Unit Atmosphere

Chaptor 12
Composition and Structure of the Atnosphere

Syllabus gases. It helpsin retainingthe

on the earth and helps in the necessary war nt ,
Composition and Structure
Atmosphere: Troposphere, Stratosphere,
of the water vapourthe source of rainfall
COMPOSITION OF THE
circulation o

lonosphere and Exosphere,; Ozone in the

Stratosphere, its depletion. Global warming
and its impac.
The atmosphere is a mixture of
tiny solid particles. Aclean dry
made up of 78% of nitrogen and
ATMOSPHERE
many gases
sample and of air is
Oxygen gas helps in burning and oxyge.
21% of
The earth with its spherical shape is divided
Without breathing OXYgen, most living thine
cannot survive. Nitrogen is a colourless inert
breathing
into three domainsLithosphere, Atmosphere and has no taste or smell. It
and Hydrosphere. These three domains together
and slows down the process of
dilutes the Oxygen
make upthe Biosphere. Like matter, these three oxidation, It is
domains, exist in three states. They occupy essential for all living things but they cannot use
space and possess inertia. it directly from the atmosphere. Plants obtain
it from the soil and animnals obtain
The lithosphere exists in solid state, nitrogen
by eating plants or other animals. These gases
the atmosphere in gaseous state and the
are responsible for life on the earth, however.
hydrosphere in liquid state. Each has a purpose they are insignificant with respect to weather
in supporting lifeon earth. In gaseous state, the
atmosphere is characterised by momentum and phenomena.
pressure. It regulates the heat around us.
BLANKET OF AIR
The blanket of air surrounding the eath is
Ow 0s 1he atmasphere. It exists in several
layers, around the earth. These layers become
thinner at high altitudes. Therefore, one finds Nitrogen 78%
it difficult to breathe as one goes up. This All others 1%
is
because less air is pressing down from above.
Half of the total mass of air is Oxygen 21%
found below
5 km, touching the surface of the
held close to the earth by gravity. earth. It is
The atmosphere protects the
harmful ultraviolet and infrared raysearth
of the
from
sun.
It has 0xygen and nitrogen, the life Atmosphere
sustaining Fig. 12.1. Composition of the
 of air is made up of a mass of air lies within a height of about 20 km
reemaining1% dioxide. from the surface of the earth.
Theseinclude carbon
The gases. argon etc. On the basis of the characteristics of
of
number
helium, hydrogen,
vpOur, needed by plants temperature and air pressure there exist four
waer
dioxide (CO,) is responsible thermal layers of the atmosphere. They are
W
survival, Water
Carbon vapour is
and hence the Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere and
their
precipitation added Thermosphere. The Thermosphere is divided
br forms of water. Water vapour is
all
tor offresh evaporation from Oceans, into Ionosphere and Exosphere.
ciculation
atmosphere by
transpiration from vegetation 1. Troposphere
o andrivers, Extent: The troposphere is the lowermost and
resspirationof animals.
Jakes

d
and particles like pollen from
plants, dust densest layer. Its height varies from 18 km at
Some from meteorites and the Equator to 8 km at the Poles.
storms, ash salt
from
dust
eruptions, smoke from fire and Characteristics
volcanic present in the lower
particlesfrom
seas are also
act as Seventy-five per cernt of the atmosphere
the atmosphere. These particlesaround is found in the troposphere and its
layer of raindrops concentration decreases as we go higher
to form
dlei for water vapour the sun's
radiation
from ground level.
They also scatter of dust
sunset. The amount The troposphere is also characterised
Auring sunrise and with
varies from place to
place. by regular decrease in temperature is
altitude. This decrease in temperature
Functions of the Atmosphere known as normal lapse rate. The
average
altitude
pressure. Being dectease is 1°C for every 166 metre
1Air has weight and exerts within
pressed down it always remains
in contact gained. This temperature variation
with land and water.
exchange of
2. Due to their physical contact, takes EXOSPHERE
water
gases between air, land and
place on a continuous basis.
3. Soil absorbs Oxygen and nitrogen due to
this contact. Water vapours in air rise from
Oceans on account of evaporation. IONOSPHERE
400 km
4. Carbon dioxide in air helps in absorption of THERMOSPHERE
Satelite
islsel
heat and keeps the earth warm at night.
D. Because of its composition, the atmosphere
is the most dynamic entity. Large masses of MESOSPHERE
80 km
air are being moved up and down and across
the surface of the earth. STRATOSPHERE
6. The energy of the sun is reesponsible for 50 km
0ZONEELAYER
Keping the atmosphere in a dynamic state.
20-50 km
TROPOSPHERE
STRUCTURE OF THE ATMOSPHERE Bto 1B m
In the
of air. atmosphere, there are concentric layers
Each layer has different density. The
upper layers press down the lower ones. So,
the air of the lower layer is always heavier or
denserdense.
less , while the
In
this
upper layers are thinner or
way about 90 per cent of the Fig. 12.2. Structure of the Atmosphere

COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE OF THE ATMOSPHERE 101

 the troposphere is responsible for many 4. Thermosphere
turbulences. It
As a result of these turbulences all weather
extends from inesopaue and
layers (a) lonosphere and (b) Consit
phenomnena take place in this layer. Exospher
The troposphere is heated more from below Ionosphere
thanfrom above. Extent: It extends up to a
The upper limit of the troposphere is known 400 km. heiyht os
as troopause.
Characteristics abot
2. Stratosphere Ionosphere contains
electrically
particles called ions which
Extent: This layer lies above the tropopause. It
extends to a height of 50 km from sea level. like display of light known as create a
in the Northern Aurora
charged
sheet
Characteristics
The air is thin, coldand dry. The
Hemnisphere
Australis in the Southern and
Hemisphere.
BorAureoalrgi,
temperature Ions reflect radio waves back to
is about -55°C. surface. This enables us to the
have carth's
The Ozone layer lies within the
stratosphere.
Ozone is generally found betwcen the
communication.
wireless
altitudes of 20 and 50 km. Exosphere
Ozone absorbs the ultraviolet solar radiation Extent: It is the uppermost layer in the
coming from above. The insolation received of the atmosphere. It lies between 400structure
to 1500
from the sun is equal to that lost by it. km above the earth.
That is why the
is constant. In thetemperature
of the layer Characteristics
higher levels, however, It merges gradually with
temperature increases with height. space. interplanetary
The lower layer of stratosphere has a
virtual In this layer
absence of water vapour and has constant
height. We knowtemperature increases with
temperature conditions, therefore, it is ideal very little
for fiying jet aircraft. atmosphere extending beyond about640
the
km
height from the sea level.
Temperature rises from -60°C at the base of In the Exosphere
the stratosphere to 0°C at
stratopause. low. density becomes extremely
Theupper limit of the stratosphere is known The main gases here are lighter
as stratopause. ones like
hydrogen and helium.
3. Mesosphere From the above it is clear that the
Extent: This layer lies above the extends more than a thousand atmosphere kilometres
andextends to a height of 80 km stratosphere above the earth's surface. It
exercises enormous
level. from ground pressure on thesurface of the earth and
in direct contact with the remains
surface of land as well
Characteristics as the surface of water on the
earth.The contact
The tenperature in this layer Zone between land, air and water sustains life.
height and reaches a minimum decreases with The survival of life on earth depends on this
at the altitude of of -110°C contact. The atmosphere acts and influences
about 80 kmn near the life through its various elements.
mesopause, the upper limit of this layer.
Due to reffected sunlight from
particles there are wispy clouds meteoric dust 0ZONE AND ITSDEPLETION
this layer. found in Ozone is a form of oxygen. It is present m
rare amounts in the carth's atmosphere.

