Download The Atmosphere

The Atmosphere
Ag Science
The Atmosphere
• The atmosphere is a layer of gases and
tiny particles that surrounds the earth
• The study of the atmosphere is called
meteorology
–
Meteorologists study
• Weather- the general condition of the
•
atmosphere at a particular time and place
Climate- general weather conditions over many
years
Composition of the Atmosphere
• Most abundant gases
–
–
–
Nitrogen = 77%
Oxygen = 21%
Argon = .93%
Composition of the Atmosphere
• Most abundant compounds
–
Carbon Dioxide- from volcanoes and human
activity
–
Water Vapor- from photosynthesis and
transpiration
Layers of the Atmosphere
• There are 4 different
layers
• Their atmosphere is
based on
temperature
differneces
Troposhere
• The layer closest the earths surface.
(The Weather Layer)
• Where most all water vapors & carbon
dioxide is found
• Temperature decrease as altitude
increases.
• Tropopause: zone at the top of the
troposphere
Stratophere (aka the ozone layer)
• Atmospheric layer that extends up from
the tropopause
• Almost all of the ozone is concentrated
here.
• As altitude increases, temperature
increase slightly
• Heated by UV absorption
• Stratopause zone at the upper boundary
Mesophere
• Atmospheric layer above the
stratopause.
• The Coldest Layer, dropping to a
temperature of –90 degrees C
• Temperature decreases as altitude
increase
• Mesopause: upper zone above the
mesosphere.
Thermosphere
•
Atmospheric layer above the Mesopause
•
Temperature increase with altitude.
•
Air is so thin, no temperature is known
•
Heated by UV absorption
•
Lonosphere: lower region of the atmosphere
•
Exosphere: the zone of indefinite altitude
(outer most)