Significant ideas:

1) The atmosphere is a dynamic system that is essential

to life on Earth.
2) The behaviour, structure and composition of the
atmosphere influence variations in all ecosystems

Earth is the only planet in the solar system with an atmosphere

that can sustain life. The blanket of gases not only contains the air
that we breathe but also protects us from the blasts of heat and
radiation emanating from the sun. It warms the planet by day and
cools it at night.
6.1U1 The atmosphere is a dynamic system (with inputs, outputs,
flows and storages) that has undergone changes throughout
geological time.

• Earth’s atmosphere is referred to as an OPEN SYSTEM

• Atmospheric conditions have changed over time and changes
with location around the planet and altitude
6.1U1 The atmosphere is a dynamic system (with inputs, outputs,
flows and storages) that has undergone changes throughout
geological time.

• Dynamic means constantly changes

• We also see this is long-term climate patterns, as shown in
the graph of historic seas levels, temperature and
atmospheric CO2
6.1U1 The atmosphere is a dynamic system (with inputs, outputs,
flows and storages) that has undergone changes throughout
geological time.
• We can see this in short-
term weather systems
(thunderstorms, hurricanes,
typhoons) that move heat,
water and wind around the
planet
• Changes between seasons,
and wind patterns change
https://weather.com/en-GB/unitedkingdom/weather/news/2018-02-
19-uk-weather-weakening-jet-stream-icy-blast-high-pressure
6.1U2 The atmosphere is a predominantly a mixture of nitrogen
and oxygen, with smaller amounts of carbon dioxide, argon, water
vapour and other trace gases.

• Thin layer gas

envelope
• gases essential to life
6.1U2 The atmosphere is a predominantly a mixture of nitrogen
and oxygen, with smaller amounts of carbon dioxide, argon, water
vapour and other trace gases.
Composition
• Nitrogen 78%
• Oxygen 21%
• Other gases,
including
carbon dioxide,
water, methane
1%

http://www.ux1.eiu.edu/~cfjps/1400/atmos_origin.html
6.1U2 The atmosphere is a predominantly a mixture of nitrogen
and oxygen, with smaller amounts of carbon dioxide, argon, water
vapour and other trace gases.
Layers of the Atmosphere
• All weather and
human activity
happen in the
troposphere
• Layers differ in
temperature, density
and composition

The ozone layer is

found in the
stratosphere
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/science/atmosphere-layers2.html
The atmosphere is a dynamic system that is essential to life on
Earth

• This is a systems diagram of a few of the energy transfers and

transformations in Earth’s atmosphere
• Units are W/m2 (Watts per square meter)
The atmosphere is a dynamic system that is essential to life on
Earth
6.1U1 The atmosphere is a dynamic system (with inputs, outputs,
flows and storages) that has undergone changes throughout
geological time.
The behavior, structure and composition of the atmosphere
influence variations all ecosystems
6.1.U3 Human activities impact atmospheric composition through
altering inputs and outputs of the system. Changes in the
concentrations of atmospheric gases—such as ozone, carbon
dioxide, and water vapour—have significant effects on
ecosystems.

• Ozone layer is make of ozone molecules located

within the stratosphere
• Filters out certain types of ultraviolet light
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone_layer
6.1.U3 Human activities impact atmospheric composition through
altering inputs and outputs of the system. Changes in the
concentrations of atmospheric gases—such as ozone, carbon
dioxide, and water vapour—have significant effects on
ecosystems.
6.1.U3 Human activities impact atmospheric composition through
altering inputs and outputs of the system. Changes in the
concentrations of atmospheric gases—such as ozone, carbon
dioxide, and water vapour—have significant effects on
ecosystems.

• A minor but very

important
component of the
atmosphere is
carbon dioxide
• It is released
through natural
processes such as
respiration and
volcano eruptions http://www.onlyzerocarbon.org/oceans.html
6.1.U3 Human activities impact atmospheric composition through
altering inputs and outputs of the system. Changes in the
concentrations of atmospheric gases—such as ozone, carbon
dioxide, and water vapour—have significant effects on
ecosystems.

https://www.science.org.au/learning/general-audience/science-booklets-0/science-climate-change/3-are-human-activities-causing

• Burning fossil fuels, deforestation and flooding land for the

construction of hydroelectric dams have all contributed to
6.1.U3 Human activities impact atmospheric composition through
altering inputs and outputs of the system. Changes in the
concentrations of atmospheric gases—such as ozone, carbon
dioxide, and water vapour—have significant effects on
ecosystems.
6.1.U4 Most reactions connected to living systems occur in the
inner layers of the atmosphere, which are the troposphere (0–10
km above sea level) and the stratosphere (10–50 km above sea
level).
6.1.U5 Most clouds form in the troposphere and play an important
role in the albedo effect of the planet.

• The albedo effect is a

measure of reflectivity
• Light colors reflect more
radiation (high albedo)
than dark colors (low
albedo)
• More reflectivity means
less solar radiation
absorbed by Earth
• Less absorption means
lower temperatures at
the planet’s surface https://oceanbites.org/sea-ice-and-albedo-should-we-be-worried/
6.1.U5 Most clouds form in the troposphere and play an important
role in the albedo effect of the planet.
6.1.U5 Most clouds form in the troposphere and play an important
role in the albedo effect of the planet.
6.1.U5 Most clouds form in the troposphere and play an important
role in the albedo effect of the planet.
6.1.A1 Discuss the role of the albedo effect from clouds in
regulating global average temperature.

• The albedo effect from

clouds further impacts the
albedo effect on terrestrial
and marine surfaces (link
Topic 6.1 with 1.3,
feedback, energy and
equilibria)

• The lower the albedo, the

more radiation from the
Sun that gets absorbed by
the planet, and
temperatures will rise.
• If the albedo is higher, and
the Earth is more
reflective, more of the
radiation is returned to
space, and the planet cools
6.1.U6 The greenhouse effect of the atmosphere is a natural and
necessary phenomenon maintaining suitable temperatures for
living systems.

• The greenhouse effect

of the atmosphere is a
natural and necessary
phenomenon
maintaining suitable
temperature for living
systems
• The atmosphere acts
like a blanket surround
the planet, slowing the
loss of heat to cold
outer space

https://www.environmentblog.net/what-is-the-greenhouse-effect/
The atmosphere is a dynamic system that is essential to life on
Earth

• Without thermal energy

trapped by greenhouse
gases in Earth’s
atmosphere, water would
freeze on the surface of
the planet
• No liquid water means no
chemical reactions
• Without the greenhouse
effect created by out
atmosphere, the Earth
would be a cold, dead
planet
6.1.A2 Outline the role of the greenhouse effect in regulating
temperature on Earth

BE CAREFUL
• The most common mistake with this question is
confusing the greenhouse effect (a good and
necessary thing for life on Earth) with global
warming or climate change (an existential threat
caused by runaway greenhouse effect)

https://myassignmenthelpdesk.com/blog/advantages-of-the-greenhouse-effect-and-disadvantages/