Atmosphere – Living Oceans Foundation

[at-moh-sfeer]
The layers of gasses that surround a planet; one of the four spheres on Earth.

Glossary: Hydrosphere
A sphere that is comprised of all water and ice that is on the Earth’s surface (e.g., oceans, lakes, rivers, glaciers), underground, and in the atmosphere; one of the four spheres on Earth.
Glossary: Ocean Acidification (OA)
Over long periods of time, the pH of the ocean is lowered (becomes more acidic), primarily due to addition of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. The pH is lowered through a series of chemical reactions that take place in the ocean.
Glossary: Sphere
An independent part of the system that is interconnected to other spheres by cycles and processes. The four spheres on Earth include the atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere.