air
Mixture of gases constituting the earth's atmosphere. Some gases occur in steady concentrations. The most important are molecular nitrogen (N2), 78% by volume, and molecular oxygen (O2), 21%. Small amounts of argon (Ar; 1.9%), neon (Ne), helium (He), methane (CH4), krypton (Kr), hydrogen (H2), nitrous oxide (N2O), and xenon (Xe) are also present in almost constant proportions. Other gases occur in variable concentrations: water vapour (H2O), ozone (O3), carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Air also contains trace amounts of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide. The variable constituents are important for maintaining life. Water vapour is the source for all forms of precipitation and is an important absorber and emitter of infrared radiation. Carbon dioxide is necessary for photosynthesis and is also an important absorber and emitter of infrared radiation. Ozone in the stratosphere (see ozone layer) is an effective absorber of ultraviolet radiation from the Sun but at ground-level is a corrosive pollutant and a major constituent of smog.
2006-09-01 14:01:14
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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Air is one of the classical elements. According to modern science, air (the Earth’s atmosphere) is a mixture of many compounds, but in traditional cultures, air is often seen as a universal power or pure substance. Its fundamental importance to life can be seen in words such as spirit, inspire, expire, and aspire, all derived from the Latin spirare ("to breathe").
Wind is the roughly horizontal movement of air (as opposed to an air current) caused by uneven heating of the Earth's surface. It occurs at all scales, from local breezes generated by heating of land surfaces and lasting tens of minutes to global winds resulting from solar heating of the Earth. The two major influences on the atmospheric circulation are the differential heating between the equator and the poles, and the rotation of the planet (Coriolis effect).
Given a difference in barometric pressure between two air masses, a wind will arise between the two which tends to flow from the area of high pressure to the area of low pressure until the two air masses are at the same pressure, although these flows will be modified by the Coriolis effect in the extratropics.
Prevailing winds are winds which come about as a consequence of global circulation patterns. These include the Trade Winds, the Westerlies, the Polar Easterlies, and the jet streams.
2006-09-01 13:44:53
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answer #2
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answered by Mysterious 3
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The planet formed from stardust. The planet included air. Biological processes continue cycles of many gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Wind is moving air caused by molecules with different temperatures interacting.
2006-09-01 12:31:39
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answer #3
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answered by shmux 6
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Most of Earth's original "air" (..its atmosphere) came from volcanoes. Earth's atmosphere today is partially maintained by volcanic outgassing and by the by-products of photosynthesis in plants.
2006-09-01 12:47:22
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answer #4
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answered by Chug-a-Lug 7
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there are belts of circulating air miles and miles ad miles above the earth's surface
2006-09-01 17:53:08
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answer #5
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answered by millegas08 4
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