GEOG 2050 Chapter : Earth S Atmosphere
Document Summary
Bounded by gravity as far as 32,000 km from earth. Air: simple mixture of gases that is naturally odorless, colorless, and tasteless: exosphere: outer space less dense atmosphere. Atmospheric density: density= mass/volume: decreases with height due to the effect of gravity, warm air is less dense than cold because the molecules are more spread apart, at sea level the average pressure is 1013. 25 mb. Homosphere: exists from the surface to 80 km altitude: gases well mixed, vast reservoir of nitrogen. Heterosphere: exist between 80 to 480 km altitude: lighter gases that are not evenly mixed, makes up less that 0. 001% of atmosphere"s mass. Chemical composition: nitrogen (n2): 78% - volcanic activity, oxygen (o2): 21% - photosynthesis, argon (ar): 0. 9% - radioactive decay of potassium, carbon dioxide (co2): 0. 0393% - natural life by product. Thermosphere: high temp, low heat, low density, lots of energy but not a lot of molecules to transfer the kinetic energy.
