ESE315 Assignment 1

Remember for all plots that you make: always clearly label your axis and variables, and always show the units.

1. The International Standard Atmosphere is a static atmospheric model of how the pressure, temperature, density, and viscosity of the Earth's atmosphere change over a wide range of altitudes or elevations. Use python to plot the vertical profile of temperature, pressure, and density as a function of geometric altitude above the mean sea level (MSL).
2. Look at your plot from the previous question: Why does the Earth's atmosphere have distinct layers with different vertical temperature gradients? Do you see this temperature profile on Venus and Mars? Why?
3. Briefly describe the three major stages of the evolution of the Earth's atmosphere. What are the major atmospheric components during each of those three stages?