Generalizations of the size of Earth's atmosphere compared with its lithography (or the solid part of our planet) liken the gaseous shell surrounding Earth to the skin on an apple. Although many might believe the atmosphere to be uniform in gaseous composition or linear in temperature change, this gaseous envelope is much more complex, similar to most environmental systems on Earth. [Source: Encyclopedia of Geography; Atmospheric Composition and Structure]
atmospheric composition and structure
climatology
concepts