Ch01IntroductiontotheAtmosphere.ppt

* Earth’s Spheres Atmosphere: Earth is surrounded by a life-giving gaseous envelope called the atmosphere. 99% of the atmosphere is within 30 km of Earth’s surface. It protects and warms the Earth. Weather occurs in the lowest layer called troposphere of the atmosphere. Earth’s Spheres 夜光云 对流层顶 Atmosphere Geosphere Earth’s Spheres Hydrosphere: Oceans make up 71% of the surface area of the Earth. Additional parts of the hydrosphere: Lakes Rivers, streams Glaciers Underground water Earth’s Spheres Earth’s Spheres Biosphere: The biosphere includes all life on Earth (land surface, upper ocean, lower atmosphere). On the ocean floor (hot spots) In boiling hot springs Air currents carryingmicroorganisms very far. Earth as a System Earth system science: Scientists have recognized they must learn how the Earth’s individual components (land, water, air, and life-forms) are interconnected through matter recycling, such as carbon cycle, hydrologic cycle, etc.. System: A system is a group of interacting or interdependent parts that form a complex whole. Composition of the Atmosphere Major components: The composition varies from time to time, from place to place. The most components of clean and dry air are very stable up to about 80km height. Nitrogen and oxygen make up 99% of the volume. The components of the clean & dry air The most important atmospheric constituents. The chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) CCl2F2 and CCl3F are also known as CFC-12 and CFC-11, respectively. [N.B. (ppm, ppb, ppt) = parts per (million, billion, trillion)] The concentrations of some constituents are increasing systematically because of human activity. For example, the CO2 concentration of 380 ppm was measured in 2004; CFCs are now decreasing in concentration following restrictions on their production. Composition of the Atmosphere Carbon dioxide二氧化碳: 0.0391% or 391 ppm of atmosphere A meteorologically important constituent of air Absorbs or traps the energy from the earth May cause the “global wa