But the gas disperses, finding its circulation path with global weather patterns and ocean currents. Even the seasonal patterns on Earth affect the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. During photosynthesis in spring and summer, plants absorb a substantial amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. As summer transitions to fall, photosynthesis begins to decrease as carbon dioxide accumulates back into the atmosphere.
This effect is from the Earth metabolism or net primary productivity. This says Atmospheric carbon has doubled since As it states Carbon is 0. This would mean what carbon we have or had would escape the atmosphere and we would all be looking forward to having a planet just like Mars. Its years and years of programming. That then let the EPA set emission standards for CO2 that eliminated any coal-fired power generation.
Your email address will not be published. Table of Contents show. Nitrogen Oxygen Argon 0. Carbon Dioxide 0. Trace Gases. Water Vapor Variable. Air is warmer near the ground and gets colder higher up. Nearly all of the water vapor and dust in the atmosphere are in this layer and that is why clouds are found here.
The stratosphere is the second layer. It starts above the troposphere and ends about 31 miles 50 km above ground. Ozone is abundant here and it heats the atmosphere while also absorbing harmful radiation from the sun. The air here is very dry, and it is about a thousand times thinner here than it is at sea level. Because of that, this is where jet aircraft and weather balloons fly. The mesosphere starts at 31 miles 50 km and extends to 53 miles 85 km high. The top of the mesosphere, called the mesopause, is the coldest part of Earth's atmosphere, with temperatures averaging about minus degrees F minus 90 C.
This layer is hard to study. Jets and balloons don't go high enough, and satellites and space shuttles orbit too high. Scientists do know that meteors burn up in this layer. The thermosphere extends from about 56 miles 90 km to between and miles and 1, km. Temperatures can get up to 2, degrees F 1, C at this altitude. The thermosphere is considered part of Earth's atmosphere, but air density is so low that most of this layer is what is normally thought of as outer space.
In fact, this is where the space shuttles flew and where the International Space Station orbits Earth. This is also the layer where the auroras occur. Charged particles from space collide with atoms and molecules in the thermosphere, exciting them into higher states of energy. The atoms shed this excess energy by emitting photons of light, which we see as the colorful aurora borealis and aurora australis. The exosphere , the highest layer, is extremely thin and is where the atmosphere merges into outer space.
It is composed of very widely dispersed particles of hydrogen and helium. Credit: UCAR. The inert gas Argon Ar is the third most abundant gas at. Due to the water cycle , the amount of water in the air is constantly changing. The concentration of water vapor decreases drastically with altitude. The upper troposphere has considerably less water vapor than air near the surface, the stratosphere and mesosphere have almost no water vapor, and the thermosphere contains none at all.
Air also contains tiny solid particles called aerosols , such as dust, sea salt, and ash from erupting volcanoes or forest fires. Many of these particles are so small that they are microscopic. Others are large enough to see. Aerosols affect climate by helping clouds form and shading the planet by scattering or absorbing sunlight. In the last century, manufacturing and widespread use of combustion engines have increased the number of aerosols in the atmosphere as particulate matter spews from smokestacks and exhaust pipes.
Burning wood and other materials also add particles to the air. Like everything on Earth, the air is made of chemicals. Many of these chemical reactions help maintain healthy natural environments and are vital for plants and animals. Nitrogen gas in the atmosphere does almost nothing, but nitrogen elsewhere on Earth is essential for life. Through the nitrogen cycle , nitrogen makes its way into soil and water, binds with other elements, and can be used by living things. Oxygen from the atmosphere causes oxidation reactions that help break down matter and release nutrients into soils, and is used by humans and animals in cellular respiration.
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