Introduction of Atmosphere The Earths atmosphere is a

Introduction of Atmosphere The Earth’s atmosphere is a thin envelope of gases surrounding the solid planet, the hydrosphere, and biosphere. The composition of the atmosphere consists largely of two elements, oxygen and nitrogen. The atmosphere also contains chemicals which absorb heat from the Earth’s surface and radiate it in all directions including back to the surface. This results in the greenhouse effect that keeps the planet warm enough to sustain life. The greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane. Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas of concern today as it is increasing rapidly in the atmosphere largely as the result of the burning of fossil fuels. The Keeling curve shows the steady increase in carbon dioxide since 1958. Different zones of the atmosphere are defined. The effects of Arctic warming are causing changes in the Jet Stream. These changes are affecting weather patterns and weather uncertainty is increasing. The isotopes of carbon are listed and the significance of carbon-14 (14 C) is explained with reference to carbon dioxide from fossil fuels.

Definitions of Atmosphere Definition of atmosthere : the gaseous envelope of a celestial body (such as a planet) the whole mass of air surrounding the earth. the air of a localitythe stuffy atmosphere of the waiting room a surrounding influence or environmentan atmosphere of hostility a unit of pressure equal to the pressure of the air at sea level or approximately 14. 7 pounds per square inch (101, 325 pascals) b: an intriguing or singular tone, effect, or appeal

Evaluation of Atmosphere Evolution of the atmosphere, the development of Earth’s atmosphere across geologic time. The process by which the current atmosphere arose from earlier conditions is complex; however, evidence related to the evolution of Earth’s atmosphere, though indirect, is abundant. Ancient sediments and rocks record past changes in atmospheric composition due to chemical reactions with Earth’s crust and, in particular, to biochemical processes associated with life. Earth’s original atmosphere was rich in methane, ammonia, water vapour, and the noble gas neon, but it lacked free oxygen. It is likely that hundreds of millions of years separated the first biological production of oxygen by unicellular organisms and its eventual accumulation in the atmosphere

The composition of the atmosphere encodes a great deal of information bearing on its origin. Furthermore, the nature and variations of the minor components reveal extensive interactions between the atmosphere, terrestrial environment, and biota The development of the atmosphere and such interactions are discussed in this article, with particular attention given to the rise of biologically produced molecular oxygen, O 2, as a major component of air. For modern atmospheric chemistry and physics, see atmosphere.

ording to NASA, the gases in Earth's atmosphere include: Nitrogen — 78 percent Oxygen — 21 percent Argon — 0. 93 percent Carbon dioxide — 0. 04 percent Trace amounts of neon, helium, methane, krypton and hydrogen, as well as water vapor By volume, dry air contains 78. 09% nitrogen, 20. 95% oxygen, 0. 93% argon, 0. 04% carbon dioxide, and small amounts of other gases. [8] Air also contains a variable amount of water vapor, on average around 1% at sea level, and 0. 4% over the entire atmosphere. Air composition, temperature, and atmospheric pressure vary with altitude, and air suitable for use in photosynthesis by terrestrial plants and breathing of terrestrial animals is found only in Earth's troposphere and in artificial atmospheres. The atmosphere has a mass of about 5. 15× 1018 kg, [9] three quarters of which is within about 11 km (6. 8 mi; 36, 000 ft) of the surface. The atmosphere becomes thinner and thinner with increasing altitude, with no definite boundary between the atmosphere and outer space. The Kármán line, at 100 km (62 mi), or 1. 57% of Earth's radius, is often used as the border between the atmosphere and outer space.

Composition of the Atmosphere Earth is the only planet in the solar system with an atmosphere that can sustain life. The blanket of gases not only contains the air that we breathe but also protects us from the blasts of heat and radiation emanating from the sun. It warms the planet by day and cools it at night. Earth's atmosphere is about 300 miles (480 kilometers) thick, but most of it is within 10 miles (16 km) the surface. Air pressure decreases with altitude. At sea level, air pressure is about 14. 7 pounds per square inch (1 kilogram per square centimeter). At 10, 000 feet (3 km), the air pressure is 10 pounds per square inch (0. 7 kg per square cm). There is also less oxygen to breathe.

Structure of the Atmosphere The structure of the atmosphere is classified into the following layers − Troposphere: 0 to 12 km Stratosphere: 12 to 50 km Mesosphere: 50 to 80 km Thermosphere: 80 to 700 km Exosphere: 700 to 10, 000 km Troposphere is the closest to the Earth’s surface and contains water vapor (clouds), moisture, dust, etc. Most of the weather phenomena take place in Troposphere. Height of the Troposphere varies i. e. at the equator, it is measured about 18 km and at the poles, it is 12 km. Tropopause is the transitional zone that separates Troposphere and Stratosphere.

Stratosphere is the second-lowest layer of the Earth’s Atmosphere that goes up to 50 km. Stratosphere contains Ozone (O 3) Layer that absorbs the ultraviolet rays (coming through the Sun rays) and protects life on the Earth. As the ultraviolet radiation absorbs in Stratosphere, therefore the temperature rises with increasing altitude. The Stratopause is the transitional zone that separates Stratosphere and Mesosphere.

Mesosphere, present above the Stratosphere, extends up to (from 50 km to) 80 km. Temperature in the Mesosphere decreases with increasing altitude. Mesopause is the transitional zone that separates Mesosphere and Thermosphere Above the Mesosphere, Thermosphere is the second-highest layer that starts at the altitude of 80 km and extends up to (roughly) 700 km (however, it varies between 500 and 1000 km). The lower part of the Thermosphere (roughly between 80 km and 550 km) contains ions and known as Ionosphere. The temperature of the Thermosphere rises with increasing altitude. Thermopause is the transitional zone that separates Thermosphere and Exosphere.

Exosphere is the highest or outermost layer of the Earth’s atmosphere that extends (starting from 700 km altitude) up to 10, 000 km where it ultimately merges into the solar wind. Major constituents of the Exosphere are helium, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide. The phenomena of Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis can be seen in the lower part of the Exosphere (merged with upper part of the Thermosphere).

Weather and climate Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at aparticular place over a short period of time, whereas climate refers to the weather pattern, using statistical data, of a place over a long enough period to yield meaningful averages. [1][2] Climatology studies climatic change, and is an atmospheric science. Climate is an important physical element because it indicates the atmospheric condition of heat, moisture and circulation; it plays a dominant role in shaping vegetation and soil; and it ultimately affects all forms of life, as a result of the very definition of the word, which is a scientific prediction, based on evidentiary statistics, sustained over a long period.

Element’s of weather and climate There are many elements that make up both the weather and the climate of a geographical location. The most significant of these elements are temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind, solar irradiance, humidity, precipitation, and topography. The greatest influence of climatic change is associated with not only natural, but also artificial factors, which can be measured in terms of both short-term and long-term climate change. In simple language it is the long time condition of any large area The most important factors affecting climate are latitude, altitude, distance to the ocean or sea, orientation of mountain ranges toward prevailing winds, and the ocean current