Atmosphere Overview

The gaseous layer surrounding Earth, composed of a mixture of gases known as air.

The original atmosphere was primarily methane, ammonia, water vapor, and neon, with significantly more carbon dioxide than today.

Unicellular organisms played a crucial role in introducing oxygen into the atmosphere through photosynthesis.

Nitrogen (N2), oxygen (O2) and argon (Ar) are the dominant gases in the atmosphere, making up the bulk of its composition.

Gases like water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), ozone (O3), and other trace gases have concentrations that can vary depending on factors like location and time.

The amount of water vapor in the air, it is heavily influenced by temperature and geographic location.

Solid particles suspended in the air, such as salt, sand, smoke, and ash.

The lowest layer of the atmosphere, containing most of the earth's weather, including clouds, rain, and snow.

The boundary separating the Earth's atmosphere and outer space, located at an altitude between 80 to 100 km.

The region above the mesopause, characterized by rising temperatures due to the absorption of solar radiation.

The layer in a body of water where temperature decreases rapidly with depth.

The layer in a body of water where salinity (salt content) changes rapidly with depth.

The layer in a body of water where density increases rapidly with depth.

The dissolved salt content of a body of water.

Rocks underground that contain and allow the flow of groundwater.

The process of rocks breaking down and dissolving due to water.

Waste materials from mining, left over after extracting valuable minerals.

A large dam built on the Kaliwa river, which is a source of water for Metro Manila.

The movement of groundwater through the pores and fractures of rocks.

The amount of dissolved salts in a body of water, it is usually expressed as a percentage.

Organisms like fungi and bacteria that break down dead plants and animals, releasing carbon back into the soil.

Fossil fuels, like coal and oil, are formed from the remains of ancient organisms under intense heat and pressure, storing carbon.

Burning fossil fuels releases stored carbon back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (CO2), contributing to climate change.

Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis, using it to grow and release oxygen.

The Earth's water system, including all water on the surface, underground, and in the atmosphere.

The process where the sun heats water, turning it into water vapor that rises into the atmosphere.

Plants release water vapor into the atmosphere through tiny openings in their leaves.

Water vapor in the atmosphere cools and condenses into tiny droplets, forming clouds.

Water droplets in clouds combine and fall back to Earth as rain, snow, hail, or sleet.

Water that doesn't soak into the ground flows over the land's surface into rivers, lakes, and oceans.

It generates the pressure needed for liquid water to exist on Earth, absorbs much of the harmful UV radiation from the sun, and moderates temperature differences between day and night.

This effect is caused by certain gases in the atmosphere trapping heat from the sun, making Earth warmer than it would be otherwise.

They result from variations in the length of daylight, the angle of the sun's rays, and the amount of atmosphere the sun's rays must travel through.

Plants use sunlight to convert CO2 from the atmosphere into glucose and oxygen.

Living things, including plants and animals, release CO2 into the atmosphere as a byproduct of respiration.

Herbivores, like cows, consume plants, and carbon is transferred through the food chain.

The natural cycle of carbon atoms in the environment, involving processes like photosynthesis, respiration, and carbon fixation.

A mountainous region in the Philippines, characterized by a dry season from November to April and a wet season from May to October.