DOC PREVIEW
UNCW GGY 130 - Introduction to Atmosphere

This preview shows page 1 out of 3 pages.

Save
View full document
View full document
Premium Document
Do you want full access? Go Premium and unlock all 3 pages.
Access to all documents
Download any document
Ad free experience
Premium Document
Do you want full access? Go Premium and unlock all 3 pages.
Access to all documents
Download any document
Ad free experience

Unformatted text preview:

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


View Full Document

UNCW GGY 130 - Introduction to Atmosphere

Download Introduction to Atmosphere
Our administrator received your request to download this document. We will send you the file to your email shortly.
Loading Unlocking...
Login

Join to view Introduction to Atmosphere and access 3M+ class-specific study document.

or
We will never post anything without your permission.
Don't have an account?
Sign Up

Join to view Introduction to Atmosphere 2 2 and access 3M+ class-specific study document.

or

By creating an account you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use

Already a member?