How Is the Atmosphere Like the Ocean?

Our atmosphere and ocean share much in common. Both consist of fluids--matter that flows--and have currents that circulate throughout them. Both create pressure that changes with depth and provides buoyancy--for fish in water and balloons in air. The forces that apply to movement through air apply to movement through water as well. We are bottom dwellers in a "sea of air."

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(Rev. 10/22/96)