Atmosphere

• The atmosphere consists mainly of nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%) and argon (0.93%)
• Atmosphere - all the air surrounding the earth.
• The 5 layers of the atmosphere is called trophosphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and the exosphere.
• The troposphere


  The lowest layer of the Earth's atmosphere, extending up to 12 km above the surface, characterized by decreasing temperature with altitude and driven by air movement.
• The stratosphere


  The layer of the atmosphere extending from 12 to 50 km above the Earth's surface, characterized by a relatively constant temperature, a protective ozone layer, and the jet stream.
• The mesosphere


  The layer of the atmosphere extending from 70 to 85 km above the Earth's surface, characterized by a rapidly decreasing temperature, noctilucent clouds, and meteor trails.
• The thermosphere is 600km in thickness and is the hottest layer of the atmosphere
• The thermosphere is home to the Ionosphere where charged ions are found, these ions reflect back radio waves.
• The exosphere is the topmost layer of the atmosphere.
• Foreign objects falling down to earth burn down in the mesosphere, even though it is the coldest, meteors and other space rocks burn here because of friction.
• The ionosphere reflects radio waves due to its high concentration of electrically charged particles (ions).
• The troposphere is the only atmospheric layer that has weather conditions such as rainfall, thunderstorms, snow, fog etc.
• The troposphere is the lowest part of the atmosphere and contains most of the air we breathe.
• Hydrology is the study of earth on and within the earth.
• The moisture content of the atmosphere is called humidity
• Dew point is the point of temperature wherein water would start to condense
• The water droplets created due to condensation is called dew
• Water vapor freezes at 0 degrees Celsius creating frost
• tiny droplets that condense up in the sky form a cloud
• Cumulus are clouds that are piled up 300 to 1000m above the surface and is created by the rapid rising of moist air
• Stratus clouds look like spread gray sheets at low levels
• A type of cloud that looks like strands of hair is called a cirrus
• A special type of cloud that forms near the surface of the earth is called a fog
• Smog is created when fog mixes with smoke
• Cumulu nimbus clouds are tall clouds that is usually associated with thunderstorms and severe weather conditons
• Precipitation is a process where water that condenses into the atmosphere falls back down on the surface of the earth
• The water cycle is also known as the hydrologic cycle
• Air pressure is the pressure exerted by air.
• Air pressure is measured in SI or metric in Kg per cm
• Air pressure changes as altitude changes
• Newton = force, Pascal = pressure
• Pressure is force exerted on a certain area
• Wind is the horizontal movement of air on the earth's surface
• A gentle wind is called a breeze
• Breeze that comes from the ocean is called a sea breeze
• The changing direction of winds is called a monsoon
• A wind vane is an apparatus used to show where the wind is moving from
• an anemometer is used to measure the wind speed
• Low pressure areas indicate that there is an upcoming storm
• While high pressure areas indicate clear skies and dry condition