Atmosphere
This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Leopeo (talk | contribs) at 12:48, November 8, 2007. It may differ significantly from current revision.
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 in standard conditions. One atmosphere (atm) is defined as 101325 Pa. This is equal to approximately 14.7 pounds per square inch on the earth.
The earth's atmosphere insulates the earth's surface, making it around 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than it would be without any air. This occurs through absorption of outgoing infrared rays by gas molecules like carbon dioxide and methane. This warming is known as the greenhouse effect.
References
- ↑ Wile, Dr. Jay L. Exploring Creation With Physical Science. Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc. 1999, 2000