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Atmospheric Science: EP & FC Assessment

Atmospheric Science: EP & FC Assessment. Session #8, November 29, 2007. With votes from Marlene Kaplan & David Herring NOAA & NASA. 1. Earth has a thin atmosphere that sustains life. Atmosphere is a mixture of gases with minute quanities of liquid and solid particles

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Atmospheric Science: EP & FC Assessment

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  1. Atmospheric Science:EP & FC Assessment Session #8, November 29, 2007 With votes from Marlene Kaplan & David Herring NOAA & NASA

  2. 1. Earth has a thin atmosphere that sustains life • Atmosphere is a mixture of gases with minute quanities of liquid and solid particles • The atmosphere has mass and is bound to Earth by gravity • The atmosphere varies vertically and horizontally • its structure, temperature differences, and composition give rise to dynamics • Atmospheric composition is greatly affected by byproducts of life such as, oxygen produced by photosynthesis • Life is continually shaped by, and is dependent upon, the atmosphere. • The atmosphere protects living things from harmful solar rays & space debris. • RED: The origin of life was enabled by early atmos. Composition.

  3. 2. Solar energy drives many atmospheric process • The atmosphere receives energy from the sun, some of which is absorbed, some reflected, and some transmitted to the surface. • Solar energy is transformed into other forms of energy. • Energy imbalances create movement in the atmosphere and ocean. • Incoming solar energy is not constant. • Solar variability • Orbital mechanics vary over time • Variation in exposure to sunlight causes the seasons • Solar energy drives chemical reactions in the atmosphere • Atmospheric gases are selective absorbers of radiation (e.g. Greenhouse Effect) • At the Earth’s surface, there is net radiational heating. (NOTE: we like but wording is awkward)

  4. 7. The atmosphere and humans are inextricably linked • Humans and our quality of life, depend on the atmosphere (NOTE: the EP focuses on humans, in this case, whereas “Life” is covered by an earlier EP.) • Human economy and planning activities are based on short-term weather forecasts and long-term expectations of climate. • Human activities alter the atmosphere, affecting human health, weather, and climate • Decisions we make can have a positive impact on our future health, weather and climate • Humans can sometimes be adversely impacted by atmospheric processes (e.g., severe weather, air pollution) • RED: The interconnected relationship between humans and the atmosphere is complex and difficult to isolate. (NOTE: contains no real information) • • RED: Weather & climate affect the viability …

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