102
TOTAL GEOGRAPHY -9
 one molecule out of every two
InrNimately
on
present in theatmosphere is Ozone.
troposphere, Ozone is generated only
n
small
amounts. But in
the
the stratosphere at
above sea level it is present in
sAZuÍtcantamounts. In the stratosphere, it is
nucedbythe action
of high energy radiation
thesun striking
some molecules of oxygen
tim
onverting them into Ozone. But Ozone
ATCASES by sunlight acting on a number of
allutantsin air. These pollutants are emitted
jet aircraft, and by the hydrocarbons from
automobileexhausts. The concentration of Ozone
atheupper atmosphere is protective, it absorbs
heat of the ultraviolet rays of the sun.
Fig. 12.3. Ozone Hole near Antarctica
The Ozone layer in the stratosphere also
arntects the earth and its biosphere from the and solar flares associated with explosions on
Extra heat. But there is the danger of its depletion the surface of the sun.
through harmful gases and increase in the level The largest 0zone hole was noticed in
of carbon dioxide in the lower atmosphere.
September 2000 near Antarctica. The formation
of the Ozone hole has been attributed largely to
DEPLETION OF 0ZONE LAYER
the activities of man. Ozone depletion resulting
Ozone Hole
in Ozone hole is more common to Antarctica
An Ozone hole' is an Ozone depleted area. It was where temperatures are the lowest. Due to
detected through satellite imagery conducted by bitterly cold Antarctic winter, the stratospheric
NASA in the USA. Subsequently much scientific ice clouds promote production of chemically
research has been going on. An annual data 1s active chlorine and bromine. This, in turn, leads
Deng maintained, and efforts by almost every to Ozone destruction when sunlight returns in
country arebeing made to reduce the breaking the Antarctic spring. On the other hand, the
doWn of Ozone mnolecules. Many chemicals Arctic atmosphere though cold, does not get
lamely chlorine andbromine are banned which cold enough for the creation of a fully developed
Ozone hole.
are thought to cause the depletion of the Ozone
layer. GLOBAL WARMING
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are regarded as
Recent climate studies have shown that the
G reason for the Ozone Hole near Antarctica.
CFC gases are used in refrigerators, aircraft global mean temperature on the earth is
escape This phenomenon known as Global rising.
air Conditioners. CFC compounds down in is the result of Warming
into break enhanced concentration of
the atmosphere and finally chlorine atoms
They produce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere caused
whichstratosphere.
destroy the Ozone layer.
Ozone depletion.
mainly by human activities.
Volcanoes plav a role in sulphur dioxide, Causes of Global Warming
Large eruptions give out chemical reactions. Some of the chief causes of
which Speed up destructive especially in the following: Global Warming are
Ozone increases
Tropospheric
the Northern Hemisphere but it is
smaller and 1,
studiedDestruction
of
earlier in this Ozone Layer: We have
localised here. destruction of Ozone layer, layer in the chapter that the Ozone
Another Cause of are solar storms. These the Stratosphere protects the
ultravioletto rays of the sun and itsearth from
discovered reecently,
solar storms
consist of coronal mass ejections contributes Global Warming. depletion
COMPOSITION AND
STRUCTURE OF THE
ATMOSPHERE 103
 2. Greenhouse Effect in the Atmosphere: in reflecting terrestrial
Excess accumulation of some gases like carbon
dioxide, methane, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs),
It may also cause extra
bare soils get cooler and radiation b
cooling back to
at
ozone and water vapour are responsible night earth
than soils covered with warmer
for disturbing the energy balance and thus
increasing heat on the carth. Fossil fuel based
industries and the man's lifestyle have resulted
IMPACT OF
vegetation more
GLOBAL
beqcauuicseky
in an unprecedented rise of these gases, known
as greenhouse gases. This is because they act
in lower levels of the atmosphere like the glass
The atmosphere is being destroyed
result of Global
Warming.
change in the climate of the This
WARMI
can
NG as
surface temperature earth. result in
of a greenhouse.
We have seen a
greenhouse, which is
The global mnean
approximately 0.6°Ctemperature
of the
earth Alretheady ritshe.e,
is on

earth incent
cOvered with a glass. It allows the sun's rays to in the
20th creased The
mayury.
average temperature of the
penetrate into the greenhouse but blocks the by 1.4 to 5.8°C by the
radiation of heat fromn the greenhouse, back level. If the year 2100 from increase
into the atmosphere.
have Some of the atmosphere
1s not
protectedthe it1990
Greenhouse gases in the
the near infrared rays from theatmosphere allow (i) Rise in Sea Level: following major impacts:
sun to penetrate Over the
into the earth. But these gases do not years, because of Global last 100
heat radiated by the heated earth to
allow the
penetrate
reserves have
by about 10 tomelted and the sea level has
the ice Warming,
back into space. Thus, by
preventing heat rays 25cm. It is predicted thatrisenhu
the year 2100, the
to escape intothe outer space the greenhouse Oceans are expected to rise
between 2.5 and 6.5feet.
gases add to the heat already available It can have
earth's surface.
on the effects on human disastrone
as one-third of
human
habitations on sea coasts
The increase in temperature due to
the 60km of a coastline. Manypopulation lives within
concentration of the greenhousegases is known could even be submerged under towns and cities
as the greenhouse effect. water.
(ii) Precipitation
The greenhouse effect is not
confined to of atmosphere will Change: Warming
moisture carrying considerably increase
a particular region but has a
global impact. its
If unchecked,
accumnulation of these gases capacity. While the
from industry and agriculture could change troposphere warms up, the stratosphere will cool
down. This would cause
temperature and rainfall pattern and sea level in rainfall patterns due towidespread changes
of the earth. By realising the
potential changed pattern of
these gases to the earth, the United danger of air-mass movements. Rainfall is expected to
Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP) used the expression, Sun Solar radiation powers
"Global Warming" to alert people the climate system. The Greenhouse Effect
Some of the intrared radiation passes
about this danger. through the atmosphere, but most is absorbed
and re-emitted in all directions by clouds and
3. Deforestation: Clearingaway greenhouse gas moecules.

