Given the chemical species in the atmosphere and their proportions in Table 5.1, what is the mean atomic weight of atmospheric gas, in kg/mole? Use only the three dominant species: nitrogen, oxygen, and argon. Then use the atomic weight to calculate the scale height in the atmosphere, H.

Table 5.1

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Gas N₂ 0₂ Ar H₂O vapor (water vapor) CO₂ (carbon dioxide) CH4 (methane) 03 (ozone) Molecular weight (g/mole) 28.01 32.00 39.95 18.02 44.01 16.04 48 Proportion by volume 78% 21% 0.93% 0.5% 380 ppm 1.7 ppm 500 ppb