Atmosphere
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The atmosphere is the mass of air surrounding a planet.[1]
The term atmosphere is also a unit of pressure. An atmosphere is defined as the amount of pressure exerted by a column of air at sea level. This is equal to approximately 14.7 pounds per square inch.
The earth's atmosphere insulates the earth's surface, making it around 15 degrees Centigrade warmer than it would be without any air. This occurs through absorption of outgoing infrared rays by gas molecules like carbon dioxide and methane. The popular media have dubbed this the "greenhouse effect".
References
- ↑ Wile, Dr. Jay L. Exploring Creation With Physical Science. Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc. 1999, 2000