Atmosphere

An atmosphere is a layer of gases surrounding a planet or other material body of sufficient mass that is held in place by the gravity of the body.

Atmosphere

The envelope of air that completely surrounds the earth is known as atmosphere.

The atmosphere extends to about 1000 km from the surface of the earth. But 99% of the total mass of the atmosphere is found within 32 km.

This is because the atmosphere is held by the gravitational pull of the earth.

Composition of the Atmosphere

(i) Nitrogen - 78%

(ii) Oxygen - 21%

(iii) Argon -0.93%

(iv) Carbondioxide - 0.03%

(v)Neon - 0.0018%

(vi) Helium - 0.0005%

(vii) Ozone - 0.0006%

(viii) Hydrogen - 0.00005%

Carbon dioxide is present in small quantity in the atmosphere

It is an important constituent of air because it has the ability to absorb heat and thus keep the atmosphere warm, thereby, balancing the heat of the earth.

Dust intercepts and reflects incoming insolation.

The polluted particles present in the air not only absorb the larger amount of insolation but also greatly absorb the terrestrial radiation.

Dust in the atmosphere contributes to the red and orange colour of sunrise and sunset.

Layers of the Atmosphere

There are five distinct layers of the atmosphere -

(a) Troposphere

(b) Stratosphere

(c) Mesosphere

(d) Thermosphere

(e) Exosphere

Layers of the Atmosphere in details

(a) Troposphere

This is the first layer of the atmosphere. It extends to a height of 18 km at the equator and 8 km at the poles.

In this layer temperature decreases with height. This is due to the fact that the density of air decreases with height and so the heat absorbed is less. It contains more than 90% of gases in the atmosphere.

Since most of the water vapour form clouds in this layer, all weather changes occur in the troposphere("tropo" means "change").

The height at which the temperature stops decreasing is called tropopause. Here the temperature may be as low as -58 degree Celsius.

(b) Stratosphere

This is the second layer of the atmosphere. It extends from the tropopause to about 50 km.

Temperature increases due to the absorption of the ultraviolet radiations of the Sun by Ozone present in this layer. The temperature slowly increases to 4-degree celsius.

This layer is free from clouds and associated weather phenomena. Hence, it provides ideal flying conditions for large jet planes.

(c) Mesosphere

Above the stratosphere lies the Mesosphere.

The mesosphere extends to a height of 80 km.

Here the temperature decreases again, falling as low as - 90-degree celsius.

The end of this layer is known as the mesopause.

(d) Thermospher

This layer extends to a height of about 640 km

This increase in temperature is due to the fact that the gas molecules in this layer absorb the X-rays and Ultraviolet radiation of the Sun.

The electrically charged gas molecules of the thermosphere reflect radio waves from the Earth back into the space. Thus, this layer also helps inlong distance communication.

The thermosphere also protects us from meteors and obsolete satellite because its high Temperature burns up nearly all the debris coming towards the Earth.

(e) Exosphere

The exosphere extends beyond the thermosphere up to 960km.

It gradually merges with interplanetary space.

The temperatures in this layer range from about 300 degree Celsius to 1650 degree Celsius.

This layer contains only traces of gases like oxygen, nitrogen, argon and helium because the lack of gravity allows the gas molecules to escape easily into space.