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ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION & STRUCTURE

A. INTRODUCTION

Image source: R.A. Rohde http://www.globalwarmingart.com/wiki/Image:Instrumental_Temperature_Record_png

Image source: R.A. Rohde http://www.globalwarmingart.com/wiki/Image:Global_Warming_Map_jpg

Image source: NASA Earth Observatory http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images_topic.php3?

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B. TEMPERATURE STRUCTURE OF THE ATMOSPHERE

1. Troposphere  

a. lapse rate

b. isothermal layer

2. Stratosphere

a. temperature inversion

Image source: modified from NASA/GSFC http://umpgal.gsfc.nasa.gov/www_root/homepage/uars-science/OzoneLayer.html

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C. ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION

1. Nonvariable Gases  

2. Variable Gases

a. water vapor (H₂O)

b. carbon dioxide (CO₂)

c. ozone (O₃)

Image source: NASA Earth Observatory http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/Nimbus/nimbus2.html

3. Particulate matter

Atmospheric Impact of Mount Pinatubo Image source: NASA Earth Observatory http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=4952

Mount Pinatubo, 1991 Image source: NASA/GSFC http://umpgal.gsfc.nasa.gov/www_root/homepage/uars-science/BrochurePage1.html

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D. SUMMARY

Temperature patterns affected by:

• altitude

• greenhouse gasses (water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane)

• particulate matter

Image source: R.A. Rohde http://www.globalwarmingart.com/wiki/Image:Global_Warming_Predictions_Map_jpg