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Composition and Structure of Earth's Atmosphere

This chapter explores the origin, composition, and structure of Earth's atmosphere, including important gases, aerosols, and layers. It also discusses the role of weather, climate, and pollution in the atmosphere.

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Composition and Structure of Earth's Atmosphere

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  1. Chapter 2 Atmosphere: Origin, Composition and Structure

  2. Driving Question • What is the composition and structure of the atmosphere?

  3. Key Terms • Atmosphere – a thin envelope of gases that encircles the earth and other particles (aerosols) • Weather – the state of the atmosphere at a specific place and time • Meteorology – the study of the atmosphere and the processes that cause weather • Climate – weather conditions at some place averaged over a specific time period • Climatology – the study of the climate

  4. Various Models • Scientific Model – an approximate representation of a real system (Earth-Atmosphere System) • Conceptual • Graphical – weather map • Physical • Numerical – run by computers (used to predict weather) • All models simulate reality and are subject to error

  5. Primeval Atmosphere • Initially Hydrogen and Helium • Outgassing – release of gases from rock via volcanoes and meteorites • Added CO2, N2, water vapor, Ar, among others • Photosynthesis converts CO2 to O2 • Presence of O2 allowed ozone layer to form • Atmospheres of Venus and Mars are predominately CO2

  6. Modern Atmosphere • Homosphere – lowest 80km of the atmosphere where principal gas ratios remain relatively constant • Heterosphere – above 80km where concentrations of heavier gases decrease more rapidly

  7. Important Gases • Nitrogen (N2) ~ 78% • Oxygen (O2) ~ 21% • Argon (Ar) ~ 1% • Greenhouse Gases – trace amounts but important role on Earth • Water Vapor (H2O) ~ 0-4% • Carbon Dioxide (CO2) • Ozone (O3) • Methane (CH4)

  8. Aerosols • Tiny solid and liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere • Wind erosion of soil • Ocean spray • Forest fires • Volcanic eruptions • Agricultural and industrial activities

  9. Pollution • Air Pollutant – gas or aerosol that at a certain concentration adversely affects organisms and the environment • Natural pollutant: carbon monoxide • Non-natural pollutant: benzene • Primary – harmful immediately upon emission into atmosphere (car exhaust) • Secondary – results of chemical reactions between primary pollutants (smog)

  10. Gases in the atmosphere

  11. Monitoring the Atmosphere • Surface Observations • First done in 1800’s by Army Medical Corps - now run by the National Weather Service (NWS) • Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) • About 1700 across the US • Fully automated year round • NWS Cooperative Observer Network • About 8000 across the US • Monitored by volunteers with equipment supplied by NWS • Doppler Radar • About 113 operated by the NWS • Others operated by television stations, military, private companies

  12. Monitoring the Atmosphere • Upper Air Observations • Radiosonde – measuring device carried through the atmosphere by a weather balloon • Transmit data immediately • Balloons are launched simultaneously at 0000 and 1200 UTC • Data transmitted (temperature, pressure, dewpoint, wind) are plotted on a chart creating a sounding • Dropwindsonde – same thing except dropped by an airplane instead of launched by a balloon • Satellites

  13. The atmosphere is divided into several different concentric layers. This plot shows the variation in average air temperature with height.

  14. Layers of the Atmosphere • Troposphere • Layer at the surface • Layer where weather occurs (except some high clouds) • About 6km high at the poles and 20km at the equator • Temperature generally decreases with height • Tropopause – boundary between troposphere and stratosphere (average height near 12km)

  15. Layers of the Atmosphere • Stratosphere • About 40km thick (extends to an altitude near 50km) • Layer where airplanes fly (location of jet stream) • Layer where ozone is present • Temperature generally increases with height • Stratopause – boundary between stratosphere and mesosphere

  16. Pressure decreases exponentially with height. This means that the majority of the molecules that make up the atmosphere are in the lower layers. About 50% of the atmosphere's mass is within 6km of the surface and 99.9% is within 50km.

  17. Layers of the Atmosphere • Mesosphere • Base is about 50km above the surface • Temperature again decreases with height • Coldest layer of the atmosphere • Extends to the mesopause which is about 80km above the surface of the earth • Thermosphere • Extremely thin air (particles range from 1-10km apart) • Increasing temperature because first particles to receive sun’s energy • Estimated top is about 500km • Exosphere (outer space)

  18. Ionosphere • Base is about 70-80km above surface • Primarily located in the thermosphere • Home to a high concentration of ions and electrons • Location of the Aurora Borealis

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