Geography 2131A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Ozone Layer, Ionosphere, Sunburn
30 Mar 2017
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Document Summary
Layer of air extending from the surface to 60 000 km above the earth. Sun"s heat keeps the atmosphere in motion. Can be classified by composition, temperature or function. > 80-100 km above the surface: variable composition. From surface to 80-100 km o: uniform composition o. 3 components - constant gases, variable gases, impurities. Impurities (aerosols) - smoke, dust, bacteria, plant spores, salt crystals. Location of ionization - free electrons and molecules that have lost or gained electrons. Important for radio, television, and satellite communications. Absorbs uv radiation to protect us from excessive qualities that can cause severe sunburn, blindness, and skin cancers. Extracted from atmosphere by inhalation or by oxidation. Bacteria extract nitrogen from air/soil and convert it into other forms of nitrogen. Removed from the atmosphere via respiration, oxidation or absorption into water. Released via respiration, decay, burning of fossil fuels. Continuum of energy as measured by wavelength, from high-energy shortwave radiation to low- energy longwave radiation.
