GLENN GERALD G.

FAJUTRAO BSMT1-BRAVO

The atmosphere contains many gases, most in small amounts, including some pollutants
and greenhouse gases. The most abundant gas in the atmosphere is nitrogen, with oxygen
second. Argon, an inert gas, is the third most abundant gas in the atmosphere. The
atmosphere is composed of a mix of several different gases in differing amounts. The
permanent gases whose percentages do not change from day to day are nitrogen, oxygen
and argon. Nitrogen accounts for 78% of the atmosphere, oxygen 21% and argon 0.9%.
Gases like carbon dioxide, nitrous oxides, methane, and ozone are trace gases that account
for about a tenth of one percent of the atmosphere. Water vapor is unique in that its
concentration varies from 0-4% of the atmosphere depending on where you are and what
time of the day it is. In the cold, dry artic regions water vapor usually accounts for less than
1% of the atmosphere, while in humid, tropical regions water vapor can account for almost
4% of the atmosphere. Water vapor content is very important in predicting weather.

Physical Properties

Temperature

Temperature is the measure of thermal or internal energy of the molecules within an object
or gas. We can measure temperature of an object using either direct contact or remote
sensing. Temperature of air is closely related to other atmospheric properties, such as
pressure, volume and density.

Density

Density measures the ‘heaviness’ of an object or how closely ‘packed’ the substance is.
Density is related to both the type of material that an object is made of and how closely
packed the material is.

Pressure

Pressure is the force exerted over a given area or object, either because of gravity pulling
on it or other motion the object has. Molecules in the air produce pressure through both
their weight and movement, and this pressure is connected to other properties of the
atmosphere.

Humidity

Humidity is a measure of the amount of moisture in the air. It tells you how comfortable it
is to be outside, and if there is enough moisture to create clouds and rain.
 Layer of the atmosphere

The atmosphere has 4 layers: the troposphere that we live in near the surface of the earth;
the stratosphere that houses the ozone layer; the mesosphere, a colder and lower density
layer with about 0.1% of the atmosphere; and the thermosphere, the top layer, where the
air is hot but very thin.