Atmosphere

Wind is the movement of air caused by differences in atmospheric pressure. Air naturally flows from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure.

A decrease in air pressure is often associated with the arrival of a low-pressure system, which typically brings unstable air, cloud formation, and potential precipitation.

An increase in air pressure is typically associated with a high-pressure system, which generally brings stable, sinking air and clear, fair weather conditions.

The ozone layer filters out harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. If it thins, more of this radiation reaches the Earth's surface, increasing the risk of biological damage.

CFCs release chlorine atoms when they reach the stratosphere. These chlorine atoms react with ozone molecules (O3), breaking them apart and reducing the ozone concentration.

Convection currents in the atmosphere redistribute heat and moisture, which are the fundamental drivers for wind, cloud formation, and various types of precipitation.

Heat transfer from the surface to the air occurs through conduction, where the kinetic energy of surface molecules is transferred to air molecules through direct contact, causing them to bump into each other.

Radiation is the transfer of energy through electromagnetic waves. Unlike conduction or convection, radiation does not require a medium (like air or water) to travel through, allowing it to move through the vacuum of space.

The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere where almost all weather phenomena, including the formation of clouds, occur.

The ozone layer is located within the stratosphere, which is the layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere.

Earth's atmosphere is composed primarily of nitrogen (about 78%) and oxygen (about 21%), with trace amounts of other gases.