11:375:101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Tropospheric Ozone, Ozone Layer, Sulfur Dioxide
30 Nov 2018
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Document Summary
Atmosphere - a thin layer of gases that surrounds earth. Contains 4 layers that differ in temperature, density, and composition. Troposphere - air movement and chemicals affect weather and climate. Takes up 75%-80% of the earth"s air mass. Composed of 78% of nitrogen and 21% of oxygen. Similar in composition to troposphere except it has less water vapor, higher concentration of ozone. Ozone layer filters 95% of harmful uv rays and allows life to exist on land. Air pollution - presence of chemicals in the atmosphere. Concentrations are high enough to harm organisms, ecosystems, or alter earth"s climate. Hundreds of millions of tons of dust carried by trade winds. Blows west from africa to the americas. Particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and other gases. Can remain in the atmosphere for months to years. Reflect sunlight back into space and cool the atmosphere and surface. Over 150 million acres of forests and grasslands burn per year.
