Atmosphere

layer of gases

-protects life on earth-blanket of air-reaches to approximately 1000 km

Atmospheric layer

-consists of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% of other gases (helium, neon, and ozone)

-nitrogen-oxygen-argon

STRUCTURE OF THE ATMOSPHERE

Exosphere

- outermost layer of Earth's atmosphere

- merges with the emptiness of outer space

- hydrogen and helium

1. Exosphere

- second-highest layer of Earth's atmosphere

- lower part contains the thermosphere

- completely cloudless and free of water vapor

- high as 1,727˚C

2. Thermosphere

3.Mesosphere

- third highest layer of Earth's atmosphere

- coldest place on earth - mesopause separates the mesosphere from the next layer

- low as -93˚C

4. Stratosphere - the second-lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere

- dry, clean, cold and less dense - contains the ozone layer - temperatures rise with increasing altitude

- increases gradually to -3˚C

5. Troposphere - lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere

- 17 to -52˚C - bounded above by the tropopause, a boundary marked by stable temperatures

- temperature usually declines with increasing altitude

Other layers :

•Ozone layer - contained within the stratosphere

- in the lower portion of the stratosphere

•Ionosphere - region of the atmosphere that is ionized by solar radiation

- overlaps the atmosphere

Greenhouse Effect

- capture and recycle energy- water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, troposheric ozone, fluorocarbons

Weather and Climate

Weather – specific condition of the atmosphere over a short period of time

- temperature, humidity, precipitation, cloudiness, visibility, wind

Climate – general pattern of the weather

Weather Patterns and Irregularities

1) Global Winds - uneven heating produces global circulation patterns

2) Air Masses - drive large bodies of air

3) Fronts - location where two air masses

4) Jet Streams - high in the atmosphere, narrow bands of strong wind

5) Coriolis Effect - global winds do not move in straight lines