Our earth is protected by amazing shell - the atmosphere.It prevents the fall of celestial bodies on the planet and is one of the main conditions of human life.What is in the air and why it is so important to plants and animals that exist in the world?Answers to these and other questions can be found in this article.
What is the structure of the atmosphere?
air shell of the Earth is made up of several layers, which have distinctive features.
- troposphere.This is the lowest layer of the atmosphere and dense.In it it is concentrated 80% of the air.Its thickness varies according to location: near the equator, it is greater than over the poles.It is here that the weather, fog and clouds are formed.The maximum thickness of the troposphere up to 17 kilometers.
- Stratosphere.In this layer, located at an altitude of 50 km, there is the opposite than in the troposphere, the change in temperature with height - it raises.Here is the ozone layer and contains a minimal amount of water molecules.In the stratosphere 20 kilometers formed ozone.
- mesosphere.Here clouds are formed, which are composed of ice crystals, and a decrease in the density of the air.Mesosphere is at a distance of 80-85 kilometers above the ground and has a temperature of minus 90 degrees Celsius.
- thermosphere.Here, as a result of collision of particles from the air space there is a special glow, called "auroral".This layer also has a maximum temperature in the atmosphere - plus 1500 degrees Celsius.
- exosphere.It extends to an altitude of 20,000 kilometers and has a second name "Crown of the Earth" because of the diffuse form of its borders.
From what materials is the air?
It should be noted that the atmosphere of the planet was formed a long time ago.But in the time of youth of our Earth, it consisted mainly of waste products of volcanoes.Only with the spread of its first plant air was enriched with oxygen, making it suitable for breathing people.Many of the solar system planets have atmospheres.But part of that is suitable for human and animal life is only ours.Currently, the major share of air atmosphere consists of two major gas: nitrogen and oxygen.The percentage content of these substances is as follows: 78:21.Finding out from any gas is air, and you must specify the part of the one percent, which remains after deducting the amount of the main gas from 100%.In the atmosphere, together with the nitrogen and oxygen, contains carbon, hydrogen, noble gases, water vapor and other impurities.Oxygen is one of the main conditions of life of humans and animals, but the carbon is necessary to plants.
Does the water in the air?
Along with gases in the air and has a water vapor, which, depending on the height may be in the form of crystals.The content of the substance in the air under certain conditions leads to the formation of fog and clouds.The total amount of atmospheric water on our planet is 14 000 cubic kilometers.By the way, the weight of the air depends on the amount of water vapor contained in it.The more, the better the air, as the air is heavier than them.
What impurities can be in the air of large cities?
harmful gases into the atmosphere during combustion of coal, petroleum, chemicals and synthetic materials.As a result of the spread of road, rail and other modes of transport, as well as the activity of industrial enterprises the air is polluted by foreign matter.What is in the air in the big city?Not only substances such as carbon, oxygen and nitrogen, but also carbon monoxide, methane, and sulfur dioxide, which causes irreversible damage to the earth's biosphere.
example, if the air will contain more than 3% carbon dioxide, it can cause death of the living body, as is the norm of 0.03%.A large amount of smoke, gases and soot, contained in a polluted atmosphere, called "smog".He envelops many industrial areas and major cities in the world.
How to form acid rain?
formation of such deposits can be explained by knowing the structure of the composition of the atmosphere.From any of the molecules is the air?It is a gas and steam mixture.It contains water molecules and other substances.When released to the atmosphere impurities atoms of these components are combined with water, converted to the acid and fall to the ground.Such rains cause great harm to plants, animals and humans and is a real ecological disaster.
What is ozone and where is it?
It is formed in the stratosphere, at a distance of 20 kilometers from the Earth.The ozone layer protects the biosphere of our planet from harmful ultraviolet radiation.It also neutralizes many harmful substances and bacteria.What is in the air in the ozone layer?It contains active oxygen, which is produced by electrical discharges or sunlight on the molecular.Contact with the atmosphere of methane, chlorine, bromine, and nitrogen oxide contained in air conditioning and refrigeration units, leads to destruction of the layer, which is one of global environmental problems civilization.
What is in the air?
composition of air in the article are characteristic only for the lower layer of the atmosphere, which is called the "troposphere."The farther from the surface, the more changes occur in it.What is the composition of air in the upper atmosphere?The first changes occur in the ozone layer - there is active oxygen.Next, at a distance of 1 000 km above the Earth's surface begins predominance of atomic hydrogen and helium.With height and pressure changes - it decreases as the air becomes more rarefied.
What pollutes the air?
worse ecological environment area, the greater the foreign substances contained in the air, the more dangerous it is for human life and animals.With the development of civilization of a negative impact on air shell of the Earth has increased dramatically.Industrial plants, road and rail transport, innovative creature comforts (air conditioning, cooling equipment and others.) Pollute the surrounding space, which leads to a decrease in the ozone layer, smog and acid rain.
Today, all over the world preference is given to environmentally friendly technologies and transport, but the full transition to such production would require a certain amount of time and material costs, and will last for a long time.
Conclusion
More 30 years ago, we were surprised when they heard that in Western countries sell simple bottled water.Today, every resident of the city, more or less taking care of your health, will not drink that flows from the tap in our apartments.Purchase of water to quench their thirst and cooking has become the norm.
in major cities in China began selling clean air in cans.And before these facts were described only in science fiction stories.So, what is in the air today, it depends on every earthling.Anyone can do a lot for the environment, carrying out simple rules every day: do not wash the car in natural waters, in time to put out the fires, quit smoking, start to burn garbage and foliage in the designated areas, and others. After all, it is very important to know what airwill breathe in the world our descendants!And will breathe ...
