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Questions and Answers
What is the primary gas found in the atmosphere?
In which layer of the atmosphere do most clouds form?
What effect do greenhouse gases have on Earth’s surface temperature?
Which statement about atmospheric pressure is correct?
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Which of the following layers of the atmosphere contains the ozone maximum?
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The greenhouse effect increases the Earth's average surface temperature by approximately how many degrees Celsius?
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Which of the following gases is present in the atmosphere in the least amount?
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Who first quantitatively investigated the greenhouse effect?
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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
This quiz covers the physical and chemical structure of the atmosphere, detailing its various layers from the troposphere to the exosphere. Additionally, it discusses the major components and trace gases, as well as the greenhouse effect and how these elements interact in our environment.
