The earth’s atmosphere consists of Nitrogen (78%), Oxygen (21%), Water (4%), Argon (0.93%), Carbon Dioxide (0.039%), Neon (0.0018%), Helium (0.0005%), Methane (0.00018%), Hydrogen (0.00005%), Nitrous Oxide (0.00003%) and Ozone (0.000004%). Some traces of Krypton, Xenon and Radone are also found in the atmosphere. The Earth’s atmosphere is composed of five layers characterized by their own particular kind of constituents. The proportion of the various gases and their temperatures vary across the different layers of the Earth’s atmosphere. Let us take a look at each of the layer.
Troposphere
It is a very first layer above the earth’s surface and contains around 80% of the Earth’s atmosphere. It begins from the Earth’s surface and extends to between 7 km (4.3 miles) and 17 km (10.6 miles). The weather occurs in this layer and the air we breathe is from this very layer.
Stratosphere
It extends up to around 50 km (31 miles). It is this layer that contains the ozone layer. The ozone layer is located between 15 to 35 km (9.3 to 21.7 miles) above the Earth’s surface. This layer absorbs the harmful ultraviolet radiation of the sun that could harm the life on Earth. This is also the flying zone for most of the jet aircrafts.
Mesosphere
It extends from 50 km (31 miles) to around 80 to 85 km (49.7 to 52.8 miles). Most of the meteors and rock fragments burn up in this layer before entering the Earth’s atmosphere. The temperature of the air in this layer of Earth decreases with height.
Thermosphere
It stretched from 85 km (49.7 miles) to 640 km (397.6 km). The temperature of air in this layer increases with height. It can rise up to 1,500 degrees Celsius or higher. Space shuttles orbit in this layer.
Ionosphere
It is a very thin layer. It is that part of earth’s atmosphere which is ionized by solar radiation. It contributes to the propagation of radio signals to distant places on Earth. It reflects radio waves back to the Earth, thus facilitating radio communication.
Image source: https://www.carboeurope.org/education/images/fig_atmosphere.jpg
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