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What is the primary role of the earth’s atmosphere?
What is the primary role of the earth’s atmosphere?
At what height from the Earth's surface does 99 percent of the atmosphere's thickness lie?
At what height from the Earth's surface does 99 percent of the atmosphere's thickness lie?
Which gas constitutes approximately 78 percent of the Earth’s atmosphere?
Which gas constitutes approximately 78 percent of the Earth’s atmosphere?
What is the thickness of the Earth’s atmosphere?
What is the thickness of the Earth’s atmosphere?
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Which gas, though in a small proportion, is essential for sustaining life on Earth?
Which gas, though in a small proportion, is essential for sustaining life on Earth?
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What is the major function of the Earth's gravity with regard to the atmosphere?
What is the major function of the Earth's gravity with regard to the atmosphere?
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What is the main gas in the atmosphere of Earth?
What is the main gas in the atmosphere of Earth?
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Which gas in the atmosphere is responsible for the greenhouse effect?
Which gas in the atmosphere is responsible for the greenhouse effect?
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At what height does the ozone layer, responsible for absorbing UV rays, exist in the atmosphere?
At what height does the ozone layer, responsible for absorbing UV rays, exist in the atmosphere?
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What is the uppermost layer of the atmosphere, merging into outer space?
What is the uppermost layer of the atmosphere, merging into outer space?
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In which layer of the atmosphere does the temperature increase with increasing height?
In which layer of the atmosphere does the temperature increase with increasing height?
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Which gas is used by all living things for respiration?
Which gas is used by all living things for respiration?
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At what height does the mesopause separate the mesosphere and thermosphere?
At what height does the mesopause separate the mesosphere and thermosphere?
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What is the layer of the atmosphere where all weather-related phenomena are absent?
What is the layer of the atmosphere where all weather-related phenomena are absent?
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Which layer of the atmosphere contains electrically charged particles called ions?
Which layer of the atmosphere contains electrically charged particles called ions?
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What is the main function of water vapour in the atmosphere?
What is the main function of water vapour in the atmosphere?
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What is the primary function of dust particles in the atmosphere?
What is the primary function of dust particles in the atmosphere?
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What is responsible for transporting heat to great heights by strong convection currents?
What is responsible for transporting heat to great heights by strong convection currents?
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What percentage of the thickness of the earth's atmosphere lies within 32 km from the earth's surface?
What percentage of the thickness of the earth's atmosphere lies within 32 km from the earth's surface?
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Which gas constitutes less than 1 percent of the earth's atmosphere?
Which gas constitutes less than 1 percent of the earth's atmosphere?
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What is the primary role of the earth's gravity in relation to the atmosphere?
What is the primary role of the earth's gravity in relation to the atmosphere?
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At what height does the ozone layer, responsible for absorbing ultraviolet rays, exist in the atmosphere?
At what height does the ozone layer, responsible for absorbing ultraviolet rays, exist in the atmosphere?
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What is the uppermost layer of the atmosphere, merging into outer space?
What is the uppermost layer of the atmosphere, merging into outer space?
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What gas, though in a small proportion, plays a crucial role in sustaining life on Earth?
What gas, though in a small proportion, plays a crucial role in sustaining life on Earth?
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What gas is largely responsible for the greenhouse effect in the Earth's atmosphere?
What gas is largely responsible for the greenhouse effect in the Earth's atmosphere?
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At what height does the ozone layer exist in the Earth's atmosphere, responsible for absorbing UV rays?
At what height does the ozone layer exist in the Earth's atmosphere, responsible for absorbing UV rays?
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What is the primary function of dust particles in the atmosphere?
What is the primary function of dust particles in the atmosphere?
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Which gas, though in a small proportion, is essential for sustaining life on Earth?
Which gas, though in a small proportion, is essential for sustaining life on Earth?
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In which layer of the atmosphere does the temperature increase with increasing height?
In which layer of the atmosphere does the temperature increase with increasing height?
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What is the main function of water vapour in the atmosphere?
What is the main function of water vapour in the atmosphere?
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At what height does the mesopause separate the mesosphere and thermosphere?
At what height does the mesopause separate the mesosphere and thermosphere?
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What is the main gas in the atmosphere of Earth?
What is the main gas in the atmosphere of Earth?
