The Atmosphere and Greenhouse Effect

• The atmosphere is an envelope of gases above Earth's surface, about 140 kilometers or close to 90 miles in altitude
• Different layers of the atmosphere show different colors due to the interaction of sunlight with the gases
• The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere, where weather happens, and temperature decreases with height
• The stratosphere is mainly comprised of ozone (O3) which absorbs ultraviolet radiation and causes temperature to increase with height
• The mesosphere and thermosphere follow, with temperature decreasing and increasing with height respectively
• The atmospheric composition is mostly nitrogen (78%), followed by oxygen (21%), and trace gases like argon, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone
• Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, and water vapor, with water vapor varying widely over time
• Ozone in the troposphere serves as a greenhouse gas, contributing to the greenhouse effect that makes Earth's average temperature sufficient for life
• Sunlight is electromagnetic radiation, forming electromagnetic waves classified in the electromagnetic spectrum by frequency and wavelength
• Infrared light is Earth's emitted radiation, while visible light is sunlight that reaches the surface
• Kirchhoff's law states that any body that absorbs energy also emits it, and Stefan-Boltzmann's law shows the relationship between wavelength and temperature
• Without greenhouse gases, Earth's average temperature would be 0 degrees Fahrenheit, but with greenhouse gases, it's about 60 degrees Fahrenheit due to the greenhouse effect
• The enhancement of the natural greenhouse effect by human activities, such as industry and deforestation, is causing global warming and climate change
• The atmosphere is an envelope of gases above Earth's surface, about 140 kilometers or close to 90 miles in altitude
• Different layers of the atmosphere show different colors due to the interaction of sunlight with the gases
• The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere, where weather happens, and temperature decreases with height
• The stratosphere is above the troposphere and is mainly comprised of ozone, which absorbs ultraviolet radiation
• The mesosphere is above the stratosphere, followed by the thermosphere where temperature increases with height due to incoming solar radiation
• The atmospheric composition is mainly nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), and trace gases like argon, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone
• Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, and water vapor, which play a crucial role in the greenhouse effect
• The greenhouse effect is essential for Earth's average temperature to be sufficient for life to thrive
• Infrared light is Earth's emitted radiation, and visible light is sunlight that reaches the surface
• Kirchhoff's law states that any body that absorbs energy also emits it, and Stefan-Boltzmann's law shows the relationship between wavelength and temperature
• Without greenhouse gases, Earth's average temperature would be 0 degrees Fahrenheit, but with greenhouse gases, it is around 60 degrees Fahrenheit
• The enhancement of the natural greenhouse effect by human activities, such as industry and deforestation, is causing global warming
• The increase in greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, is leading to the human-enhanced greenhouse effect, which contributes to global warming and climate change
• The sun emits solar radiation
• The Sun does NOT emit what radiation?

  infrared