Notes Summary

99 percent of atmospheric gases, including water vapor, extend only 30 kilometers above the
earth's surface. Most of our weather, however, occurs within the first 10 to 15 km. Compositions
of the Atmosphere include 78 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen, 0 to 4 percent water vapor,
0.037 percent carbon dioxide, and other gases make up the rest. Some gases are invisible, gases
such as Nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor, and carbon dioxide. Ozone is the primary ingredient of
smog. Ground based smog, which is visible, contains reactants of nitrogen, VOC's and ozone.
Nitrogen and oxygen concentrations experience little change, but carbon dioxide, methane, and
oxides of nitrogen are greenhouse gases experiencing increases in concentration. CO2 has risen
more than 18 percent since 1958.