Composition of Atmos.

Composition of Atmos.

1. Components

   • Oxygen
     • 21%
   • Nitrogen
     • 78%
   • Carbon Dioxide
     • 0.039%
   • Ozone
     • 0.000007%
   • Methane
     • 0.00017%

2. Changes with time

   • CO2
     • Levels increase at night
     • Levels decrease during the day
     • Highest fluctuations during summer
       • Longer days therefore more sunlight and more photosynthesis.
   • Water Vapour
     • Levels vary
     • Vegetation releases water vapour through transpiration
     • Evaporation & precipitation are effected by water vapour levels

3. Changes with altitude

   • O3 naturally occurring in the stratosphere where UV interacts with sunlight
   • Temperature
     • Decreases in troposphere due to IR heating from the ground
     • Increases in stratosphere due to UV from the sun

4. Solar Radiation

   • Nuclear fusion releases energy as radiation
     • UV (short wave)
     • IR (long wave)
     • visible light
     • This radiation is absorbed by the atoms