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The Atmosphere
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Characteristics All gases that surround the Earth, called air
Altitude extends to ~80 km above the surface Most abundant elements: nitrogen, oxygen, argon Most abundant compounds: Carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapor (H2O) Characteristics
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Nitrogen Cycle - moves nitrogen from the air, to soil, to plants and animals, and back to air.
Nitrogen is removed from the air by nitrogen-fixing bacteria that live in the soil and on plant roots Why all that Nitrogen?
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Ozone A molecule with 3 oxygen atoms
Absorbs harmful UV radiation from the sun Chlorofluorocarbons, or CFC’s, break down ozone Ozone
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Layers of the Atmosphere
Troposphere – where most weather occurs; most H20 and CO2 is here Stratosphere – includes the ozone layer Mesosphere – where meteorites burn up Thermosphere - high energy rays from the sun are absorbed by N2 and O2 here; hottest layer Exosphere - Molecules from atmosphere escape into space; satellites orbit here. Layers of the Atmosphere
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The gases in Earth’s atmosphere slow the escape of energy that radiates from Earth’s surface.
Gases: carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, nitrous oxide, fluorocarbons Some heat escapes into space Greenhouse gases trap some heat Sunlight Earth’s Surface Atmosphere The Greenhouse Effect
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