Composition and Structure of

Atmosphere
Atmosphere
The atmosphere refers
to the layer of invisible gases that surround/envelop the Earth and are held in place by
the planet's gravity. The Earth's atmosphere is composed of various gases, including
nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), argon (0.9%), and trace amounts of other gases such as
carbon dioxide, neon, helium, and methane, among others. The atmosphere plays a
critical role in supporting life on Earth by regulating the planet's temperature,
protecting us from harmful radiation from the sun, and providing us with the air we
breathe. The atmosphere also serves as a medium for weather patterns and helps to
distribute heat and moisture around the planet.
Composition of Atmosphere
The Earth's atmosphere is a layer of gases that surrounds the planet, extending up to
about 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles) from its surface.
Gases
The atmosphere is composed of several gases, each with its unique properties and
characteristics. The most abundant gases in the Earth's atmosphere are nitrogen and
oxygen, which make up about 99 percent of the atmosphere's total volume.

1. Nitrogen (N2): Nitrogen is the most abundant gas in the Earth's atmosphere,
making up about 78 percent of the total volume(which constitutes the largest
portion of the atmosphere). It is an inert gas that does not react with other
substances easily. Nitrogen is essential for plant growth and is a critical
component of DNA and other biological molecules. This gas has no color, odor, or
taste. It is an essential component of proteins and nucleic acids: Nitrogen is a
crucial building block for the formation of proteins and nucleic acids, which are
essential for all forms of life. Nitrogen gas in the atmosphere can be converted
into biologically available forms through a process called nitrogen fixation, which
is carried out by certain bacteria and other organisms.
 2. It helps to regulate the Earth's climate: Nitrogen gas is an inert gas, which
means it does not partcipate in chemical reactions that contribute to the
greenhouse effect. Its presence in the atmosphere helps to regulate the balance
of greenhouse gases, which in turn influences the Earth's climate.
3. It helps to maintain soil fertility: Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plant
growth, and the nitrogen cycle is an important process in maintaining soil fertility.
Nitrogen gas in the atmosphere can be converted into forms that plants can use,
either through natural processes like lightning or through human activities like
fertilizer application.
4. It helps to protect the ozone layer: Nitrogen gas plays a role in protecting
the ozone layer in the Earth's upper atmosphere. It can react with ozone-
depleting chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to prevent them from
breaking down ozone molecules.
5.
6. Oxygen (O2): Oxygen makes up about 21 percent of the Earth's atmosphere.
Oxygen is called life-giver because it is essential for the respiration of living
organisms, including humans. Oxygen also reacts with other elements, forming
ozone (O3), which helps protect the Earth's surface from harmful UV radiation.
7. It is essential for respiration: Oxygen gas is necessary for the process of
respiration, which is how living organisms produce energy. When humans and
animals breathe in oxygen, it is used to break down food molecules and produce
ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy currency of the body.
8. It supports combustion: Oxygen is necessary for combustion, which is the
chemical reaction that occurs when a fuel reacts with oxygen to produce heat and
light. Without oxygen, many of the processes that we rely on for energy, such as
burning fossil fuels, would not be possible.
9. It is critical for the ozone layer: Oxygen gas is a key component of the
ozone layer, which helps to protect the Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation.
Without the ozone layer, life on Earth would be much more vulnerable to the
damaging effects of the sun's radiation.
10. It is necessary for many chemical reactions: Oxygen gas is involved in
many chemical reactions that occur in the Earth's atmosphere, such as the
formation of sulfuric acid and the breakdown of pollutants. These reactions play
important roles in shaping the chemistry and composition of the atmosphere.
11.
12. Argon (Ar): Argon is a noble gas that makes up about 0.93 percent of the
Earth's atmosphere. It is an inert gas and does not react with other substances.
Argon is commonly used in welding and other industrial processes.
13. Carbon dioxide (CO2): Carbon dioxide makes up about 0.04 percent of the
Earth's atmosphere. It is a greenhouse gas that plays a crucial role in regulating
the Earth's temperature. Carbon dioxide is also essential for the growth of
vegetation and is released during respiration and combustion. It is the heaviest
gas and is confined to lower layers.
14. It is a crucial component of the carbon cycle: Carbon dioxide is a
naturally occurring gas that is produced through natural processes such as
respiration, volcanic eruptions, and the decay of organic matter. It is also
absorbed through photosynthesis, which allows plants to produce oxygen and
store carbon as part of their tissues. Carbon dioxide plays a critical role in
maintaining the balance of the Earth's carbon cycle.
15. It is a greenhouse gas: Carbon dioxide, along with other greenhouse gases
such as water vapor and methane, traps heat in the Earth's atmosphere and helps
to regulate the Earth's temperature. Without the presence of these gases, the
Earth's average temperature would be too cold to support life. However, the
increasing concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere due to human
activities such as burning fossil fuels is causing the Earth's temperature to rise at
an alarming rate, leading to climate change and its associated impacts.
16. It affects ocean chemistry: Carbon dioxide dissolves in water to form
carbonic acid, which can lower the pH of the ocean and make it more acidic. This
process, known as ocean acidification, can have significant impacts on marine
ecosystems, including damage to coral reefs and other organisms that rely on
calcium carbonate to build their shells and skeletons.
17. It affects plant growth: Carbon dioxide is essential for photosynthesis, the
process by which plants produce oxygen and store carbon as part of their tissues.
Higher levels of carbon dioxide can lead to increased plant growth and crop
yields, but this effect may be offset by other factors such as nutrient availability
and water availability.
18. Neon (Ne): Neon is a noble gas that makes up about 0.0018 percent of the
Earth's atmosphere. It is commonly used in advertising signs and lighting.
 19. Helium (He): Helium is a noble gas that makes up about 0.0005 percent of the
Earth's atmosphere. It is the second lightest element and is commonly used in
balloons and airships.
20. Methane (CH4): Methane is a greenhouse gas that makes up about 0.0002
percent of the Earth's atmosphere. It is released during the decomposition of
organic matter and is also produced by livestock and rice farming.
21. Hydrogen (H2): Hydrogen is the lightest element and makes up about 0.00005
percent of the Earth's atmosphere. It is an essential component of water and is
used in many industrial processes.
22. Ozone (O3): Ozone is a form of oxygen that makes up a small fraction of the
Earth's atmosphere. It is formed by the reaction of oxygen molecules with UV
radiation and helps protect the Earth's surface from harmful UV radiation. It is
found in the upper parts of the atmosphere.
23. It protects the Earth from ultraviolet radiation: Ozone is concentrated in
a layer in the Earth's upper atmosphere, known as the ozone layer. This layer helps
to absorb and block harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun, which can cause
skin cancer, cataracts, and other health problems in humans and other organisms.
24. It plays a role in atmospheric chemistry: Ozone is involved in many
chemical reactions that occur in the Earth's atmosphere. For example, it can help
to break down pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and volatile organic
compounds, which can contribute to smog and air pollution.

