Atmosphere (5)

Factors affecting air pressure

1.-Height above Earth surface (altitude) 2.-Volume 3.-Temperature. As temperature increases, air pressure decrease. 4.-Amount of Water Vapor. Humidity increases -> air pressure decreases

oxygen

21%, or 1/5, of the Earth's atmosphere is made of this gas

nitrogen

78%, or 4/5, of the Earth's atmosphere is made of this gas

cirrus clouds

Clouds that form at the HIGHEST altitudes between 6-13 km. Highest that the highest mountain, Everest at 8,850 m.

Atmosphere

The layer of air that surrounds the Earth. This blanket of air is a mixture of gases, around 4/5 Nitrogen and 1/5 Oxigen plus some other ones (less than 1%). The atmosphere is around 310 miles thick.

Volume

Volume is a measure of how much space an object takes up. As the volume increases, the air pressure DECREASES.

stratosphere

the layer that exists between around 20 to 50 miles above the earth. It contains the ozone layer.

thermosphere

this is the hottest layer of the atmosphere, averaging 980 degrees Celcius (1796 deg. F). Up to 310 miles. This layer helps to absorb some radiation from the Sun

Layers of the atmosphere

The atmosphere forms 5 layers of gases around Earth, starting from the closer to us: 1.-Troposphere (0-8km thick). Where we live 2.-Stratosphere (around 8-50km) 3.-Mesosphere: 50-80km 3.-Thermosphere (80-640 km) 4.-Exosphere (640-100km)

carbon dioxide

Animals produce this gas which is necessary for plants to survive.

Barometer

Barometer is an instrument that is used to measure atmospheric pressure. 2 kinds: 1.-Mercury barometer: measures the pressure of air on a airtight tube of mercury. 2.-Aneroid barometer:measures changes in the size of airtight container.

greenhouse effect

Gasses in the atmosphere trap heat around the earth. This is called the ________________.

Altitude

Height above Earth Surface. The atmospheric/air pressure, DECREASES with higher altitude.

humidity

Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air.

air pressure

The FORCE put on a give area by the WEIGHT OF THE AIR ABOVE IT is called air pressure or atmospheric pressure. At see level air pressure =1.05 kg per square cm. We do not feel it because atmospheric pressure pushes in all directions and balance each other.

Troposphere

The layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth. This is where we find clouds, rain, snow, hail, and most WEATHER. Contains 99% of the air in the atmosphere. All of the organisms of the Earth exists in the troposphere.

ozone

This layer of O(3) protects living things from the sun's harmful radiation

photosynthesis

This process began about 2.5 billion years ago when some cells gained the ability to capture sunlight to create energy. These cells released oxygen as waste, allowing animals eventually breathe and live.

temperature inversion

When cool air gets trapped under warm air. This also causes pollution to get trapped.

Exosphere

Where the atmosphere merges into space.