The atmosphere

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What gases is the atmosphere composed of?
Nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, rare and other gases.
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What is the percentage of each gas in the atmosphere?
Nitrogen- 78%
Oxygen- 21%
Carbon dioxide- 0.04%
Rare gases- 1
Ozone- 0.000007%
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How is dynamic equilibrium created in the atmosphere?
Gases in the atmosphere create a dynamic equilibrium. Photosynthesis and aerobic respiration roughly balance each other but they occur at different timescales.
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How does the atmosphere support life? Gases for natural processes
The atmosphere contains Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen and Nitrogen. These gases are needed to make biological molecules in living organisms

Carbohydrates, lipids and proteins contain carbon, oxygen and hydrogen.

Proteins also contain nitrogen.
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How does the atmosphere support life? Absorption of electromagnetic radiation from the sun.
Damaging radiation from the 'solar winds' are prevented from reaching the earth by the upper atmosphere.

Ultraviolet light is prevented from reaching the earth by various forms of oxygen in the stratosphere. (ozone)
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What is the ozone made up of?
Oxygen is present in three forms: O, O2 and O3.
Known as monatomic, diatomic and triatomic oxygen.

Together, these oxygens form a dispersed layer in the stratosphere called the ozone layer or ozonosphere.

These absorb ultraviolet light, producing a dy
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How does the atmosphere support life? Delaying the escape of infrared energy
Most incoming visible light is absorbed, converted to heat and re-emitted as infrared energy. Naturally occurring atmospheric gases absorb this infrared energy, convert it to heat and increase the temp of the atmosphere.
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*** does the atmosphere support life on earth? Heat distribution
Most energy from the sun is absorbed in tropical regions. Warm surface heats atmosphere above, heat is distributed to higher latitudes by warm winds.

South-westerly winds bring heat energy to the UK from the Caribbean.
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How does the atmosphere support life on earth? Ocean currents
Wind blowing over ocean currents distributes heat by carrying warm water from tropical regions to higher latitudes.

North Atlantic conveyer.

Currents distribute dissolved nutrients.
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How does the atmosphere support life on earth?
Transport of water vapour
Transports water vapour to areas that get little precipitation.
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What is atmospheric pressure?
Controls the ease with which water molecules can evaporate and escape from the water surface.

If atmospheric pressure was lower there would be no liquid water on earth.
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How do humans exploit gas?
Humans extract nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide

Humans inert argon, neon, krypton and xenon.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What is the percentage of each gas in the atmosphere?

Back

Nitrogen- 78%
Oxygen- 21%
Carbon dioxide- 0.04%
Rare gases- 1
Ozone- 0.000007%

Card 3

Front

How is dynamic equilibrium created in the atmosphere?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

How does the atmosphere support life? Gases for natural processes

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

How does the atmosphere support life? Absorption of electromagnetic radiation from the sun.

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

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