Post on 18-Jan-2016
23.1 Characteristics of the Atmosphere
Composition of the Atmosphere
• What is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere???
• NITROGEN
• Another gas that is not shown in the graph is water vapor.
• Water vapor fluctuates due to evaporation, transpiration, and condensation.
Journal:
What do you know about ozone?
Ozone in the Atmosphere
O3, Ozone
• Absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation
• Ultraviolet Radiation is harmful because it causes damage to our cells (UV A and UV B)
Destruction of the Ozone Layer
• Compounds called Chlorofluorocarbons, CFCs, and nitrogen oxide break down ozone.
Journal:
• What are the possible effects of continued breakdown of the ozone layer? (support your response by explaining why you think this might happen)
Oxygen in the Atmosphere
Nitrogen in the Atmosphere
Atmospheric Pressure• Pressure air = Force air / surface area• Gravity pulls the gasses of the atmosphere
toward the Earth’s surface
Measuring Atmospheric Pressure• Barometer: measures atmospheric pressure
– Mercurial Barometer: atmospheric pressure presses down on liquid mercury raising the mercury in a tube.
Measuring Atmospheric Pressure• Barometer: measures atmospheric pressure
– Aneroid Barometer: atmospheric pressure causes a vacuum sealedchamber to collapse under atmospheric pressure. Changes are indicated by a pointer
Layers of the atmosphere
Does temperature change in the layers of the atmosphere?
How does temperature change with each layer?
Layers of the Atmosphere
• Layers of the atmosphere are identified based on temperature differences
Layers of the Atmosphere
• Troposphere: Closest to earth’s surface– Where all weather
changes occur– Temp. decreases with
increasing altitude
Layers of the Atmosphere
• Stratosphere: Extends from the Troposphere to 50 km– Temperature increases
with increasing altitude– The ozone layer is found
here– Stratopause: upper
boundary with the highest temperature
Layers of the Atmosphere
• Mesosphere: From 50 km to 80 km above earth’s surface– Temperature decreases
with increasing altitude– Coldest layer of the
atmosphere
Layers of the Atmosphere
• Thermosphere: From 80 km – Temperature increases
with increasing altitude– Nitrogen and oxygen absorb
solar energy– Ionosphere: 80km – 550km,
reflect radio waves– Exosphere: above 550 km,
blends into space
Air Pollution
• Air Pollutants: substances in the air that are harmful to plants, animals, water systems, ozone layer– Examples: Sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, lead,
hydrocarbons
• What is the source of air pollutants?– Burning of fossil fuels
The Effects of Air Pollution• Acid Precipitation
The Effects of Air Pollution• Temperature Inversions
Layers of the atmosphere activity.