Atmosphere, origin, composition, structure---Chapter 2

Learning Objectives

After reading this chapter the student should be able to:

distinguish between weather and climate

describe the principle events and processes in the evolution of earth's atmosphere

distinguish between the homosphere and the heterosphere

explain the significance of minor constituents of the atmosphere

illustrate the scientific method

demonstrate the value of models in scientific investigations

sketch the average vertical temperature profile of the atmosphere

distinguish beteween the troposphere and the stratosphere

describe the origin and significance of the ionosphere

explain how solar activity influences the ionosphere