EOSC 116 Chapter Notes - Chapter D: Jet Stream, Southern Railway Multiple Unit Numbering And Classification, Atacama Desert
8 Dec 2015
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Tuesday, october 20, 2015. Thin envelope of gases that surrounds the earth system. Driven by the energy from the sun. Difference between weather and climate. State of the atmosphere at a given time and space. Average weather conditions of an area. Longer- term state of the atmosphere measured over a period of years. Radiation from sun - > clouds, rain and storms. Earth"s tilt - > responsible for seasons. Nitrogen + oxygen + argon = 99. 96% of the total dry air. Nitrogen = 78% of earth"s atmosphere. However, it is only found in 0. 002% of all other earth materials. Geological materials that contain nitrogen are somewhat unstable and readily release their nitrogen. Nitrogen tend to not react with other materials. Other minor gases = carbon dioxide, water, methane, ozone and various nitrogen oxides. Include greenhouse gases = greenhouse effect. Helps absorb some incoming solar radiation. Single oxygen atoms absorb shortwave ultraviolet radiation. Oxygen molecules absorb the intermediate wavelength uv.
