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Atmospheric Structure and Composition

Atmospheric Structure and Composition. Atmosphere: The thin envelope of gases surrounding the earth Highly compressible Density decreases rapidly with height Air: A mechanical mixture of gases and aerosols. Definitions. Vertical Structure of Atmosphere. Troposphere (surface to 8-20 km)

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Atmospheric Structure and Composition

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  1. Atmospheric Structure and Composition

  2. Atmosphere:The thin envelope of gases surrounding the earth Highly compressible Density decreases rapidly with height Air:A mechanical mixture of gases and aerosols Definitions

  3. Vertical Structure of Atmosphere • Troposphere (surface to 8-20 km) Upper boundary varies from about 8 km (poles in winter) to about 20 km (tropics) Weather and climate layer Most of atmosphere’s mass; all of its water

  4. Vertical Structure of Atmosphere • Troposphere (surface to about 8-20 km) Upper boundary varies from about 8 km (poles in winter) to about 20 km (tropics) Weather and climate layer Most of atmosphere’s mass; all of its water • Stratosphere (8-20 km up to about 50 km) Ozone (O3) Layer Temperature inversion

  5. Vertical Structure (ctd.) • Mesosphere (50-80 km) • Temperature decreases with height. Why? • Thermosphere (80-? km) • Temperature inversion. Why?

  6. Vertical Structure (ctd.) • Homospherevs. Heterosphere

  7. Vertical Structure (ctd.) • Homospherevs. Heterosphere • Transition zones between layers • Tropopause • Stratopause • Mesopause

  8. Defining Layers by Function – the Ozonosphere • Roughly corresponds to the stratosphere • How does the ozone layer work? • Why is there a “hole” in the ozone layer? • Why no “hole” where the pollution is produced?

  9. Defining Layers by Function – the Ionosphere • Upper mesosphere + thermosphere • Produces the aurora borealis and aurora australis • D Layer – absorbs AM radio waves; disappears at night • E Layer – weakens at night • F Layer – reflects AM radio waves

  10. Composition of the Air • Uniform gases Nitrogen (N2) 78%, (O2) 21%, Argon (Ar) 1%, trace gases (Neon, Helium, Methane (CH4), etc.) • Variable gases Water Vapor (H2Ov), O3, CO2

  11. Composition (ctd.) • Aerosols Solid: Ice/salt crystals, soil particles, volcanic dust Condensation nuclei Liquid: Water droplets (cloud, fog)

  12. Origin of the Atmosphere • Volcanoes release H2, CO2, H2Ov, N2, NH3, CH4 No O2 or O3, so no land organisms! • One-celled aquatic organisms release CO2 to atmosphere when breaking down food through fermentation • Simple aquatic plants took in CO2 and released O2 to atmosphere via photosynthesis O3 formed from the O2

  13. Origin of Atmosphere (ctd) • CO2 gets stored in shells and decaying plants • N2 builds up in atmosphere

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