What is the composition and structure of the Earth's atmosphere? Why is

it as warm as it is, and how did it form? These are the questions for

today's lecture. The Earth's atmosphere is a complex, dynamic, and

evolving system. We will discuss the composition and structure of the

atomsphere, the nature of the different thermal layers, the Greenhouse

Effect, and the Primordial Atmosphere and atmospheric evolution. This

will give us a basis for comparison when we begin to examine other

planetary atmospheres in future lectures. Recorded 2006 Nov 1 in 100

Stillman Hall on the Columbus campus of The Ohio State University.