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Composition
The atmosphere (what we often refer to simply as "air") is made of both gases and AEROSOLS, which are solid particles. The gases are:
Each of these gases plays an important role in the atmosphere. WATER VAPOR is like a very fine mist that can create clouds and weather. Ozone absorbs ultraviolent (UV) radiation from the sun. Plants use carbon dioxide for essential processes, and a carbon dioxide is also a GREENHOUSE GAS, which means that is traps heat from the sun, warming the Earth. Currently, the Earth's atmopshere has too much heat trapping carbon dioxide, which is causing our overall climate to warm and change - a phenomenon called global warming, or GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE.
Along with gases, there are particles in the atmosphere called aerosols. These particles include salt evaporated frmo oceans, dust from the ground, pollen from plants, ash from volcanoes, acids, and other particles from human pollution. Aerosols can affect the weather and climate because they reflect and absorb sunlight.
Along with gases, there are particles in the atmosphere called aerosols. These particles include salt evaporated frmo oceans, dust from the ground, pollen from plants, ash from volcanoes, acids, and other particles from human pollution. Aerosols can affect the weather and climate because they reflect and absorb sunlight.