b) Treat atmosphere as an ideal gas - Ideal Gas Law
c) Gas molecules tend to distribute uniformly to reduce pressure differences
d) Gravity opposes this uniform distribution
e) Balance of forces leads to pressure decreasing exponentially from the earth's surface to interstellar space.
f) Consideration of gases of different molecular weights leads to distribution of constituents, in higher elevations. Convection at low elevations leads to homogeneity. Can broadly classify these two regions as heterosphere and homosphere.
b) In troposphere, temperature decreases linearly
c) Explain this in terms of adiabatic expansion of an ideal gas
b) Stratosphere - ozone is produced here (more later) and protects us from UV rays from sun (more later). Temperature increases gradually through this region due to absorption of radiation.
c) Mesosphere - temperature decreases here
d) Thermosphere - temperature increases here as short wavelength radiation from the sun is absorbed by atoms or molecules that become ionized or dissociated
e) Upper levels are also called the ionosphere due to large amounts of ionized particles. Concentration increases during the day, impairing radio reception as radio waves are absorbed by the ions rather than reflected.
(a) sea level
(a) 1 km above sea level, and
(a) 10 km above sea level
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