Topic 6 Atmospheric systems and societies
6.01 Introduction to the atmosphere
Learning objectives
1. Composition of the atmosphere
2. The dynamic nature of the atmosphere
3. The vertical structure of the atmosphere
4. Greenhouse effect
5. Global warming
The Earth's atmosphere is a gaseous
layer surrounding the planet, primarily
composed of nitrogen (78%) and
oxygen (21%), with trace amounts of
other gases like argon and carbon
dioxide
Composition of the atmosphere
The atmosphere is composed mainly of a mix of gases
The lower layers are much more denser than those above
Air can contain 1 to 3 % water vapour mostly in the troposphere
The solids particles in the atmosphere are dust, smoke, salt and volcanic ash acting as
condensation nuclei
Atmospheric composition
The atmospheric system
Is a dynamic system with inputs, outputs, storages and flows.
Dynamic – atmosphere doesn’t stay the same but changes over time
Inputs – most important is the energy from the Sun which produces the atmospheric
movements
Outputs – precipitation for instance
Storages – for e.g. the concentration of water in the clouds
Flows – movement of air masses which cause variation in weather
Is approximately 1,100 km in depth
Has atmospheric pressure resulting from the pull of gases due to gravity
Troposphere & stratosphere is where the most reactions affecting life occur. E.g. Cloud
formation and ozone
Human activities impact the atmospheric composition.
The vertical structure of the atmosphere
The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere, which contains most of the air, water
vapour and solid particles.
Its vertical extent varies from 16 km in the tropics to 9 km at the poles.
Thermal stratification of the atmosphere
The stratosphere is the second layer extending upto 50 km.
Temperature increases in this layer upto 0° C due to absorption of UV radiation by the ozone
layer.
The weather in the stratosphere is generally stable and so aircrafts fly in this layer.
The troposphere and stratosphere together make up the lower or inner atmosphere.
The mesosphere is the third layer
of 30 km where temperature declines due to rarified atmosphere.
The fourth layer is the thermosphere
where the atmospheric density is extremely low.
Here the temperature increases with altitude due to absorption of UV radiation by atomic
oxygen.
The mesosphere and the thermosphere together constitute the upper atmosphere.
The greenhouse effect
Is a natural and necessary phenomena
Maintains suitable temperatures for living systems
Without it there would be no life on earth
The effect is caused by gases, called greenhouse gases, (e.g. CO2, H2O, CH4) in the
atmosphere reducing heat loss back into space.
They cause our atmosphere to be warmer so that the earth can sustain life.
N2 and O2 are not greenhouse gases.
Global warming
Is the progressive heating up of the earth’s atmosphere mostly due to anthropogenic
activities.
Is due to build up of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, CFCs, nitrous oxide and
ozone.
Causes an increase in the average global temperature of the earth.
This results in melting of glaciers and ice sheets which increases the amount of fresh water in
hydrological systems.
This in turn cause an increased inflow of fresh water in the seas and oceans and consequent
rise in sea levels.
The increased temperature also causes thermal expansion of sea water leading to its level
rise.
It also causes the melting of the permafrost leading to release of trapped methane gas, a
greenhouse gas.
Anthropogenic activities are mostly responsible for the enhanced greenhouse effect.
Permafrost