The Atmosphere

Is the layer of gasses that surround earth.

The main gasses = nitrogen, oxygen, water vapour and carbon dioxide
 Importance of the atmosphere
Essential for life on earth.
It provides oxygen for respiration (breathing)
It provides water vapour – the source of water, through the water
cycle
Provides carbon dioxide used in photosynthesis (process where plants
trap the sun’s energy and make their own food) during
photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen.
The atmosphere shields Earth from harmful solar radiation and
meteors.
It absorbs harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Meteors burn up as they pass through the atmosphere, if not for the
atmosphere, Earth would be hit regularly by meteorites.
Composition of the atmosphere
Permanent gasses Importance for life on Earth
Nitrogen Plants need to grow
Found in proteins
People need proteins to grow
Oxygen People need oxygen for respiration
Plants for cellular respiration
Argon Mainly in electrical applicators

Variable gasses Importance for life on Earth

Water vapour In water cycle, provides water when
Nitrogen: 78% it condenses
Oxygen: 21%
Argon: 0,9% Carbon dioxide In photosynthesis, plats take in
carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide: 0,037%
Other: 0,063%
Structure of the atmosphere
 1) Troposphere
The layer closest to Earth.
The layer we live in and where all weather occurs.
16km above the equator and 8km above the poles .
The temperature decreases from an average of 15°
C at Earth’s surface to -60° C at the tropopause.
The tropopause is the upper limit of the
troposphere.
 2) Stratosphere
 Extends from the tropopause to about 50km above
Earth’s surface.
 Temperature increases with height from -60° C at
the tropopause to 0° C at 50km.
 The temperature remains constant, it is called the
stratopause.
 The ozone layer lies in the stratosphere.
 The ozone filters out the harmful Ultraviolet
radiation
 3) Mesosphere
 It extends from 50km to 80km above the Earth.
 The temperatures decreases again from 0° C to
-80° C.
 The upper limit is called the mesopause which is
10km thick.
 The temperature remains constant at about -80° C
 4) Thermosphere
 The outermost layer that extends from 80km to the outer
limit of the atmosphere
 It is excessively high temperatures, ranging from 500° C to
2000° C
 High temperatures are caused by oxygen and nitrogen
absorbing radiation from space and converting heat.
 The lower thermosphere = ionosphere – extends from 80km to
550km
 Nitrogen, oxygen and other particles in the ionosphere absorb
radiation from the sun and become electrically charged
particles ions.
 Outer layer of the thermosphere = exosphere – extends from
550km to thousands of km into space.
 Here where satellites orbit Earth.
 The ozone layer
∇It is made up of three oxygen atoms (O3).
∇Ozone is found in high concentration between altitudes
of 15km and 55km – referred to as the ozone layer.
∇The Stratosphere contains 90% of the ozone layer and
10% occurs in the upper layer of the troposphere.
∇It can both protect and harm life on Earth, depending
where it is found.
∇Stratosphere = it is essential for life – it filters out
harmful UV radiation.
∇When an ozone molecule absorbs UV radiation, it splits
into an oxygen molecule (O2) and a single oxygen atom.
∇This single oxygen atom re-joins with the oxygen
molecule, forming ozone once again.
Causes of ozone depletion
Chemicals containing chlorine, such as chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs)
Aerosol sprays
Refrigerators and air-conditioners
Halons in fire extinguishers
Carbon tetrachloride used in solvents and cleaning agents
Methane from human-related activities (fossil fuel production
and animal farming) and natural sources such as wetlands and
oceans.
Methyl bromide used in pesticides

These gasses split the ozone molecules of O3 into O2 and O

Effects of ozone depletion
1% reduction in ozone (O3) results in 2% increase in UV
radiation reaching Earth.
Effects on humans
Skin cancer
Eye cataracts
Lowering of immune system,
resulting in increased illness in
people and animals
Increase in incidence of malaria
Effects on animals
Altered weather patterns
Increase in surface
temperatures
Change in life cycle of plants,
disrupting food chains
Possible dying out of
microscopic organisms that
form the basis of the food
chain
Ways to reduce ozone
depletion
 People should use “ozone friendly” products.
 Technicians repairing refrigerators or air
conditioners should recover and recycle the old
CFCs so these are not released into the
atmosphere.
 Car drivers should check the air conditioners
regularly for leaks.
 Trees should be planted – they release oxygen
(photosynthesis)