ATMOSPHERE

The Role Of Atmosphere In The

a. Hydrologic cycle
The atmosphere transport water from the oceans to land, acting as condenser.
b. Stability of the earths temperature
The atmosphere stabilizes the earths temperature by re-emitting to space the
absorbed solar energy.
c. Protection of living organisms from ultraviolet radiation
The atmosphere absorbs most of the cosmic rays from outer space and it also absorbs
most of the electromagnetic radiation from the sun, filtering out damaging ultraviolet
radiation that would otherwise be very harmful to living organisms.
What gases up the atmosphere?
Major components:
1. Nitrogen 78.08%
2. Oxygen 20.95%
Minor components:
1. Argon 0.934%
2. Carbon Dioxide 0.035%
What is the primary basis for the division of the atmosphere into different regions?
The primary basis for the division of the atmosphere into different regions is their
temperature/ density relationship resulting from interrelationship between physical and
photochemical (light induced phenomena) process in the air.
The Regions Of The Atmosphere










The Pressure Of The Atmosphere
The pressure of the atmosphere decreases in a regular way with increasing elevation
due to its changes in temperature. In relation to the Boyles Law by Robert Boyle, as the
temperature increases the pressure decreases (pressure in inversely proportional to
temperature). Also atmospheric pressure drops off much more rapidly at lower
elevation that at higher ones due to its compressibility.
The Formation Of Acid Rain
An acid rain formation starts with the presence of Sulfur Dioxide(SO2) which originated in
the bacterial decay of organic matter and from volcanic eruptions and it is harmful to
both human health and property. Atmospheric SO2 will be oxidized to Sulphur
Trioxide(SO3). When this Sulfur Trioxide dissolves in water, it produces Sulphuric Acid
(H2SO4) which results to an acid rain
Why is rainwater acidic even in the absence of polluting gases like SO2?
The primary source of this natural acidity is carbon dioxide, CO2, which reacts with
water to form carbonic acid, H2CO3.
What are the effects of acid rain on:
a. Building materials
It degrades building materials, especially limestone, marbles, and metals.
b. Bodies of water
It reduces fish population and affecting other parts of the ecological network within the
lakes.
c. Soil
It dampens plants by affecting their ability to extract nutrients from soil more readily
under acidic conditions.

How Photochemical Smog Is Formed In The Atmosphere.
Photochemical smog is formed in the atmosphere when primary pollutants which
include nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds from vehicular emissions and
industrial processes react with ultraviolet light to create a variety of toxic and reactive
compounds.
The Role Of Water Vapour In The Troposphere In:
a. Maintaining heat balance of the earth
Water vapour in the atmosphere acts as a kind of blanket at night, retaining heat from
the earths surface by absorption of infrared radiation.
b. Atmospheric chemical reactions of some gases
Atmospheric water vapour has an important influence upon pollution induced fog
formation under some circumstances. Water vapour interacting with pollutant particle
matter in the atmosphere may reduce visibility to undesirable levels through the
formation of aerosol particles.
How CO2 In The Atmosphere Increases The Temperature Of The Earth.
CO2 in the atmosphere increases the temperature of the earth because CO2 traps heat
in the earths atmosphere which results to an increase in global temperature. This is
known as the greenhouse effect. This CO2 allows sunlight into the greenhouse, but at
night, the CO2 traps infrared radiation in the atmosphere.








