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Atmospheric Basics

Atmospheric Basics. Chapter 11.1 Earth/Environmental Science WZPP ees. Atmospheric Composition. Air is a combination of many gases The atmosphere extends from the Earth’s surface to outer space About 99% of the atmosphere is made of nitrogen and oxygen, With small amounts of other gases.

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Atmospheric Basics

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  1. Atmospheric Basics Chapter 11.1 Earth/Environmental Science WZPP ees

  2. Atmospheric Composition • Air is a combination of many gases • The atmosphere extends from the Earth’s surface to outer space • About 99% of the atmosphere is made of nitrogen and oxygen, • With small amounts of other gases WZPP ees 11.1

  3. Key Atmospheric Gases • The amount of water vapor can vary from zero to as much as 4% of the atmosphere. • The percent varies with the • Seasons • Altitude of a particular air mass • Surface features under the air WZPP ees 11.1

  4. Key Atmospheric Gases • Carbon dioxide and water vapor • Regulates the amount of energy the atmosphere absorbs • When water changes from one state to another (solid  liquid  gas) • Heat is either absorbed or released • Which affects atmospheric motions • Weather patterns • Climates WZPP ees 11.1

  5. Solids in the atmosphere • Dust & salt • Used in cloud formation • Ice & snow WZPP ees 11.1

  6. Structure of the Atmosphere • Is made of different layers • Layers differ in • composition • temperature WZPP ees 11.1

  7. Solar Fundamentals • The sun is the source of all energy in the atmosphere • Is transferred to Earth by • Radiation WZPP ees 11.1

  8. Troposphere • Is the layer closest to Earth NASA chart WZPP ees 11.1

  9. Troposphere • Has the most mass of the atmosphere • Has the most weather • The most pollution • There is a general decrease in temperature from the bottom to the top WZPP ees 11.1

  10. NASA chart WZPP ees 11.1

  11. Tropopause • Is the upper limit of the troposphere • Is the point where the temperature stops decreasing • Varies in height • 9 km at the poles • 16 km at the equator WZPP ees 11.1

  12. Stratosphere • Is a layer of concentrated ozone • Ozone absorbs more ultraviolet radiation than air • The stratosphere increases in temperature • From -60 ºC to about 0 ºC WZPP ees 11.1

  13. Stratopause • Is about 50 km above the Earth’s surface NASA chart WZPP ees 11.1

  14. Mesosphere • Has No concentrated ozone • The temperature decreases again • From about 0 ºC to -90 Cº WZPP ees 11.1

  15. Mesopause • Is the boundary between the mesosphere and thermosphere • At 80 km above the Earth's surface WZPP ees 11.1

  16. Thermosphere • Has only a very small portion of the Earth’s atmosphere • The temperature of the air does increase to 1000 ºC • Molecules are far apart from one another WZPP ees 11.1

  17. Ionosphere • Is part of the thermosphere • Has electrically charged particles • Layers of progressively lighter gases NASA- Aurora borealis WZPP ees 11.1

  18. Exosphere • Is the outer most layer of the atmosphere • Made of lighter gases of helium & hydrogen • There is no clear boundary between the atmosphere and space • There is just fewer and fewer molecules WZPP ees 11.1

  19. How to remember the order of the layers to the atmosphere • Troposphere • Stratosphere • Mesosphere • Thermosphere • Exosphere • Track • Small • Meters • Through • Earth WZPP ees 11.1

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