Atmosphere of Earth surface. The refractive index of air depends on temperature, giving rise to refraction effects when the temperature gradient is large. An example of such effects is the mirage. "Atmospheric circulation" is the large-scale movement of air through the troposphere, and the means (with ocean circulation) by which heat is distributed around Earth. The large-scale structure of the atmospheric circulation varies from year to year, but the basic structure remains fairly constant because it is determined by Earth's rotation rate and the difference in solar radiation between the equator and poles. The first atmosphere consisted of gases in the solar nebula,
The World We Live In (Life magazine) The World We Live In (Life magazine) The World We Live In appeared in the pages of LIFE magazine from December 8, 1952, to December 20, 1954. A science series, it comprised 13 chapters published on an average of every eight weeks. Written by Lincoln Barnett, "The World We Live In" spanned a diverse range of topics concerning planet Earth and universe, and employed the talents of countless artists and photographers. These included, among others, cameramen Alfred Eisenstaedt and Fritz Goro, and artists Rudolph Zallinger and Chesley Bonestell. "The World We Live In" was introduced to Life's readership as "the