Lecture 1-Nats 101
34
Atmospheric Composition
Permanent Gases
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N
2
and O
2
are most
abundant gases
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Percentages hold
constant up to 80 km
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Ar, Ne, He, and Xe
are chemically inert
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N
2
and O
2
are
chemically active,
removed & returned
Ahrens, Table 1.1, 4
th
Ed.