Carbon dioxide and water combined typically make up 1-3% of our atmosphere, and yet, we are constantly monitoring the atmospheric content of CO2 and H2O. Why? Explain the typical atmospheric concentration of these two gases and the reasons they vary in atmospheric content. With one exception, the relative concentrations of atmospheric gases do not change with height. Indicate this exception, its concentration patterns, and reasons why this is the case. The atmosphere is in constant motion. Why? What is the general pattern of airflow? Explain why there is this general pattern of airflow and why atmospheric gases dont simply flow into outer space. The composition of the Earths atmosphere has changed in the past 200 years. What are/were the major changes in our atmospheric composition? Name the top five air pollutants we presently regulate. Is there a common source for these top five air pollutants? If so, what is it? What percentage of our atmospheric gases do these top five regulated gases make up? Identify what occurs to each of these molecules in our atmosphere. What process uses them up and what is the resulting molecule after the original gas has been transformed? Make sure that the molecule it is transformed into follows logically from the process that uses this molecule. Molecule What process in nature uses this molecule? What the molecule is transformed into as a result of the natural
