ATMOSPHERE NOTES September 2, 2015

What is weather?  Weather is the condition of Earth’s atmosphere at a specific time and place.

What is atmosphere?  Atmosphere is the layer of gases that surround the planet.

Do we need the atmosphere?  YES!  Contains oxygen and other gases living things need  Traps energy from the sun so it doesn’t get too cold or too hot  Protects the Earth from meteoroids and other chunks of rock in space

What is the atmosphere made of?  Gases like nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapor, and others  Tiny particles like dust and dirt

Nitrogen (78%)  # 1 most abundant gas in the atmosphere A little more than ¾ of the air we breathe  We need nitrogen to grow and repair the cells in our bodies

Oxygen (21%)  # 2 most abundant gas in the atmosphere A little less than ¼ of the air we breathe  You need oxygen to burn a fire  Ozone is a special kind of oxygen found in the atmosphere

Carbon Dioxide (less than 1%)  Plants take in carbon dioxide to produce food  Animals and burning a fire release carbon dioxide

Other Gases (less than 1%)  These gases are called trace gases because only small amounts of them are present

Water Vapor (less than 1%)  Air is not totally dry  Water vapor is water in the form of a gas and is invisible  Forms clouds and precipitation