Transcript Atmosphere
Atmosphere • The atmosphere is a very thin layer of gases wrapped around the earth. Green House Gases • The earth’s atmosphere contains gases that trap heat from the sun. • The trapped heat cause the Earth to warm. • Such gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, and chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs). Methane Fluorocarbon Nitrous Oxide Carbon Dioxide Green House Gases • Carbon Dioxide, CO2 ,is a transparent, non inflammable gas that is recycled by the atmosphere through photosynthesis. • Methane, is a colorless, odorless, flammable gas. It is formed when plants decay. • Nitrous Oxide gas is colorless, but has a sweet smell. This compound is released by the ocean and by bacteria in soil. • Fluorocarbons is a general term for any group of synthetic organic compounds that contain fluorine and carbon. Earth • The Earth has just the right amount of green house gases to survive. • Too much gases will make the Earth too warm to live in, as in the case of Venus. • Too little gases will cause the Earth to become too cold for life. An example of this is Mars. Planets Orbiting The Sun Goldilocks Principle • It is used to state that a planet must neither be too far away nor too close to the sun to support life. • Venus is too hot, Mars is too cold, but Earth is just right. Atmospheric Factors Responsible For The Planetary Difference Chemical Composition of the Atmospheres References http://www.ucar.edu/learn/1_1_1.htm http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ice/greenhouse.html http://www.umich.edu/~gs265/society/greenhouse.htm