Atmosphere Links
The gases surrounding planet Earth allow us to breathe, shield us from harmful ultraviolet rays, and keep us warm. Human activities such as fossil-fuel burning, use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and deforestation can increase pollution and acid rain, damage the ozone, and lead to the warming of the planet. While scientists monitor the effect of our activities on the atmosphere, Planet Diary will monitor the efforts of the world's citizens to reverse these harmful trends.
Use this link to support Chapter 18: Moisture, Clouds, and Precipitation in Prentice Hall Earth Science:
- Orographic Lifting and Rainfall (text page 512): Lifting Due to Topography
Try these Planet Diary Atmosphere Activities:
- Acid Rain
Explore the chemistry and effects of acid rain and learn how the problem can be reduced. - Photochemical Smog
Find out about the chemistry of photochemical smog and smog conditions in your area. - Fossil Fuels and the Greenhouse Effect
Learn how the burning of fossil fuels, the greenhouse effect, and global warming are linked. - UV Light, CFCs, and the Ozone Layer
How does stratospheric ozone protect us from ultraviolet radiation? You'll also find out about the effects of CFCs on the ozone layer. - Melting Ice, Rising Seas
Investigate the effects of rising temperatures on the cryosphere and on global sea level.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This government site is a wonderful source for the latest information about Earth's atmosphere.
Environmental Kids Club
This is the starting point for Environmental Protection Agency info on global warming, ozone depletion, and more.
Climatologist's Toolbox
How do scientists measure the temperature of Earth? Did climate changes lead to the downfall of the Mayan civilization?. Get the answers to these questions from The Why Files.
Weather Underground
What are today's atmospheric conditions? This terrific site is a great place to get the latest reports.
The Air That We Breathe
See how the city of Denver does drive-by smog checks. Learn why ozone is fine in the stratosphere but not down near the ground. See three-dimensional maps of pollution above U.S. cities. Get the answers to your questions on air pollution from The Why Files.
The Science of Ozone Depletion
Find out why it's happening, the effects it will have on your health and the environment, and answers to basic questions from the Environmental Protection Agency.
EPA's Acid Rain Home Page
The Environmental Protection Agency has a lot to say about acid rain: its effects, its causes, and the laws that regulate it.
GLOBE Maps: Student and Reference Data
Acid rain affects trees and buildings, but does it affect the water in your area? Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) is a network of 4000 K–12 schools around the world. They have put daily climate data on the Web, including surface water pH and soil pH. It is accessible using a map interface.
Weather Satellite Images
What does today's atmosphere look like from space? Check out these Weather Underground satellite images.
Atmosphere
NASA is a good source for background info on the atmosphere.
Graphing Stratospheric Ozone
Use actual satellite images from the past 13 years to graph the change in stratospheric ozone over a specific location. This and other great space projects are part of the Space Information Infrastructure at the Exploratorium.
