USGS - science for a changing world

Science Topics

Maps, Imagery, and Publications Hazards Newsroom Education Jobs Partnerships Library About USGS Podcasts/RSS
You are here: Topics > Earth characteristics > Atmospheric properties
Help
Atmospheric composition
Components of the mass of gases that surrounds a planet. The earth's atmosphere consists of nitrogen, oxygen, and small portions of other gases.
Subtopics:
Greenhouse gases (4 items)
Ozone layer (1 items)

Air pollution (7 items)
Related topics:

Results 1 - 11 of 11 listed by similarity [list alphabetically]
Biological resource status and trends: Contaminants in air [More info]
Information concerning status and trends of biological resources, focusing on contaminants in air
Ozone in our air - friend or foe? - depends on where [More info]
Article on ozone layer and ozone as a pollutant from the weekly newsletter Volcano Watch (Hawaiian Volcano Observatory) for August 20, 2001.
Acid rain and our Nation's Capital [More info]
Describes noticeable effects of acid rain on the building stones and monuments in Washington, DC.
PDF Assessing carbon stocks, carbon sequestration, and greenhouse-gas fluxes in ecosystems of the United States under present conditions and future scenarios [More info]
Congress asked us (in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007) to figure out how to assess the effects of carbon storage, sequestration, and greenhouse gas fluxes in our ecosystems. Here's how we plan to do that.
Coal-bed methane: potential and concerns [More info]
Fact sheet in PDF format on occurrence and recoverability of coalbed methane in the U.S. and related environmental concerns.
PDF Emissions from Coal Fires and Their Impact on the Environment [More info]
Reviews how coal fires occur, how they can be detected by airborne and remote surveys, and, most importantly, the impact coal-fire emissions may have on the environment and human health, especially mercury, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and methane.
Global Change Hydrology Program (hydroclimatology) [More info]
Review of the Global Change Hydrology Program components relating to hydroclimatology and studies of the biogeochemistry of greenhouse gases with links to research activities, datasets, fact sheets, and other publications and websites.
National assessment of mercury in aquatic ecosystems [More info]
Overview of three research programs including determining levels of mercury at selected sites in water, sediment and fish, mercury emissions into the atmosphere, and mercury cycling in the Everglades National Park, Florida.
Potential effects of anthropogenic greenhouse gases on avian habitats and populations in the Northern Great Plains [More info]
Report on effects of the increase of atmospheric carbon dioxide on plants and animals, especially birds, in the Great Plains including effects of carbon dioxide fertilization, ultraviolet radiation, climate change, and harmful effects on bird habitats.
USGS guide to federal environmental laws and regulations [More info]
Guide to major U.S. environmental statutes and corresponding regulations on air quality, fish and wildlife conservation, cultural and historic resources, solid and hazardous substances, public lands, farmlands, and water resources.
Understanding our planet through chemistry [More info]
Site with a series of articles showing how chemists and geologists use analytical chemistry to determine the age of the Earth, determine Earth's history, predict volcanic eruptions, observe long-term atmospheric change and study pollution.
Alphabetical Index of Topics a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

Take Pride in America logo USA.gov logo U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://www.usgs.gov/science//science/science.php?term=65
Page Contact Information: Ask USGS