GEOG101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Ultraviolet, Inert Gas, Polar Vortex
13 Feb 2018
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Document Summary
Air (atmosphere) is a mixture of gases and particles: mainly nitrogen and oxygen, completely surround earth, held to the surface by gravity, most of mass concentrated at very low altitudes, supports life on earth. Composition of atmosphere: permanent gases are unvarying. Nitrogen: over 78% and kept in balance by life and geologic processes. Oxygen: over 20% largely a result of photosynthesis. Argon: nearly 15% and is an inert gas. Permanent gases have minimal effect on weather and climate: ** variable gases of small, variable quantity ** Water vapor: total amount nearly constant, but varies by location. signi cant effect on weather and climate. Carbon dioxide: signi cant in uence on climate. concentration increasing steadily for last century with increased burning of fossil fuels. Ozone: molecule made up of 3 oxygen atoms. concentrated in ozone layer. excellent absorber of ultraviolet radiation. Vertical structure of atmosphere: thermal layers and vertical temperature patterns.
