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Questions and Answers
What is the primary component of the atmosphere?
What percentage of the atmosphere's mass is contained within 6 km from the surface?
Which atmospheric layer contains most of the clouds and holds about 4/5 of the atmosphere's mass?
How does the greenhouse effect primarily warm the Earth's surface?
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Which gas is not considered a major component of the atmosphere?
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What is the role of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?
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Which layer of the atmosphere is closest to space?
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Which of the following gases has the smallest concentration in the atmosphere?
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Study Notes
Physical Structure of the Atmosphere
- Composed of multiple layers with minimal chemical interaction.
- Approximately 50% of the atmosphere's mass is located within 6 km of the Earth's surface.
- Atmospheric pressure decreases with height; over 99% of energy is captured close to the surface.
Layers of the Atmosphere
- Troposphere: Contains most clouds, holds about 4/5 of the atmosphere's mass.
- Stratosphere: Home to the ozone layer with the ozone maximum.
- Mesosphere: Interacts with UV rays, cosmic rays, and meteors.
- Thermosphere/Ionosphere: Known for ionization of gases.
- Exosphere: The outermost layer of the atmosphere.
Chemical Structure of the Atmosphere
- Major components:
- 78% Nitrogen
- 20.6% Oxygen
- Less than 1% Argon
- 0.4% Water vapor
- 0.036% Carbon dioxide
- Trace gases include Neon, Helium, Krypton, Hydrogen, Ozone, Methane, and Nitrous Oxide.
The Greenhouse Effect
- Earth's surface energy sources: the Sun and atmosphere make the surface approximately 33°C warmer than it would be without the atmosphere.
- Greenhouse gases are transparent to shortwave radiation but absorb longwave radiation, enabling the atmosphere to store energy.
- The greenhouse effect enhances Earth's average surface temperature by 20-30°C as a result of infrared radiation emission.
Historical Context
- The greenhouse effect was discovered by Joseph Fourier in 1829.
- Svante Arrhenius quantitatively investigated the greenhouse effect in 1896.
- The phenomenon is analogous to the warming of air within a greenhouse compared to outside temperatures.
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Description
Explore the complex physical and chemical structure of the Earth's atmosphere. This quiz covers atmospheric layers, major gas components, and the greenhouse effect, providing a comprehensive view of how these elements interact. Test your knowledge on this essential aspect of environmental science!
