Chapter 1 Introduction to the Atmosphere The Atmosphere 9e Lutgens

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Chapter 1Introduction to the AtmosphereThe
Atmosphere 9eLutgens Tarbuck
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Where did the atmosphere come from?What is the
atmosphere?
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The first Atmosphere

• Mostly H and He like the rest of the universe.
• The sun was not as hot and the Earth was just
  forming.
• As the sun heated up the light gases were
  boiled away to space.

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The Second atmosphere

• Outgassing of water, N2 and CO2 by volcanic
  activity
• Accretion of asteroids and debris contributed
  some material.
• The water, nitrogen and carbon dioxide increased
  as the H and He decreased.

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The modern atmosphere

• Photosynthesis (2bya) drew down CO2 and
  increased O2.
• AS O2 increase the ozone layer formed.
• Nitrogen was fairly inert and heavy so it was
  left behind.
• Mostly Nitrogen, with some oxygen and a little
  CO2 and water.
• Other minor playerstrace gases

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The Future???

• Increasing CO2 ?
• Runaway greenhouse effect ?
• Global warming ?
• Acid rain ?
• Destroy the ozone layer ?
• Other anthropogenic effects?

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We will study the atmosphere as A Part of the
Earth System
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A system consisting of five spheres

• Lithosphere
• Atmosphere
• Hydrosphere
• Cryosphere
• Biosphere

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Basic Elementsof Weather Climate

• Temperature
• Humidity
• Clouds (Sun)
• Precipitation
• Pressure
• Wind

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Temperature
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Temperature Data
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The Water Planet
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Composition of the Atmosphere
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Carbon Dioxide
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Modern technology has greatly affected our
understanding of weather and our ability to
predict weather.
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Ozone Hole
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Structure of the Atmosphere
Weather-sphere
Thermal Structure
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Pressure Decreases with Altitude
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Questions ??