atmosphere - that's what allows life on Earth.The earliest information and facts about the atmosphere we get back in elementary school.In high school, we have already more familiar with this concept in geography lessons.
concept of the Earth's atmosphere
atmosphere is not only the Earth, but also of other celestial bodies.So called gas envelope surrounding the planet.The composition of this gas layer different planets differs significantly.Let's look at the basic information and facts about the atmosphere of the Earth, otherwise known as air.
its most important constituent part is oxygen.Some people mistakenly think that the Earth's atmosphere is composed entirely of oxygen, but in fact the air - a mixture of gases.It is composed of 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen.Rest of one percent includes ozone, argon, carbon dioxide, water vapor.Let percentage of these gases is small, but they have an important function - to absorb a significant part of the solar radiant energy, thereby not give luminary transform all life on our planet to ashes.The properties of the atmosphere change depending on the altitude.For example, at 65 km altitude it is 86% nitrogen and oxygen - 19%.
composition of Earth's atmosphere
- Carbon dioxide is essential for plant nutrition.In the atmosphere, it appears as a result of respiration of living organisms, rotting, burning.Its absence in the composition of the atmosphere would make impossible the existence of any plants.
- Oxygen - vital to the human component of the atmosphere.Its presence is a prerequisite for the existence of all living organisms.He is about 20% of the total volume of atmospheric gases.
- Ozone - it is a natural absorber of solar ultraviolet radiation, which adversely affects living organisms.Most of it forms a separate layer of the atmosphere - ozone shield.In recent years, human activity leads to the fact that the ozone layer is starting to break down, but since it is of great importance, the active work of conservation and restoration.
- water vapor determines the humidity.Its content may vary depending on various factors: air temperature, geographic location, season.At low temperature, water vapor in the air, very little can be less than one percent, while a high amount thereof is 4%.
- Besides all of the above, as part of the Earth's atmosphere is always a certain percentage solid and liquid impurities .This soot, ash, sea salt, dust, water droplets, microorganisms.Into the air, they can both natural and man-made means.
atmosphere and temperature, density, and quality of the air at different heights uneven.Because of this, it decided to allocate the different layers of the atmosphere.Each of them has its own characteristics.Let's find out what layers of the atmosphere are distinguished:
- troposphere - the layer of the atmosphere closest to the Earth's surface.Its height - 8-10 kilometers above the poles and 16-18 km - in the tropics.There is 90% of the total water vapor that exists in the atmosphere, so there is an active cloud formation.Also in this layer there are processes such as the movement of air (wind), the turbulence convection.Temperatures range from 45 degrees in the afternoon in the warm season in the tropics to -65 degrees at the poles.
- Stratosphere - the second remoteness from the ground layer of the atmosphere.Located at an altitude of 11 to 50 km.In the lower stratosphere temperature of about -55, in the direction away from the earth it rises to + 1˚S.This area is called an inversion, and is the boundary of the stratosphere and mesosphere.
- mesosphere is located at an altitude of 50 to 90 km.The temperature at the bottom of its border - about 0, on the upper reaches -80 ...- 90? C.Meteorites that fall into the Earth's atmosphere, completely burned in the mesosphere, because this place is the air glow.
- thermosphere has a thickness of approximately 700 km.In this layer of the atmosphere there auroras.They appear due to ionization of the air under the influence of cosmic radiation and radiation from the sun.
- exosphere - a zone of dispersion air.Here, the gas concentration is small and there is their gradual withdrawal into interplanetary space.
boundary between Earth's atmosphere and space expanses assumed line of 100 km.This line is called the Karman line.
pressure atmosphere
listening to the weather forecast, we often hear the indicators of atmospheric pressure.But that means the pressure of the atmosphere, and how it can affect us?
We figured out that the air consists of gases and impurities.Each of these components has its own weight, and therefore the atmosphere is not weightless, they believed until the XVII century.Atmospheric pressure - is a force to crush all layers of the atmosphere to the surface of the earth and all things.
Scientists have conducted complex calculations and proved that one square meter of the atmosphere presses with force kg 10,333.Hence, the human body is exposed to the air pressure, the weight of which is equal to 12-15 tons.Why do not we feel it?It saves us their internal pressure that counterbalances and external.You can feel the pressure of the atmosphere, on an aircraft or in the mountains, because the atmospheric pressure at an altitude much less.This possible physical discomfort, laying the ears, dizziness.
interesting information and facts
about the atmosphere surrounding the globe, we can say many things.We know about her a lot of interesting facts and some of them may seem surprising:
- weight of the Earth's atmosphere is 5 300 000 000 000 000 tons.
- It promotes sound transmission.At a height of more than 100 km of this property is lost due to changes in the composition of the atmosphere.
- Movement atmosphere provoked by the uneven heating of the Earth's surface.
- to determine the air temperature using a thermometer, and to learn the power of atmospheric pressure - barometer.
- presence of atmospheric save our planet from meteorites 100 tons daily.
- composition of the air was fixed a few hundred million years, but began to change with the start of a turbulent production activities.
- believed that the atmosphere extends to an altitude of up to 3000 km.
value environment for human
Physiological atmosphere zone is 5 km away.At an altitude of 5000 m above sea level, a person begins to manifest lack of oxygen, resulting in a decrease in its performance and the deterioration of health.This shows that a person can not survive in a space where there is this wonderful mixture of gases.
All information and facts about the atmosphere only confirm its importance for the people.Because of its availability and the opportunity of life on Earth.Already today, evaluating the magnitude of the harm that humanity is capable of the actions applied life-giving air, we need to think about further measures of preservation and restoration of the atmosphere.
