Ch 15 Atmosphere Sec 15 1

1
Ch 15 Atmosphere Sec 15 - 1

• Atmosphere is the envelope of gases that surround
  the Earth. It is made up of Nitrogen 78,
  Oxygen 21, Carbon Dioxide, water vapor, and
  many other gases, as well as particles of
  liquids and solids.
• Weather is the daily conditions of the
  atmosphere, and the Ozone is made up of 3 oxygen
  atoms chemically combined to protect us from
  radiation.
• The atmosphere makes conditions on Earth suitable
  for living things by keeping it warm and
  containing gas to breathe and by protecting it
  from most meteors.

2
Air Pressure Sec 15 - 2

• Air Pressure is the weight of the atmosphere
  pushing down on the Earth. Density is the mass
  of air in a given volume. D M / V.
• Measuring air pressure is done with a barometer.
  There are 2 kinds
• Mercury similar to a thermometer, older
• Aneroid uses an airtight metal chamber, much
  more common today (pg 519)
• Altitude elevation above sea level. As altitude
  increases air pressure decreases.
• Density decreases as altitude increases also.
• The higher up a mountain you go, the less air
  pressure and the less density you have.

3
Layers Sec 15 - 3

• There are 4 main layers to the atmosphere, they
  are divided by temperature changes.
• Troposphere Weather occurs here, closest to the
  ground. 12 km in height.
• Stratosphere contains the ozone, extends up to
  about 50 km
• Mesosphere protects us from meteors, extends up
  to about 80km
• Thermosphere outermost layer, hottest layer,
  thinnest air. Extends from 80 up to 1000 plus km
• Ionosphere the bottom of the thermosphere.
  Where energy from the sun cause Northern and
  Southern light at the pole. (Aurora Borealis
  North) (pg 527)
• Exosphere extends from about 400km to
  thousands.

4
Air Quality Sec 15 - 4

• Some air pollution occurs naturally, but mostly
  from Humans. Some natural sources include forest
  fires, sold erosion, dust storms, etc.
• Human Pollution is mostly from burning of fossil
  fuels, such as oil, coal, and gasoline.
• Smog is a mix of fog and smoke - London.
• Photochemical smog a brown haze that develops
  in cities Los Angelos
• Acid Rain very acidy rain, from burning coal,
  that contains a lot of sulfur.
• Improving air quality is the job of the EPA.
  They monitor air pollution and keep track of it.