1. The Atmosphere
Earth’s atmosphere is a mixture of gases that distributes heat and enables life to exist on Earth

2. Composition
Earth’s Atmosphere is a mixture of gases that distributes heat and enables life to exist on Earth
Gases that make up the atmosphere :
Keep earth’s surface warm enough to have liquid water
Protect against dangerous radiation
Prevent Earth’s surface from getting hit by meteors or chunks of rock from space
Gases
Nitrogen 78%
Oxygen 21%
Other gases 1%
Water vapor <1%
Solids
Dust, volcanic ash, salt, dirt, smoke
Liquids
Water

3. Composition

4. Atmospheric Pressure & Temperature
Air pressure is the measure of the force with which air molecules push on a surface.
Air pressure is strongest at the Earth’s surface because more air is above you.
As altitude ( distance from sea level) increases, air pressure decreases
Air Temperature also changes as altitude increases due to the way solar energy is absorbed as it moves through the atmosphere
High % of gases that absorb solar energy= warmer
Less gases that absorb solar energy= cooler

5. Layers of the Atmosphere
Thermosphere: temperature increases; does not feel hot; outer most part of atmosphere; no definite outer limit
Mesosphere: middle layer; the coldest layer; most meteoroids burn up here, producing meteoroid trails
Stratosphere: gases are layered and don’t mix; contains the ozone layer; protects life by absorbing harmful UV radiation
Troposphere: layer in which we live; contains almost all of the weather, carbon dioxide, water vapor, clouds, air pollution, and life-forms

6. Atmospheric Heating

7. Energy in the Atmosphere
Earth and it’s atmosphere are warmed by energy from the sun.
We are going to discuss the three ways that this happens: radiation, conduction, and convection

8. Radiation: Energy Transfer by Waves
Radiation is the transfer of energy as electromagnetic waves
The earth receives only about 2 Billionths of the energy radiated by the sun, but it’ enough to drive the weather cycle and make life on earth possible

9. Conduction: Energy Transfer by Contact
Thermal Conduction is the transfer of thermal energy through a material by direct contact
Thermal energy is always transferred from warm to cold areas
When air molecules come into Direct Contact with the warm surface of earth, thermal energy is transferred to the atmosphere.

10. Convection: Energy Transfer by Circulation
convection is the transfer of thermal energy by the circulation or movement of a liquid or gas
Most thermal energy in the atmosphere is transferred by convection
As air is heated it becomes less dense and rise, Cool air is denser so it sinks, and as the cool air sinks it pushes the warm air up.
This cycle of warm air rising and cool air sinking causes a circular movement of air called a convection Current

11. Greenhouse Effect
Greenhouse effect: process in which gases in the atmosphere absorb thermal energy and radiate it back to Earth (water vapor, carbon dioxide)
Atmosphere acts as a greenhouse effect because the gases function like the glass walls and roof of a greenhouse. Allowing solar energy to enter but prevents thermal energy from escaping
Amount of energy Earth receives everyday from the sun is balanced by the amount of energy Earth radiates back into save
(radiation balance)

12. The Greenhouse Effect

13. Greenhouse Gases and Global Warming
Global Warming is the gradual increase in average global temperature
Human activity, such as burning of fossil fuels, and deforestation, may be increasing the levels of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, in the atmosphere
If global warming temperatures continue to rise, it could disrupt global climate patterns