GEOG-120 Lecture Notes - Lecture 23: Soot, Thermosphere, Radiant Intensity
22 Dec 2020
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Document Summary
Atmosphere is a thin layer of gasses that surrounds the earth it consists of 78% nitrogen gas, 21% oxygen gas and 1% argon gas & several other gases of minute concentrations. Four layers: troposphere > blankets earth;s surface and gives us air we need; thin layer but contains 3/4 of mass since air is denser; temperature declines. 6 degrees celsius each km in altitude reach -52 degrees celsius. Stratosphere >11-50 km above sea level; 1000x as dry and dense; since little vertical mixing occurs, once pollutants or anything enters it, it remains for a long time. Ozone layer reduces the amount of uv radiation that reaches earth"s surface. Mesosphere > 50-80km above sea level; air pressure is low and temperature decreases as altitude increases thermosphere >top layer of about 500km altitude. Atmospheric pressure it the force per unit of area produced by a column of air.