In addition to these gases, the Earth's atmosphere also contains trace amounts of other
gases, such as krypton, xenon, and hydrogen sulfide, as well as water vapor and
particulate matter, such as dust, pollen, and pollutants. The composition of the
atmosphere can vary depending on factors such as altitude, latitude, and weather
patterns.

Water Vapour
Water vapor is a key component of the Earth's atmosphere, accounting for around 0.25
percent of its total volume. The amount of water vapor in the atmosphere can vary
greatly depending on location, season, and weather conditions.
The composition of water vapor in the atmosphere is simply H2O, which means it is
made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Water vapor is a gas at room
temperature and can exist in the atmosphere in three different forms: as invisible water
vapor, as clouds (composed of tiny water droplets), and as precipitation (such as rain,
snow, and sleet).
Water vapor plays an important role in the Earth's climate system, as it is a greenhouse
gas that helps to regulate the planet's temperature. Water vapor absorbs part of the
insolation from the sun and reduces its amount reaching the earth's surface.
1. Water vapor is a greenhouse gas: It absorbs and re-emits infrared radiation,
which helps to trap heat in the atmosphere and keep the Earth warm. Without
water vapor, the Earth's average temperature would be too cold to support life.
2. Water vapor is a key player in the water cycle: As water evaporates from
the surface of the Earth, it forms water vapor in the atmosphere. This water vapor
then condenses into clouds and falls back to the Earth as precipitation, providing
a crucial source of fresh water for life on Earth.
3. Water vapor affects the climate: Changes in the amount of water vapor in
the atmosphere can impact global climate patterns. For example, as the Earth
warms due to increased greenhouse gas emissions, the amount of water vapor in
the atmosphere also increases, which can lead to more extreme weather events
like hurricanes and droughts
Dust Particles
When air blows as the wind with sufficient speed, it carries large quantities of dust
particles and keeps them suspended in it. They are derived from different sources and
include: sea, salts, smoke-soot, ash, pollen, dust, and disintegrated particles of meteors.
Although dust particles are mostly concentrated in the lower layers, convectional air
currents may carry them to great heights. The amount of dust particles is more in sub-
tropical and temperate areas because of dry and windy conditions than in the
equatorial and polar regions.
Condensation Nuclei: Dust particles provide a surface for water vapor to condense
on, which is the first step in cloud formation. When the air becomes saturated with
water vapor, tiny droplets form around the dust particles. These droplets can continue
to grow and combine with other droplets to form clouds.

