AGRICULTURAL MECHANICS (W/TVET)

NAME: RON F. REANTASO

SECTION: BAT-1C

III. METHODOLOGY:

a. Different layers of atmosphere:

TROPOSPHER:
The Troposphere is the lowest layer of our
atmosphere. Starting at ground level, it extends
upward to about 10 km (6.2 miles or about 33,000
feet) above sea level. We humans live in the
troposphere, and nearly all weather occurs in this
lowest layer. Most clouds appear here, mainly
because 99% of the water vapor in the atmosphere
is found in the troposphere. Air pressure drops, and
temperatures get colder, as you climb higher in the
troposphere.

STRATOSPHERE:
The stratosphere extends from the top of the troposphere to about 50 km (31 miles) above the ground. The
infamous ozone layer is found within the stratosphere. Ozone molecules in this layer absorb high-energy
ultraviolet (UV) light from the Sun, converting the UV energy into heat. Unlike the troposphere, the
stratosphere actually gets warmer the higher you go! That trend of rising temperatures with altitude means that
air in the stratosphere lacks the turbulence and updrafts of the troposphere beneath. Commercial passenger jets
fly in the lower stratosphere, partly because this less-turbulent layer provides a smoother ride. The jet stream
flows near the border between the troposphere and the stratosphere.

MESOSPHERE:

Above the stratosphere is the Mesosphere. It extends upward to a height of about 85 km (53 miles) above our
planet. Most meteors burn up in the mesosphere. Unlike the stratosphere, temperatures once again grow colder
as you rise up through the mesosphere. The coldest temperatures in Earth's atmosphere, about -90° C (-130° F),
are found near the top of this layer. The air in the mesosphere is far too thin to breathe; air pressure at the
bottom of the layer is well below 1% of the pressure at sea level, and continues dropping as you go higher.
THERMOSPHERE:
The layer of very rare air above the mesosphere is called the Thermosphere. High-energy X-rays and UV
radiation from the Sun are absorbed in the thermosphere, raising its temperature to hundreds or at times
thousands of degrees. However, the air in this layer is so thin that it would feel freezing cold to us! In many
ways, the thermosphere is more like outer space than a part of the atmosphere. Many satellites actually orbit
Earth within the thermosphere! Variations in the amount of energy coming from the Sun exert a powerful
influence on both the height of the top of this layer and the temperature within it. Because of this, the top of the
thermosphere can be found anywhere between 500 and 1,000 km (311 to 621 miles) above the ground.
Temperatures in the upper thermosphere can range from about 500° C (932° F) to 2,000° C (3,632° F) or
higher. The aurora, the Northern Lights and Southern Lights, occur in the thermosphere.
EXOSPHERE:
The thermosphere is the uppermost layer of our atmosphere, others consider the Exosphere to be the actual
"final frontier" of Earth's gaseous envelope. As you might imagine, the "air" in the exosphere is very, very, very
thin, making this layer even more space-like than the thermosphere. In fact, air in the exosphere is constantly -
though very gradually - "leaking" out of Earth's atmosphere into outer space. There is no clear-cut upper
boundary where the exosphere finally fades away into space. Different definitions place the top of the
exosphere somewhere between 100,000 km (62,000 miles) and 190,000 km (120,000 miles) above the surface
of Earth. The latter value is about halfway to the Moon!
IONOSPHERE:
The Ionosphere is not a distinct layer like the others mentioned above. Instead, the ionosphere is a series of
regions in parts of the mesosphere and thermosphere where high-energy radiation from the Sun has knocked
electrons loose from their parent atoms and molecules. The electrically charged atoms and molecules that are
formed in this way are called ions, giving the ionosphere its name and endowing this region with some special
properties.
https://scied.ucar.edu/atmosphere-layers

b. Atmospheric Gases:
Gases Chemical Formula Percentage
1. NITROGEN N2 78%
2. OXYGEN O2 21%
3. ARGON Ar 0.93%
4. CARBON DIOXIDE CO2 0.04%
5. NEON Ne 0.0018%
6. HELIUM He 0.0005%
7. METHANE CH4 0.00017%
8. HYDROGEN H2 0.00005%
9. NITROUS OXIDE N2O 0.00003%
10. OZONE O3 0.000004%
11. WATER H2O 0 to 4%
http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/7a.html
 c. Classification of clouds and its structures:
http://www.cas.manchester.ac.uk/resactivities/cloudphysics/background/classification/
 Low Level Cloud (below 6,500ft)
Cumulus Cloud
These clouds usually form at altitudes between 1,000 and 5,000ft,
though often temperature rises after formation lead to an increase
in cloud base height. These clouds are generally formed by air
rising as a result of surface heating and may occasionally produce
light showers.