Read the following questions carefully, and then encircle the letter of the correct answer.
1. How does the atmosphere benefit Earth?
a. It protects Earth from cold air.
b. It creates water.
c. It protects Earth from other planets.
d. It protects Earth from the Sun's harmful rays.
2. What would happen if Earth had no atmosphere?
a. Earth would not have days.
b. Earth would not have nights.
c. The days would be cold and the nights would be hot.
d. The days would be hot and the nights would be cold.
3. What preceded the growth and survival of green plants on Earth?
a. the formation of an ozone layer
b. the formation of the solar system
c. the formation of severe weather
d. human life
4. How do CFCs destroy ozone?
a. A chlorine atom from a CFC combines with two oxygen atoms from ozone and leaves an
oxygen atom.
b. A chlorine atom from a CFC combines with one oxygen from ozone and leaves a two-
atom oxygen molecule.
c. A CFC combines with a three-atom oxygen molecule.
d. A carbon atom from a CFC combines with one oxygen from ozone and leaves a two-atom
oxygen molecule.
5. What have CFCs done to Earth and its atmosphere?
a. They have caused more ultraviolet radiation to reach Earth.
b. They have caused the number of cancer cases to rise.
c. They have created a hole in the ozone layer.
d. all answers are correct
6. Why are the thermosphere and exosphere the warmest of the atmospheric layers?
a. because the air pressure is too great
b. because of the gases trapped in these layers
c. because the underlying mesosphere keeps the warm air there
d. because they are closest to the Sun
7. How have humans altered the composition of Earth's atmosphere?
a. They have polluted it with excess ozone.
b. They have made the atmospheric temperature drop.
c. They have polluted it with carbon dioxide gas.
d. They have made the atmospheric pressure drop.
8. How is the troposphere warmed?
a. The gases in the troposphere absorb heat from the Sun.
b. The Sun warms Earth's surface, which warms the air above it.
c. The stratosphere warms it.
d. The troposphere absorbs sunlight directly.
9. Weather occurs in which layer of the atmosphere?
a. stratosphere
b. thermosphere
c. mesosphere
d. troposphere
10. What is the formula for ozone?
a. O b. O
2
c. O
3
d. O4



LITHOSPHERE
Lithosphere is a geosphere created by the Earths Crust and the uppermost part of the
Mantle which is the most solid part. It lies upon layer of plastic, molten mantle rocks called
Asthenosphere.









Earth Facts
4.6 billion years old
Average diameter:
12,742 kilometers
7,926 miles
70% water by area
Human population of 6.9 billion
The Earths Crust
The Earths Crust is a thin layer created by hard rocks of different origin and age.
Continental Crust (30 - 40 km thick) is the base of land mass and it is created by
sedimentary, granite and basalt layers below.
Oceanic Crust (thinner, 5 -12 km) is the base of the ocean floor and it is created
by sedimentary and basalt layers only (granite layer is missing).
Plate boundaries
Transform boundaries (Conservative): plates slide or grind past each other (San
Andreas Fault, CA)
Divergent boundaries (Constructive): two plates slide apart from each other (Mid-
ocean ridges like the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and Africa's Great Rift Valley)
Convergent boundaries (Destructive): two plates slide towards each forming a
seduction zone or a continental collision. Associated with volcanism (South America
and the Japanese island arc).
Plate boundary zones occur where the effects of the interactions are unclear and the
boundaries, usually occurring along a broad belt, are not well defined, and may show
various types of movements in different episodes



Read the following questions carefully, and then encircle the letter of the correct answer.
1. Under intense pressure and high temperature, hydrogen atoms combine to form
helium. This process is called:
a. nuclear fusion
b. nuclear fission
c. metamorphism
d. convection
2. How thick is the crust of the Earth?
a. about 4 miles
b. about 4 km
c. about 40 km
d. about 400 km
3. The layer that separates crust from core is the?
a. magma layer
b. lithosphere
c. mantle
d. continent
4. The age of the Earth is currently thought to be
a. about 6,000 years old
b. about 6 billion years old
c. about 4,500,000 years old
d. about 4,500,000,000 years old
e. none of the above
5. The name of the layer of the Earth that separates the crust from the core is the ___?
a. magma
b. lithosphere
c. asthenosphere
d. mantle
6. A __________ plate boundary is illustrated in the
figure.
a. transform fault
b. divergent
c. convergent - subduction
d. convergent - continent/continent collision
7. Approximately how deep (below sea level) are deep-sea trenches?
a. 1 km
b. 10 km
c. 100 km
d. 1000 km
8. The deepest trench on earth?
_________________
9. It is called the supercontinent?
__________________

10. Three types of rocks?_______________________________________________________________