on the ground.
tropopause: The boundary separating the troposphere from the stratosphere is called tropopause.
troposphere: The layer of the atmosphere extending from Earth’s surface up to the tropopause (about 10
km above the ground).
water vapor: Water in a vapor (gaseous) form. Also called moisture.
weather: The condition of the atmosphere at any particular time and place.
weather elements: The elements of air temperature, air pressure, humidity, clouds, precipitation,
visibility, and wind that determine the present state of the atmosphere, the weather.
wind: Air in motion relative to Earth’s surface.
wind direction: The direction from which the wind is blowing.
wind speed: The rate at which the air moves by a stationary object, usually measured in statute miles per
hour (mi/hr), nautical miles per hour (knots), kilometers per hour (km/hr), or meters per second (m/sec).
[return to top]
© 2024 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 4
accessible website, in whole or in part.
Atmosphere, 9e ©2024, 9780357857557; Chapter 1: Earth’s Atmosphere
Instructor Manual
C. Donald Ahrens and Robert Henson, Essentials of Meteorology: An Invitation to the Atmosphere, 9e
©2024, 9780357857557; Chapter 1: Earth’s Atmosphere
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Purpose and Perspective of the Chapter..................................................................................................2
Chapter Objectives....................................................................................................................................2
Complete List of Chapter Activities and Assessments............................................................................3
Key Terms..................................................................................................................................................3
What's New in This Chapter....................................................................................................................5
Chapter Outline.........................................................................................................................................5
Teaching Suggestions................................................................................................................................6
Student Projects.........................................................................................................................................7
Group Work...............................................................................................................................................8
Answers to Questions for Review.............................................................................................................8
Answers to Questions for Thought and Exploration.............................................................................11
Answers to Everyday Scenarios..............................................................................................................12
Additional Resources...............................................................................................................................13
External Videos or Playlist....................................................................................................................13
Appendix..................................................................................................................................................14
Generic Rubrics.....................................................................................................................................14
Standard Writing Rubric........................................................................................................................14
Standard Discussion Rubric...................................................................................................................15
© 2024 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 1
accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: C. Donald Ahrens and Robert Henson, Essentials of Meteorology: An Invitation to the
Atmosphere, 9e ©2024, 9780357857557; Chapter 1: Earth’s Atmosphere
PURPOSE AND PERSPECTIVE OF THE CHAPTER
The purpose of this chapter is to overview the Earth’s atmosphere and the many ways weather and
climate influence our lives. Students should look briefly at the weather map and a satellite image and
observe that dispersed throughout the atmosphere are storms and clouds of all sizes and shapes.
Students should learn that our atmosphere is one that is rich in nitrogen and oxygen as well as smaller
amounts of other gases, such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other greenhouse gases. Increased
concentrations of greenhouse gases from human activity are leading to global warming and other forms of
climate change.
Students find the various layers of the atmosphere: the troposphere (the lowest layer), where almost all
weather events occur, and the stratosphere, where ozone protects us from a portion of the sun’s harmful
rays. Above the stratosphere lies the mesosphere, where the air temperature drops dramatically with
height.
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
The following objectives are addressed in this chapter:
LO1 List three ways the scientific method can be applied to studying the atmosphere and weather.
LO2 Differentiate between weather and climate.
LO3 Interpret a weather map, applying storm types and concepts such as low pressure, high pressure,
and front.
LO4 List the positive and negative effects of climate and weather on human health, agriculture,
infrastructure, and the economy.
LO5 Outline the sequence of changes in nitrogen, oxygen, and water vapor over Earth’s history.
LO6 Explain the role of gases (including water vapor, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and other greenhouse
gases) and pollutants in Earth’s atmosphere.
LO7 Describe how air density and air pressure are determined and how they vary as you move upward
through Earth’s atmosphere.
LO8 Describe the layers of the atmosphere, including their altitudes, temperatures, compositions, and
functions.
[return to top]
COMPLETE LIST OF CHAPTER ACTIVITIES AND ASSESSMENTS
The following table organizes activities and assessments by objective, so that you can see how all this
content relates to objectives and make decisions about which content you would like to emphasize in your
class based on your objectives. For additional guidance, refer to the Teaching Online Guide.
