GGY 130 1st Edition Lecture 3Current LectureChapter 3: Introduction to the Atmosphere Atmosphere Provides oxygen and carbon dioxide Helps maintain water supplies Protects Earth from harmful radiation Size of Earth’s Atmosphere Goes outward more than 10,000 kilometers from the Earth’s surface More than 50% of the total mass of Earth’s atmosphere is within 6 kilometers of Earth’s surface Also extends downwards (ie caves) Composition of Atmosphere Two primary gas types: Permanent:- Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Argon- Traces others including Neon, Helium, Methane, and Hydrogen- Don’t affect weather Variable:- Water vapor, Carbon dioxide, and Ozone - Does affect weather Particulates: nongaseous particulates in the atmosphere These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute. Some are human-induced and others are naturally occurring Many are hygroscopic which means they can absorb water and, therefore, form clouds Some reflect sunlight or absorb sunlight Affect the weather A LOT! Vertical Structure of the Atmosphere Thermal Layers: Troposphere: lowest 8-18 kilometers - Temperature decreases with height - Where weather occurs- Depth of layer is not uniform; this layer is dynamically unstable- “Heated from below” – warmth from the Earth’s surface is this layer’s heat source Stratosphere: 18-48 kilometers - “Stagnant air”; this layer is stable- Temperature increases with height- Airliners like to cruise in the lower stratosphere to avoid bad weather and turbulence- The heat source of this layer is the Ozone layer Mesosphere: 48-80 kilometers - Temperature decreases with height - Meteorites are seen Thermosphere: 80+ kilometers - Temperature increases with height - Space shuttles orbit the Earth in this layer- HOT! – can reach temperatures of up to 1500*C - Auroras are seen in this layer*Auroras are the collision of charged particles moved by the Earth’s
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