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What is primarily used by all living things and is essential for respiration?
What is primarily used by all living things and is essential for respiration?
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What is the approximate height at which 99 percent of the earth's atmosphere thickness lies?
What is the approximate height at which 99 percent of the earth's atmosphere thickness lies?
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Which gas, constituting less than 1 percent of the earth's atmosphere, plays a significant role in sustaining life on Earth?
Which gas, constituting less than 1 percent of the earth's atmosphere, plays a significant role in sustaining life on Earth?
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What is the primary function of dust particles in the atmosphere?
What is the primary function of dust particles in the atmosphere?
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At what height does the ozone layer, responsible for absorbing ultraviolet rays, exist in the atmosphere?
At what height does the ozone layer, responsible for absorbing ultraviolet rays, exist in the atmosphere?
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Which gas is largely responsible for the greenhouse effect in the Earth's atmosphere?
Which gas is largely responsible for the greenhouse effect in the Earth's atmosphere?
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What is the uppermost layer of the atmosphere, merging into outer space?
What is the uppermost layer of the atmosphere, merging into outer space?
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What is the primary function of the ozone layer in the atmosphere?
What is the primary function of the ozone layer in the atmosphere?
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At what height does the stratopause separate the stratosphere and mesosphere?
At what height does the stratopause separate the stratosphere and mesosphere?
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What is the main function of dust particles in the atmosphere?
What is the main function of dust particles in the atmosphere?
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In which layer of the atmosphere does the temperature decrease with increasing altitude?
In which layer of the atmosphere does the temperature decrease with increasing altitude?
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What is the primary role of the Earth's gravity in relation to the atmosphere?
What is the primary role of the Earth's gravity in relation to the atmosphere?
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Which gas is used by all living things for respiration?
Which gas is used by all living things for respiration?
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At what height does the ionosphere lie within the atmosphere?
At what height does the ionosphere lie within the atmosphere?
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Which gas constitutes approximately 78 percent of the Earth’s atmosphere?
Which gas constitutes approximately 78 percent of the Earth’s atmosphere?
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At what height does the exosphere merge with outer space?
At what height does the exosphere merge with outer space?
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What gas is largely responsible for the greenhouse effect in the Earth's atmosphere?
What gas is largely responsible for the greenhouse effect in the Earth's atmosphere?
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Which gas constitutes less than 1 percent of the Earth's atmosphere?
Which gas constitutes less than 1 percent of the Earth's atmosphere?
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What is primarily used by all living things and is essential for respiration?
What is primarily used by all living things and is essential for respiration?
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Study Notes
Composition of the Atmosphere
- Nitrogen constitutes approximately 78 percent of the Earth's atmosphere.
- A gas, though in a small proportion, essential for sustaining life on Earth is oxygen.
- Oxygen constitutes less than 1 percent of the earth's atmosphere but plays a crucial role in sustaining life on Earth.
Structure of the Atmosphere
- 99 percent of the atmosphere's thickness lies within 32 km from the earth's surface.
- The ozone layer, responsible for absorbing UV rays, exists in the atmosphere at a height of approximately 15-30 km.
- The stratopause separates the stratosphere and mesosphere.
- The mesopause separates the mesosphere and thermosphere at a height of approximately 80-85 km.
- The thermosphere is the layer of the atmosphere where the temperature increases with increasing height.
- The exosphere is the uppermost layer of the atmosphere, merging into outer space.
Functions of the Atmosphere
- The primary function of the Earth's gravity is to retain the atmosphere.
- Water vapor plays a crucial role in the atmosphere, facilitating the water cycle and influencing climate.
- Dust particles in the atmosphere scatter and absorb light, influencing climate and weather patterns.
- The ozone layer's primary function is to absorb UV rays.
Other Key Facts
- The main gas in the atmosphere of Earth is nitrogen.
- Oxygen is primarily used by all living things for respiration.
- The ionosphere is the layer of the atmosphere containing electrically charged particles called ions.
- The exosphere merges with outer space at an approximate height of 10,000 km.
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Description
Test your knowledge of the composition and structure of the earth's atmosphere, which is essential for UPSC prelims. This quiz covers topics relevant to the UPSC syllabus and can help aspirants prepare for the IAS Exam.