Dust particles in the atmosphere can contribute to the formation of beautiful

dawn and dusk colors. The sky looks blue due to the presence of dust particles in
the atmosphere Here's how:
 1. Scattering: When sunlight passes through the Earth's atmosphere, it can interact
with dust particles and other small particles in the air. This process is called
scattering, and it can cause the sunlight to scatter in different directions. During
dawn and dusk, the sun's rays have to travel through a greater distance of the
atmosphere, causing more scattering to occur. This scattering can cause the
shorter wavelength colors, such as blue and green, to scatter more than the
longer wavelength colors, such as red and orange.
2. Absorption: Dust particles in the atmosphere can also absorb some of the colors
in the sunlight. This can cause the colors that are not absorbed, such as red and
orange, to become more prominent during dawn and dusk.
3. Reflection: The dust particles in the atmosphere can also reflect the sunlight,
which can contribute to the beautiful colors seen during dawn and dusk. The
angle of the sun during these times can also affect the reflection and scattering of
light.

Significance of Atmosphere
The atmosphere is an essential component of the Earth system, providing a range of
benefits that are vital for supporting life on our planet. It is important to take care of
our atmosphere by reducing pollution and taking action to mitigate climate change, in
order to ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.
1. The base of life: The atmosphere is the very base of life on the earth. We
cannot even imagine life without the atmosphere. In fact, the earth is the only
planet in the entire earth solar system that sustains life because the earth has an
atmosphere suitable for life. The atmosphere contains oxygen which is very
essential for breathing. It contains CO2 which is useful for vegetation life.
2. Weather and Climate: Weather and climate have a great hearing on our life.
All the incidents concerning weather and climate happen in the atmosphere.
Evaporation, precipitation, winds, etc. all take place due to the atmosphere.
Different weather and climate conditions at a particular place or spatial variations
in climatic conditions are all gifts of the atmosphere. The atmosphere plays a
crucial role in creating weather patterns and regulating the Earth's climate. The
movement of air masses and the circulation of the atmosphere help distribute
heat and moisture around the planet, creating diverse climates and weather
patterns.
3. Heat balance: The atmosphere acts as a blanket for us. It is transparent to short-
wave radiation coming from the sun and permits them to reach the earth's
surface. At the same time, it is opaque to long-wave radiation reflected from the
surface of the earth. Thus has Green Effect keeps the earth's temperature at an
average of 35*C warmer than it would otherwise be.
4. Protection: The atmosphere has a layer of ozone gas at a height of 15 to 35km
which partly absorbs the ultraviolet radiation coming from the sun. The ozone
layer thus serves as a shield protecting the earth from UV radiation. If these UV
rays were to reach the earth's surface at full intensity, all exposed bacteria would
be destroyed and animal tissues severely damaged. Depletion of ozone gas in the
atmosphere can lead to deadly diseases such as skin cancer. A serious threat to
the ozone layer is posed by the release into the atmosphere of freons, synthetic
compounds containing carbon, fluorine, and chloride atoms.
5. Radio broadcasting: The ionosphere layer of the atmosphere reflects the radio
waves transmitted from the earth and sends them back to earth. This helps in
radio broadcasting.
6. Safeguard against meteorites: Meteorites are constantly attracted from
outer space towards the earth due to their gravitational force. Most of them are
burnt during their passage through the earth's atmosphere due to friction of the
air. In this way, our atmosphere saves us from the attack of meteorites.
7. Airways: In this modern age of science and technology, the atmosphere has
become a very powerful medium for aviation which is the fastest mode of
transport. Most of the planes fly up to the troposphere only. However, aviations of
jet airplanes often avoid this layer due to the presence of bumpy air pockets and
fly above it.