Atmosphere The atmosphere is a very thin layer

Atmosphere • The atmosphere is a very thin layer of gases wrapped around the earth.

Green House Gases • The earth’s atmosphere contains gases that trap heat from the sun. • The trapped heat cause the Earth to warm. • Such gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, and chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs). Methane Fluorocarbon Nitrous Oxide Carbon Dioxide

Green House Gases • Carbon Dioxide, CO 2 , is a transparent, non inflammable gas that is recycled by the atmosphere through photosynthesis. • Methane, is a colorless, odorless, flammable gas. It is formed when plants decay. • Nitrous Oxide gas is colorless, but has a sweet smell. This compound is released by the ocean and by bacteria in soil. • Fluorocarbons is a general term for any group of synthetic organic compounds that contain fluorine and carbon.

Earth • The Earth has just the right amount of green house gases to survive. • Too much gases will make the Earth too warm to live in, as in the case of Venus. • Too little gases will cause the Earth to become too cold for life. An example of this is Mars.

Planets Orbiting The Sun

Goldilocks Principle • It is used to state that a planet must neither be too far away nor too close to the sun to support life. • Venus is too hot, Mars is too cold, but Earth is just right.

Atmospheric Factors Responsible For The Planetary Difference

Chemical Composition of the Atmospheres

References http: //www. ucar. edu/learn/1_1_1. htm http: //www. pbs. org/wgbh/nova/ice/greenhouse. html http: //www. umich. edu/~gs 265/society/greenhouse. htm