An illustrated introduction to Earth's atmosphere, including its importance to all life forms, atmospheric behavior in the form of weather, and the human influence on the atmosphere.

What the atmosphere provides -- The gases and what they do -- The atmosphere: past and present -- The motions of the atmosphere -- Other factors that shape a region's climate -- Atmospheric behavior: the weather -- What makes the weather? -- Extreme weather -- Human influence on the atmosphere: local impacts -- Air pollutants and air pollution -- Air pollution and the environment -- Air pollution and human health -- Acid rain -- Air pollution control -- The atmosphere above cities -- Human influence on the atmosphere: global impacts -- Ozone loss in the stratosphere -- Climate change.