The document discusses key concepts about the atmosphere, including its composition and structure. It varies spatially, affecting climate and weather conditions globally and regionally. Students should understand the atmosphere's effects on radiation receipt, energy redistribution through atmospheric and oceanic circulation, and global climate change. They should also understand air mass origins and movements and their impacts on climates, such as in tropical Africa. Students need skills in interpreting climatic maps, diagrams, graphs, and constructing and analyzing climate graphs.

1. Atmosphere Higher Geography Physical Environments

6. Don’t Panic!

9. Atmosphere Structure Troposphere 10 Km Stratosphere 40 Km Mesosphere 50 Km Thermosphere 300 Km Exosphere 400 Km

10. 10 100 90 80 120 70 60 50 40 30 20 130 140 110 Height in km -100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 Temperature ºC Temperature Change with Altitude Maximum Ozone Temperature Stratosphere Mesosphere Thermosphere Troposphere