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The Atmosphere

The Atmosphere. Composition of the Atmosphere. Weather – the condition of the Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place Atmosphere – the envelope of gases that surrounds the planet What is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere??????. Composition of the atmosphere.

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The Atmosphere

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  1. The Atmosphere

  2. Composition of the Atmosphere • Weather – the condition of the Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place • Atmosphere – the envelope of gases that surrounds the planet • What is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere??????

  3. Composition of the atmosphere

  4. Nitrogen – most abundant gas (> 3/4th ) • Nitrogen has two nitrogen atoms (N-N) • Oxygen – second most abundant gas (< 1/4th) • Plants and animals take oxygen directly from air • Fuels use oxygen to burn • Oxygen has two oxygen molecules (O-O • Ozone has three oxygen molecules (O-O-O) Oxygen and Nitrogen make up 99% of dry air

  5. Trace gases • Carbon Dioxide – • Essential to life (Plants) • Fuels release CO2 when they burn

  6. Other things in atmosphere • Water vapor – water in the form of gas • Invisible • Amount varies from place to place • Clouds form when water vapor condenses out of the air • Particles • Dust, smoke, salt and other chemicals

  7. Air Pressure • Does Air Have Mass? • Find the mass of an inflated balloon and deflated balloon

  8. Properties of Air • Density – the amount of mass in a given volume of air • Pressure – the force pushing on an area or surface • Air pressure is the result of the weight of a column of air pushing down on an air. Why doesn’t air pressure crush you??????

  9. Measuring air pressure • Barometer – measures air pressure • Mercury barometer • Aneroid barometer – “without liquid” • Metal chamber is sensitive to air pressure • Air pressure increases ~wall push in • Air pressure decreases ~ wall bulge out

  10. Units of air pressure • Weather reports use inches of mercury • If the column of mercury in mercury barometer is 30 inches high ~ air pressure is 30 inches. • Falling = precipitation • Rising = clearing

  11. NWS indicates air pressure in millibars • 1 inch of mercury = about 33.87 millibars • 30 in of mercury = 1,016 millibars

  12. Altitude- distance above sea level • Air pressure decreases as altitude increases • Air pressure decreases, density decreases Why is it harder to breathe in higher altitudes?

  13. Since air is less dense at higher altitudes, there are fewer oxygen molecules to breathe in than at sea level

  14. Effects of Air Pollution on Human Health

  15. Sources of Pollution • Natural Sources • Human Activities

  16. Smog and Acid Rain • Burning of fossil fuels can cause smog and acid rain • London-Type Smog- • Burning of coal combines with water droplets • Photochemical Smog- brown haze that develops in sunny cities. • Reaction of sunlight on pollutants to form brownish mixture of ozone and other pollutants • Acid Rain – rain that contains more acid • Burning of coal containing sulfur

  17. Improving Air Quality • EPA – Environmental Protection Agency • Passed laws and regulations to reduce air pollution Has our air quality generally improved or gotten worse over the past 30 years????

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