Profile
Settings
Refer your friends
Sign out
The Earth’s atmosphere is a thin band of air divided into multiple layers of environmental parameters such as temperature. ‘Life on Earth’ would not be possible without its protective blanket, which shields us from the sun’s heat and radiation while also containing the air we breathe. The atmosphere shields life on Earth from incoming UV radiation, making the planet warmer by sheltering and avoiding high temperatures at all times of day and night.
The sun heats all levels of the atmosphere, causing them to convect and affect airflow and weather systems all around the planet. This paper will discuss the definition of atmosphere, its layers, composition, and the stratosphere, and its importance in the atmospheric layer.
Define Atmosphere
An atmosphere is a layer of gas that surrounds a planet. It is held in place by the gravitational pull of the planetary body, derived from the Ancient Greek ‘atmos’ or ‘vapour.’ The sphere is a layer of gases that surrounds a planet. It is kept in place by the gravitational attraction of the planet called. When a planet’s gravity is high, and the temperatures of its atmosphere are low, it retains an atmosphere. A star atmosphere is a star’s outer area, encompassing the layer above the opaque photosphere; low-temperature stars may have outer atmospheres, including complex molecules.
The Earth’s atmosphere wasn’t the only one seen on other planets. Our solar system’s planets, as well as several moons, all have atmospheres. Clouds, rain, wind, and heavy storms are all possible in some areas. In addition, scientists have just lately discovered evidence of planet earth’s atmosphere in faraway solar systems. The atmosphere becomes less dense and has lower pressure as one ascends from the planet’s surface. It eventually gives way to the vastness of space.
It was widely assumed that the Earth crashed with a planet on the scale of Mars roughly 5 billion years ago. The planet had essentially no atmosphere by 4.6 billion years ago, as a rock of volcanic magma buried it. Eventually, when the planet froze, the atmosphere began to form from gases emitted by volcanoes, including a large amount of carbon dioxide. The Earth’s surface started to cool half a billion years ago when the atmosphere formed and coated with rich oxygen, allowing water to settle on the ground for the evolution of life.
What is the composition of the atmosphere?
Composition of the atmosphere is the chemistry and warmth of the solar electric nebula from which a planet forms and the subsequent departure of some gases from the core of the atmosphere properly influence the initial gaseous content of an atmosphere. The planets’ original atmospheres formed from a revolving disc of gases that compressed against itself and then split into a series of separated rings of gas or materials that eventually condensed to create the Solar system’s planets. The atmospheres of Venus and Mars are primarily made up of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, argon, and oxygen.
The atmosphere is a vital component of the Earth’s interconnected physical processes. The layer of gases that surrounds a planet and other celestial bodies is referred to as the atmosphere. The Earth’s atmosphere comprises around 21 percent O2, 78 percent N, and 1percent other gases. These gases exist in levels termed the “troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere,” each with its unique set of properties such as temperature and pressure.
What is the stratosphere and its importance?
The Earth’s atmosphere comprises layers with varying attributes such as particular gaseous composition, heat, and pressure. The troposphere is the lowest level of the atmosphere, extending from the planetary scale to the stratosphere’s bottom. The troposphere includes 75% of the volume of the atmosphere and is the atmospheric level wherein weather occurs; the troposphere’s height varies from 17 km at the equator to 7.0 km at the poles. At an altitude of 15 to 35 kilometres, the stratosphere spans from the base of the troposphere towards the bottom of the mesosphere and contains the ozone layer. The air layer absorbs most of the UV light that Earth gets from the sun.
The stratosphere contains the critically important ozone layer. The ozone layer shields us from ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun. The ozone layer absorbs a vast proportion of the UV energy emitted by the sun. Life as we know it would be impossible underneath this layer of security. The stratosphere is extremely dry, with almost little water vapor in the atmosphere. As a result, there are few clouds in this layer; practically all clouds originate in the lower, more moist troposphere.
Conclusion
From the viewpoint of a ‘planetary geologist, the atmosphere acts to shape the surface of a planet. The wind gathers up particles such as dust, which undermine the relief and create deposits as they hit the landscape. Frost and precipitation, which are affected by the composition of the atmosphere, can impact relief. Climate change can have an impact on the geological history of a planet. In contrast, researching the Earth’s surface leads to a better understanding of the climate and atmosphere of other worlds.