of forests and forest

a large scale have ecosystems on The effect of this warms

posed several Atmosphere

the Earth's surface and
dangers to life on earth. Trees are Some solar
lower atmosphere.

essential for absorbing is reflected by the Earth

and the atmosphere.
carbon dioxide in air. They areexcesS
also
responsible for
fertility of the soil. maintaining
the
In
winds blow away thetheir absence,
top soil as About half the solar radlatlon
Earth Intrared radiation
is emitted from the
dust into the Is absorbed by the Eacth's
atmosphere. The dust
in the atrmosphere
surface and warms it.
Earth's surface.

plays a key role Fig, 12.4. Greenhouse Effect

increase at higher latitudes in both summer (iv) Agriculture: Climate change will bring
southern and eastern Asia in about substantial changes in cereal production
winter and in
and winter rainfall may decrease specially in the Tropics. In the Tropics,
summer. However,
atlowerlatitudes. cereals dominate the food sources and are the
rainfall patterns are mainstay of agriculture. There will be more
These changes inflooding in some areas, shortages of cereals.
lead
expected to Monsoon flooding is expected (v) Water Resources: There is a great deal
droughtin others. Bangladesh of controversy over the likely impact on water
cause great loss of life in India,
to countries. resources. However, all agree that the global
and South-East Asian freshwater conditions may worsen by 2025
Imbalance: It is the balance
(Hii)Radiation more due to population pressure than due to
into the atmosphere
between radiation coming climatic factors.
Any change in this
and radiation going out. impact onlifeforms (vi) Diseases: Temperature and precipitation
balance can have rapid are two important causative factors of diseases
have an impact on
on earth because it will like malaria which may reappear in different
and vulnerability of forms as a result of change in the climate.
the sensitivity, adaptability With increasing
the whole biospheric system. The earth in the past has had several phases
are expected
global warming many species or towards high of warm climates followed by lce Ages. In thepast,
to shift slowly poleward these changes took place over several thousand
Since trees
elevations in mountain areas. years. Such changes may now take place over
changes, an
are sensitive to temperature large-scale a few decades or a century. Further, during
increase in temperature may cause such changes in the past, life forms,
landforms
by scrub
death of trees and their replacement and waterbodies have changed. We can now
able
vegetation. Many species may not be expect such changes taking place within a
few
temperature
to migrate fast enough to track centuries, if we do not protect our atmosphere.
changes and may disappear.
Terms to Remember

: A layer in the stratosphere of the atmosphere which keeps

temperature constant
Ozone Layer
in the lower levels and absorbs ultraviolet rays of the sun.
The rise in average mean temperature of the earth on account of enhanced
Global Warming
concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
CFCs : Chlorofluorocarbons.

EXERCISES
I. Choose the correct option:
The blanket of air surrounding the earth is known as
the:
a) Ozone layer (b) Nitrogen layer (c) Lithosphere (d) Atmosphere
Aclean dry sample of air is made up
of. percent nitrogen:
(a) 72 (b) 77 (c) 78 (d) 79
3. About 90 percent of air
mass lies within about from the earth's surface.
(a) 20 km (b) 22 km (c) 25 km (d) 30 km
A Name the densest layer of
the atmosphere.
(a) Exosphere (b) Troposphere
(c) Stratosphere (d) Mesosphere

COMPOSITION AND sTRUCTURE OF THE

ATMOSPHERE 105