Weather and Climate Chapter 1 Section 1

OBJECTIVE: Identify the gases that make up the atmosphere and explain how it is important to living things.

*WEATHER: Is the condition of Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place. *ATMOSPHERE: The layer of gases that surround the planet. Earth’s atmosphere makes conditions on Earth suitable for living things. Earth’s atmosphere is made up of Nitrogen, Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, Water vapor, many other gases as well as particles of liquids and solids.

* NITROGEN: The most abundant gas in the atmosphere 78% OXYGEN: Plants & Animals take oxygen directly from the Air and use it to release energy from food in a usable form. 21% OZONE: Is a form of oxygen that has 3 oxygen atoms per Molecules instead of the usual 2 atoms. CARBON DIOXIDE: When fuels like coal and gasoline Are burned they release carbon dioxide. Burning these Fuels increases the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. This increase may be causing global warming.

WATER VAPOR: Is water in the form of a gas. Water Vapor is Invisible. It is NOT the same thing as steam, which is made up Of tiny droplets of liquid water. Clouds form when water vapor condenses out of the air to form Tiny droplets of liquid water or crystals or ice. PARTICLES: Dust, smoke, salt, and other chemicals. Atmosphere provides warmth that keeps water on Earth in Liquid Form. It also protects us from UV Rays and Meteoroids.