Atmosphere Composition and Structure

Atmosphere Composition

• The atmosphere is composed of mainly nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), argon (0.93%), carbon dioxide (0.03%), and atmospheric dust.
• It also contains water vapor, crystals, and water droplets, with the amount of water vapor depending on temperature.
• The saturation point is the maximum amount of water vapor the air can hold at a given temperature.
• When the saturation point is reached, condensation occurs, known as the dew point.
• Relative humidity is the percentage of the maximum water vapor capacity the air currently holds.

Atmosphere Structure

• The atmosphere is layered, with each layer having distinct properties.
• The troposphere, closest to the Earth's surface (up to 12 km), contains most of the atmosphere's air.
• It is home to living organisms, weather phenomena, and the greenhouse effect.
• Above the troposphere lies the stratosphere (12-50 km), which contains the ozone layer.
• The ozone layer filters ultraviolet radiation.
• The mesosphere (50-80 km) is where most meteoroids burn up.
• The thermosphere (80-500 km) filters harmful solar radiation and is where the auroras occur.
• The exosphere (500 - infinity) is the outermost layer, where density fades.
• Atmospheric pressure decreases with increasing altitude.

Atmosphere Protective Function

• The atmosphere provides a shield against harmful radiation, particularly ultraviolet radiation filtered by the ozone layer.
• It also regulates temperature, moderating fluctuations between the equator and the poles.
• These temperature regulations are achieved through weather mechanisms like wind and ocean currents.
• The greenhouse effect, the warming of the Earth due to the absorption of infrared radiation, is influenced by the atmosphere's composition.

Explore the fascinating components and layers of the atmosphere in this quiz. Learn about the primary gases, the importance of water vapor, and the distinct properties of each atmospheric layer. Test your knowledge on concepts such as saturation point, relative humidity, and the greenhouse effect.