Atmosphere

Introduction

The Earths atmosphere is the product of a lengthy evolutionary process that

began at the Earths birth about 4.6 billion years ago. Astronomers scanning
the solar system and geologists analyzing evidence obtained from
meteorites, rocks, and fossils have given us a reasonable, albeit as yet
incomplete, scenario of the origin of the atmosphere.

Atmosphere is a major hydrologic link between oceans and continents and

facilitates the movement of water on the earth.

Constantly shields the surface and its inhabitants from the suns dangerous
ultra violet radiant energy, as well as from the onslaught of material from
interplanetary space.

Composition

A thin, gaseous envelope comprised mostly of nitrogen and oxygen, with

small amounts of other gases, such as water vapor and carbon dioxide.

Nested on the atmosphere are clouds of liquid water and ice crystals.

Almost 99 percent of the atmosphere lies within a mere 30 km of the earths

surface.
Permanent Gases
Gas

Symbol

Percent
(by Volume)
Dry Air

Nitrogen

78.08

Oxygen

20.95

Argon

Ar

0.93

Neon

Ne

0.0018

Helium

He

0.0005

Hydrogen

0.00006

Xenon

Xe

0.000009

Variable Gases
Gas (and Particles)

Symbol

Percent
(by Volume)

Water Vapor

HO

0 to 4

Carbon dioxide

CO

0.037

Methane

CH

0.00017

Nitrous Oxide

NO

0.00003

Ozone

0.000004

Particles (dust, soot,

etc.)

0.000001

Chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs)

0.00000002

Layers of the Atmosphere

The four layers of the atmosphere include:
the thermosphere, where satellites orbit Earth;
the mesosphere, where meteors burn;
the stratosphere, which contains the ozone layer;
the troposphere, where we live.

Troposphere
From the Greek word tropein, meaning to turn, or to change.
The lowest layer of importance that contains the bulk of the air.
The region of the atmosphere from the surface up to about 11 km (or 7 mi).

Characterized by a nearly uniform decrease in temperature from lower to

higher altitudes.

Most of the weather changes are limited to this layer because of the decrease
of temperature with elevation.
Thickest at the equator and thinnest at the poles.

Stratosphere
Directly above the troposphere, extending from 11 km to about 50 km above
the Earths surface.
Characterized by a vertically isothermal (equal temperature) structure in the
lower portion.
Portion of the upper layer contains high levels of a gas called ozone.
Many jet aircrafts fly in this layer because of its stability.
Mesosphere
Middle sphere
Extends from the top of the stratosphere to about 85 km above Earth
Lies above the stratosphere identified by a strong temperature decrease from
the maximum temperature zone in its lowest portion just above the
stratosphere.
With an average temperature of -90 degrees Celcius, the top of this
layer represents the coldest part of our atmosphere.
Meteors or rock fragments burn up in the mesosphere.
Ionosphere is in this layer portion of the upper atmosphere which
includes the ion-rich layers.
The air here is extremely thin and the atmospheric pressure is quite
low.
At this level, without proper oxygen-breathing equipment, the brain
would soon become oxygen-starveda condition known as hypoxiaand
suffocation would result.

Thermosphere
The hot layer above the mesosphere.
Thickest atmospheric layer found between 85 km and 500 km above
Earths surface
Oxygen molecules absorb energetic solar rays, warming the air.
There are relatively few atoms and molecules, thus, the absorption of a
small amount of energetic solar energy can cause a large increase in air
temperature that may exceed 500 degrees Celcius.
The thermosphere is a layer with auroras, known for its high
temperatures.
Ionosphere is here; too, which helps carry radio waves.

Exosphere
The atmosphere merges into space in the extremely thin exosphere.
This is the upper limit of our atmosphere.
Outer layer where space shuttle orbits.

General Characteristics

Density and Mass

According to the American National Center for Atmospheric Research, "The
total mean mass of the atmosphere is 5.148010 18 kg with an annual range due to
water vapor of 1.2 or 1.510 15 kg depending on whether surface pressure or water
vapor data are used. The mean mass of water vapor is estimated as 1.2710 16 kg
and the dry air mass as 5.1352 0.000310 18 kg."
Pressure
The amount of force exerted over an area of surface.
The average atmospheric pressure at sea level is 1 standard
atmosphere (atm).
101.3 kPa
14.7 psi
760 mm Hg
76 cm Hg
29.92 in Hg

Air pressure varies with location and weather.

Warmer air is less dense and exerts less pressure
Cooler air is denser and exerts more pressure
Atmospheric pressure always decreases with increasing height.

Humidity
Measure of amount of water vapor in atmosphere
Specific Humidity - the mass of water vapor in a unit mass of moist air at a
given temperature
Relative Humidity ratio of (airs actual water vapour content) to (amount
of water vapor at saturation for that temperature)
As air is lifted, it cools. Cool air holds less water and eventually cools to the
point that relative humidity is saturated, and water vapor is condensed to
liquid.
Temperature

The troposphere is warmed primarily by the Earths surface; temperature

decreases as altitude increases in this layer.
Temperatures increase as altitude increases in the stratosphere, particularly
in the upper portion ozone.
Temperatures decrease with altitude in the mesosphere.
Thermosphere and exosphere are the first to receive Suns rays, so they are
very hot.

Stability

Adiabatic Lapse Rate (ALR)

- Rate of temperature change of air parcel with change in elevation
Dry ALR = 9.8 oC/km
- Rate varies with moisture conditions
- Causes stable or unstable atmospheric conditions
Lapse Rates

The lapse rate, or vertical temperature gradient, is the rate of change of

temperature with height in the free atmosphere.
Adiabatic change
The change in the temperature of a gas or the air, due only to the change in
pressure on the air.
An air parcel is subject to buoyant force that arise from density difference
between the parcel and the surrounding (ambient) air. The warmer an air parcel is,
the lower is its density. Parcels that are warmer (lighter) than the ambient air tend
to rise, and parcels that are cooler (denser) than the ambient air tend to sink. An air
parcel continues to rise or sink until it reaches air of equivalent temperature (or
density).
Within a stable air layer, an ascending air parcel becomes cooler than the
ambient air, or a descending air parcel becomes warmer than the ambient air. For
either upward or downward displacements, an air parcel in stable air is thus forced
to return to its original altitude.