Atmosphere of Earth Layers and Its Functions – For us, the atmosphere is the most important part of the Earth. It’s because of the presence of the atmosphere that you can breathe. The air in the atmosphere is composed of different types of gases.
Atmosphere of Earth: The Air that Sustains Life
The atmosphere of Earth is a thin layer of gases that surrounds our planet, extending up to an altitude of approximately 10,000 kilometers. It is a crucial component of our planet’s ecosystem, providing us with the air we breathe, the climate we experience, and protecting us from the harmful radiation of the sun.
As we look up at the blue sky, we often take for granted the intricate workings of our atmosphere. However, its complex interactions play a vital role in sustaining life on Earth. Let us explore the wonders of our atmosphere, from its composition to its layers and functions.
Composition of the Atmosphere
The gas making up the atmosphere are nitrogen (78 percent), oxygen (21 percent), argon (0.9 percent), and carbon dioxide (0.03 percent). The earth became a unique planet in the universe because there was oxygen that humans could use to breathe.
The atmosphere is not only useful for breathing. The atmosphere also protects the Earth from harmful Solar radiation. The atmosphere also protects the Earth when other dangerous objects in space fall. The atmosphere protects us from meteoroids falling from space.
Before it reached the surface of the Earth, the meteor had been burned because it was rubbing against the air in the atmosphere. In addition, the atmosphere keeps the temperature on Earth warm and comfortable to live in.
Atmosphere of Earth Layers
The layers of the Earth’s atmosphere are a blanket of gases that covers the planet. The atmosphere contains a wide variety of gases that living things need on earth.
The Atmosphere of Earth Layers become the place where the rain forms until it falls to the mainland. The atmosphere has several elements based on its temperature differences.
That part of the atmosphere becomes the layers that make up it.
The atmosphere can be divided into several layers based on temperature and other properties. The troposphere is the layer closest to Earth’s surface and contains most of our weather.
Above the troposphere is the stratosphere, which contains the ozone layer that protects us from harmful UV radiation. The mesosphere is the third layer, followed by the thermosphere and exosphere, which extend far into space.
Here are some elements of the Earth’s atmospheric layer.
Troposphere
The troposphere is the lining of the alley closest to the earth’s surface. This layer has a distance of 14 kilometers from the earth’s surface. The troposphere has several contents, among which are Water planet layers, convection, tropopause.
Stratosphere
The second layer is the stratosphere layer. This layer is located at an altitude of 12 km-60 km. In the stratosphere layer, there is a sulfate material, which is what affects the occurrence of rain. In addition, the stratosphere is quite special, because there is an ozone layer. This ozone layer serves to block out sunlight, which, of course, if there is no ozone layer, the Earth will be very hot. Thank God there’s an ozone layer.
Mesosphere.
The third or most middle layer is the mesosphere. This layer is at an altitude of 60 km-80 km. You need to know that in the mesosphere layer the air temperature is increasingly unstable, every distance of 100 meters the air temperature will drop by 0.4 °C, the peak can reach -120°C.
Well, if there is a meteor falling with even hot temperatures, it will break into pieces when it enters this one layer. Well, the inhabitants of the earth, really protected.
Thermosphere
The thermosphere layer is a warm layer in the atmosphere. It is located at an altitude above 85 km from the earth’s surface.
In this layer, the temperature rises again with the altitude.
This happens because the air molecules that absorb heat, then heat up the environment.
In the thermosphere layer, the density is very low because the number of atoms and molecules is very small.
The presence of these particles actually has a significant effect because the absorption of a small amount of solar energy can raise the air temperature high.
In the thermosphere layer, the Aurora phenomenon occurs, which is formed due to the interaction of charged particles from the sun with a thin layer of air in the thermosphere.
Exosphere
It is called the exosphere because it is the outermost layer of the atmosphere, where the influence of gravity is so small that air collisions rarely occur. The height of this layer is between 500 km to 1,000 km. The gas grains in this layer gradually escape into outer space. This layer is also called exobase.
Functions of the Atmosphere
The atmosphere of Earth serves several vital functions that are crucial to life on our planet. It regulates temperature, absorbs harmful radiation, and protects us from space debris. It also plays a crucial role in weather and climate, by redistributing heat and moisture around the planet.
FAQs About Atmosphere
Q: What is the greenhouse effect, and how does it relate to the atmosphere?
A: The greenhouse effect is the process by which certain gases in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide and water vapor, trap heat and prevent it from escaping into space.
This process helps regulate Earth’s temperature, but too much can lead to global warming and climate change.
Q: How does air pollution affect the atmosphere?
A: Air pollution can have severe consequences on the atmosphere and the environment. It can contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer, the formation of acid rain, and health problems for humans and other living organisms.
Bottom Line
The atmosphere of Earth is a complex and vital component of our planet’s ecosystem. From its composition to its layers and functions, it plays a significant role in sustaining life on Earth. By understanding its intricacies, we can better appreciate and protect our planet for future generations.
Thank you very much for reading 5 Atmosphere of Earth Layers and Its Functions, hopefully useful.
