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Atmosphere Structure and Composition

The atmosphere is composed of different layers with varying properties. The troposphere extends from the surface to 8-20 km and contains almost all the atmosphere's mass and water. Above is the stratosphere which contains the ozone layer and has a temperature inversion. Higher still is the mesosphere where temperature decreases with height, and then the thermosphere which also has a temperature inversion. The composition of air is primarily nitrogen, oxygen, and argon, with variable amounts of water vapor, ozone, and carbon dioxide. The early atmosphere lacked oxygen but photosynthesis by aquatic organisms introduced oxygen and led to the formation of the ozone layer.

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Kenneth Frias
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119 views21 pages

Atmosphere Structure and Composition

The atmosphere is composed of different layers with varying properties. The troposphere extends from the surface to 8-20 km and contains almost all the atmosphere's mass and water. Above is the stratosphere which contains the ozone layer and has a temperature inversion. Higher still is the mesosphere where temperature decreases with height, and then the thermosphere which also has a temperature inversion. The composition of air is primarily nitrogen, oxygen, and argon, with variable amounts of water vapor, ozone, and carbon dioxide. The early atmosphere lacked oxygen but photosynthesis by aquatic organisms introduced oxygen and led to the formation of the ozone layer.

Uploaded by

Kenneth Frias
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Atmospheric Structure

and Composition
Definitions
Atmosphere: The thin envelope of gases
surrounding the earth
Highly compressible

Density decreases rapidly with height

Air: A mechanical mixture of gases and aerosols


Vertical Structure of Atmosphere
 Troposphere (surface to 8-20 km)
Upper boundary varies from about 8 km
(poles in winter) to about 20 km
(tropics)
Weather and climate layer
Most of atmosphere’s mass; all of its
water
Vertical Structure of Atmosphere
 Troposphere (surface to about 8-20 km)
Upper boundary varies from about 8 km (poles in
winter) to about 20 km (tropics)
Weather and climate layer
Most of atmosphere’s mass; all of its water

 Stratosphere (8-20 km up to about 50 km)


Ozone (O3) Layer
Temperature inversion
Vertical Structure (ctd.)
 Mesosphere (50-80 km)
– Temperature decreases with height. Why?

 Thermosphere (80-? km)


– Temperature inversion. Why?
Vertical Structure (ctd.)
 Homosphere vs. Heterosphere
Vertical Structure (ctd.)
 Homosphere vs. Heterosphere

 Transition zones between layers


– Tropopause
– Stratopause
– Mesopause
Defining Layers by Function –
the Ozonosphere
 Roughly corresponds to the stratosphere

 How does the ozone layer work?

 Why is there a “hole” in the ozone layer?

– Why no “hole” where the pollution is


produced?
Defining Layers by Function –
the Ionosphere
 Upper mesosphere + thermosphere
 Produces the aurora borealis and aurora
australis
 D Layer – absorbs AM radio waves;
disappears at night
 E Layer – weakens at night
 F Layer – reflects AM radio waves
Composition of the Air
 Uniform gases
Nitrogen (N2) 78%, (O2) 21%,
Argon (Ar) 1%, trace gases (Neon,
Helium, Methane (CH4), etc.)

 Variable gases
Water Vapor (H2Ov), O3, CO2
Composition (ctd.)
 Aerosols
Solid: Ice/salt crystals, soil particles, volcanic dust
Condensation nuclei

Liquid: Water droplets (cloud, fog)


Origin of the Atmosphere
 Volcanoes release H2, CO2, H2Ov, N2, NH3, CH4
No O2 or O3, so no land organisms!
 One-celled aquatic organisms release CO2 to
atmosphere when breaking down food through
fermentation
 Simple aquatic plants took in CO2 and released O2
to atmosphere via photosynthesis
O3 formed from the O2
Origin of Atmosphere (ctd)

 CO2 gets stored in shells and decaying


plants

 N2 builds up in atmosphere

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