Stratus Cloud
Usually forms between the surface and 2,000ft, but cloud base can
be up to 4,000ft. Thick stratus can produce considerable
precipitation, particularly in hilly or coastal regions, though in
some cases this precipitation may be falling from higher clouds
such as nimbostratus. While thick stratus will obscure the sun or
moon, they are clearly visible through thin stratus.

Stratocumulus Cloud
This cloud often occurs at altitudes between 1,000 and 4,000ft,
though sometimes may be higher. While not generally producing
precipitation, these clouds may produce drizzle, particularly in
hilly or coastal areas, and may be thick enough to obscure the sun
or moon. These clouds consist entirely of liquid drops and are
often formed close to the top of the planetary boundary layer.

Cumulonimbus Cloud
Cloud base is typically between 2,000 and 5,000ft, though in some
cases this may be lower or higher. These clouds are formed when
conditions are such that deep convection is able to develop, and
may have a huge vertical extent particularly in the tropics,
sometimes reaching the tropopause. These clouds produce heavy
showers, thunderstorms and hail, often also producing squally
winds. At lower levels these clouds consist of liquid drops, but as
altitude increases the cloud progresses through mixed phase and
fully glaciated conditions. A fully developed cumulonimbus cloud
may have a classic anvil appearance as the upper levels of the
cloud spread out on reaching the tropopause. These systems may
produce a considerable amount of cirrus cloud as the anvil spreads
out.
Mid-Level Cloud (6,500ft to 20,000ft with temperature between 0 to -40c depending
on altitude and seasons, so may consist of warm or supercooled)

Altostratus Cloud
Cloud base ranges between 10,000 and 20,000ft. Thicker forms of these
clouds often produce continuous light precipitation and hide the sun or
moon, though thinner forms show the sun or moon with a ground glass
appearance.

Altocumulus Cloud
This type of cloud typically occurs between 6,500 and 20,000ft and is
generally broken in appearance, though can occasionally produce
precipitation and be thick enough to hide the sun or moon.

Nimbostratus Cloud
Cloud base ranges from the surface to 10,000ft. These clouds always hide
the sun or moon, and normally produce continuous precipitation which is
often moderate to heavy.

High Level Cloud (Base is usually above 20,000ft)

Cirrus Cloud
Base is typically between 20,000 and 40,000ft in the UK, and may be
considerably higher in the tropics. Cirrus clouds do not produce
precipitation which reaches the ground, though streaks of particles
(known as fall streaks) are often observed below these clouds. Various
halos and other optical effects may be produced by cirrus cloud. In some
cases these clouds are also thick enough to hide the sun. Cirrus clouds
typically form at temperatures below -40C and consist entirely of ice
particles.
 Cirrostratus Cloud
A thin high-level layer cloud, which often produce halos and through which the
outline of the sun is generally visible. These clouds are often the first visible
indication of an approaching weather front, and may progressively thicken to
altostratus and then nimbostratus with lowering of cloud base as the front
approaches.

Cirrocumulus Cloud
Typically found in a similar altitude range to cirrus, these clouds do not
produce precipitation and are usually more broken in appearance than
cirrus, with the position of the sun or moon being visible.

Other Types of Clouds:

Orographic Cloud
Formed as air is forced to rise over elevated terrain, cloud base is
dependent on prevailing conditions, but is similar in range to that of
other low-level clouds. Orographic cloud is often in contact with the
ground at the hill top. These clouds often do not produce precipitation,
but larger systems may produce drizzle. Heavier rain is generally due to
thicker cloud above. Orographic cloud may be liquid or ice depending
on prevailing conditions and terrain altitude.

Noctilucent Cloud
Very thin cloud composed of water ice. These clouds are the highest
clouds in the atmosphere, located in the mesosphere at an altitude of
approximately 280,000ft. They are only visible when illuminated by
light from below after the sun has gone below the horizon.

Polar Stratospheric
Cloud
Thin cloud composed of ice
particles located in the
stratosphere in polar regions.
This cloud may be at similar
altitudes to cirrus cloud due to the lower height of the tropopause at the
poles.