© 2024 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 2
accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: C. Donald Ahrens and Robert Henson, Essentials of Meteorology: An Invitation to the
Atmosphere, 9e ©2024, 9780357857557; Chapter 1: Earth’s Atmosphere
Chapter PPT Slide Activity/Assessment Duration
Objective
LO1-LO8 N/A Knowledge Check 3–5 minutes
LO1-LO8 N/A Check Your Understanding 5–10 minutes
LO1, LO2 N/A Concept Visualizations 5–10 minutes
LO2, LO4 N/A Everyday Scenarios 10–20 minutes
LO1 8–9 Knowledge Check 1 2–3 minutes
LO3 18–19 Knowledge Check 2 2–3 minutes
LO4 24–25 Role-Play Activity 1 5–7 minutes
LO6 31–32 Self-Assessment 1 3–5 minutes
LO8 40–41 Discussion Activity 1 7–10 minutes
[return to top]
KEY TERMS
atmosphere: The envelope of gases that surround a planet and are held to it by the planet’s gravitational
attraction. Earth’s atmosphere is mainly nitrogen and oxygen.
aerosols: Tiny suspended solid particles (dust, smoke, etc.) or liquid droplets that enter the atmosphere
from either natural or human (anthropogenic) sources, such as the burning of fossil fuels. Sulfur-
containing fossil fuels, such as coal, produce sulfate aerosols.
air density: The ratio of the mass of a substance to the volume occupied by it. Air density is usually
expressed as g/cm3 or kg/m3.
air pressure: The pressure exerted by the mass of air above a given point, usually expressed in millibars
(mb), inches of mercury (Hg), or in hectopascals (hPa).
carbon dioxide: A colorless, odorless gas whose concentration is about 0.039 percent (390 ppm) in a
volume of air near sea level. It is a selective absorber of infrared radiation and, consequently, it is
important in Earth’s atmospheric greenhouse effect. Solid CO 2 is called dry ice.
climate: The accumulation of daily and seasonal weather events over a long period of time.
front: The transition zone between two distinct air masses.
hurricane: A tropical cyclone with sustained winds of at least 64 knots (74 mi/hr).
ionosphere: An electrified region of the upper atmosphere where fairly large concentrations of ions and
free electrons exist.
lapse rate: The rate at which an atmospheric variable (usually temperature) decreases with height.
mesosphere: The atmospheric layer between the stratosphere and the thermosphere. Located at an
average elevation between 50 and 80 km above Earth’s surface.
meteorology: The study of the atmosphere and atmospheric phenomena as well as the atmosphere’s
interaction with Earth’s surface, oceans, and life in general.
middle latitudes: The region of the world typically described as being between 30° and 50° latitude.
© 2024 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 3
accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: C. Donald Ahrens and Robert Henson, Essentials of Meteorology: An Invitation to the
Atmosphere, 9e ©2024, 9780357857557; Chapter 1: Earth’s Atmosphere
middle-latitude cyclonic storm: A cyclonic storm that most often forms along a front in middle and high
latitudes. Also called a middle-latitude cyclonic storm, a depression, and a low. It is not a tropical storm
or hurricane.
nitrogen: A colorless and odorless gas that occupies about 78 percent of dry air in the lower atmosphere.
outgassing: The release of gases dissolved in hot, molten rock.
oxygen: A colorless and odorless gas that occupies about 21 percent of dry air in the lower atmosphere.
ozone: An almost colorless gaseous form of oxygen with an odor similar to weak chlorine. The highest
natural concentration is found in the stratosphere where it is known as stratospheric ozone. It also forms
in polluted air near the surface where it is the main ingredient of photochemical smog. Here, it is called
tropospheric ozone.
pollutants: Any gaseous, chemical, or organic matter that contaminates the atmosphere, soil, or water.
radiosonde: A balloon-borne instrument that measures and transmits pressure, temperature, and humidity
to a ground-based receiving station.
stratosphere: The layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere and below the mesosphere (between 10
km and 50 km), generally characterized by an increase in temperature with height.
temperature inversion: An increase in air temperature with height, often simply called an inversion.
thermosphere: The atmospheric layer above the mesosphere (above about 85 km) where the temperature
increases rapidly with height.
thunderstorms: A convective storm (cumulonimbus cloud) with lightning and thunder. Thunderstorms
can be composed of an ordinary cell, multicells, or a rapidly rotating supercell
tornadoes: An intense, rotating column of air that often protrudes from a cumuliform cloud in the shape
of a funnel or a rope whose circulation is present on the ground.
tropopause: The boundary separating the troposphere from the stratosphere is called tropopause.
troposphere: The layer of the atmosphere extending from Earth’s surface up to the tropopause (about 10
km above the ground).
water vapor: Water in a vapor (gaseous) form. Also called moisture.
weather: The condition of the atmosphere at any particular time and place.
weather elements: The elements of air temperature, air pressure, humidity, clouds, precipitation,
visibility, and wind that determine the present state of the atmosphere, the weather.
wind: Air in motion relative to Earth’s surface.
wind direction: The direction from which the wind is blowing.
wind speed: The rate at which the air moves by a stationary object, usually measured in statute miles per
hour (mi/hr), nautical miles per hour (knots), kilometers per hour (km/hr), or meters per second (m/sec).
[return to top]
© 2024 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 4
accessible website, in whole or in part.
