Warm UpWarm UpWhat is the atmosphere?What is the atmosphere?

Why is the Why is the ATMOSPHEREATMOSPHERE

important?important?

What is it?What is it? What is the atmosphere and how have What is the atmosphere and how have

we discovered more about it?we discovered more about it? Video ClipVideo Clip

WeatherWeather Weather is the condition of the earth’s Weather is the condition of the earth’s

atmosphere at a particular time and atmosphere at a particular time and placeplace

So what is the atmosphere?So what is the atmosphere?

Earth’s AtmosphereEarth’s Atmosphere A thin layer of gases that surrounds the planetA thin layer of gases that surrounds the planet Makes conditions on earth suitable for living Makes conditions on earth suitable for living

thingsthings

CompositionComposition Nitrogen – 78%Nitrogen – 78% Oxygen – 21%Oxygen – 21% Carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide Water vaporWater vapor Other gasesOther gases Particles of liquids Particles of liquids

and solidsand solids

NitrogenNitrogen Most abundant gas in the atmosphereMost abundant gas in the atmosphere 78% of the air we breathe78% of the air we breathe NN22

Essential to living things – needed to grow Essential to living things – needed to grow and repair body cellsand repair body cells

Bacteria convert nitrogen from the air and Bacteria convert nitrogen from the air and then plants use it to create proteins that then plants use it to create proteins that people and animals need.people and animals need.

OxygenOxygen Second most abundant gas in the airSecond most abundant gas in the air Only 21% of the volumeOnly 21% of the volume Usually in the form of OUsually in the form of O22

Plants and animals use itPlants and animals use it Important in other processesImportant in other processes Ozone (OOzone (O33) – forms when lightning ) – forms when lightning

interacts with Oxygeninteracts with Oxygen

Carbon DioxideCarbon Dioxide COCO22

Only in small amounts - .036%Only in small amounts - .036% Essential to life – plants need it to Essential to life – plants need it to

make foodmake food

Other GasesOther Gases Called trace gases because only small Called trace gases because only small

amounts are presentamounts are present

Water VaporWater Vapor Amount in the air Amount in the air

varies from place to varies from place to placeplace

Plays an important Plays an important role in the earth’s role in the earth’s weatherweather

Clouds, Clouds, precipitationprecipitation

ParticlesParticles Pure air is only gases, but this exists Pure air is only gases, but this exists

only in a labonly in a lab In the real world, there are many In the real world, there are many

different particlesdifferent particles– DustDust– SmokeSmoke– SaltSalt– Other chemicalsOther chemicals