Composition of Atmosphere Notes

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Composition of Atmosphere –

Geography Study Material & Notes


The composition of Atmosphere is said to be a mixture of different gases. It envelops around the
Earth. 99% of total mas of atmosphere is confined to highest of 32 km from the Earth’s surface.

Permanent gases of the Atmosphere

 Atmosphere is consists of various gases, water vapour and dust particles.


 The presence of oxygen becomes negligible at the height of 120 km from the surface of
earth with regards to the composition of atmosphere.
 Carbon dioxide and water vapour occur only upto 90 km.
 Carbon dioxide is meteorically very important as it is transparent to incoming solar
radiation but opaque to outgoing terrestrial radiation. It is also responsible for greenhouse
effect.
 Ozone gas: 10-50 km above earth surface and acts as filter, absorbing ultraviolet rays
from the sun. Ozone prevents the rays from reaching the surface of earth.
 Water vapour is variable gas, decreases with altitude.
 It also decreases from equator towards the poles.
 Acts like blanket allowing the earth to neither to become too cold nor too hot. Also
contributes to the stability and instability in the air.
 Dust particles: are in higher concentration in subtropical and temperate regions due to
dry winds in comparison to equatorial and polar regions.
 Dust particles act as a hygroscopic nuclei over which water vapour of atmosphere
condenses to produce clouds.

The composition of atmosphere varies with local environmental factors also.

 
Structure of Atmosphere:
There are five layers in the structure of atmosphere depending upon temperature.

I. Troposphere:

 It is the lowermost layer.


 13 km height average with 8 km at poles and 18 km at equator (lesser at poles and greater
at equator).
 The thickness is 18 km at equator because heat is transported to great heights by strong
convectional currents.
 This layer has adult particles and water vapour.
 Climate and weather changes occur here.
 Temperature decreases at rate of 1 degrees celcius for every 165 m of height.
 Zone separating troposphere from stratosphere is called tropopause.
 Temperature at tropopause is minus eighty degrees celcius over equator and minus forty
five degrees celcius over the poles. This remains constant through the year.

II. Stratosphere

 It is found above the troposphere.


 extends upto 50 km of height.
 Has ozone layer – absorbs ultraviolet radiation and shields life on earth from harmful
energy.

III. Mesosphere:

 Above stratosphere
 reaches till 80 km height.

 Temperature decreases with altitude  here, by 80 km it reaches minus hundred  degrees


celcius .
 The upper limit is called mesopause.

IV. Ionosphere or Thermosphere:

 80 to 400 km above mesopause.
 Ionosphere consists of electrically charged particles known as ions.
 Radio waves which are transmitted from the earth are reflected back by this layer.
 Temperature here increases with height.

V. Exosphere:

 It is the outermost layer.


 Not much is known about this layer.

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