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Structure of Atmosphere
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General property of all planetary
atmospheres:
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Each gas molecule attracted
by gravity
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Gas molecules hit each other
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Balance of forces determines
atmospheric
pressure
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highest at surface
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decreases smoothly as altitude
increases
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On Earth, decreases by a
factor of 2 every 5500 m (18,000 ft)
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Other planet atmospheres
have different scale heights
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why
its hard to catch your breath at high altitude
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why
planes are pressurized
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