The Atmosphere

Página 1

1. Composition and Structure of the Atmosphere

The atmosphere is the gaseous layer on the Earth, in addition of the gases the atmosphere have some solid particles in suspensión.

The atmosphere form a homogenious mixture call air.

GASEOUS STATE

In gaseous state the particles move in all directions in avalible space.

THE ORIGIN OF THE ATMOSPHERE

The Earth frmed 4.6 million of years ago, the gases accumulated and with the gases in constance produced collision with the planetesimals and created the primitive atmosphere.

COMPOSITION OF THE ATMOSPHERE

The atmosphere is a group of gases that called air.The most abundant gases are: Nitrogen(78%) and Oxygen (21%).

In the atmosphere exist other gases:carbon dioxide (0.038%) and wáter vapour with other gases[argón,helium,neon and ozone(0.97)]

STRUCTURE OF THE ATMOSPHERE

The atmosphere is divided in many layers this layers are:

Exosphere:It has very low concentration of gases.500km-outerspace

Thermosphere/Ionosphere:It absorbs the strongest and most energetic solar radiation(Xrays).80-500km.

Mesosphere:Small asteroids desintegrate here.50-80km.

Stratosphere:Gases move horizontally.Ozone layer absorbs UV rays 12-50km

Troposphere:Meteorogical phonema take place here.90% of gases.0-12km.

Página 2

2.THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ATMOSPHERE FOR THE LIVING THINGS

Many of the gases in the atmosphere are essential for living things.

The atmosphere performance a doublé function:

Regulatory action of the temperature

Protective Action

ATMOSPHERIC GASES AND LIFE

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is essential for the autotrophic organism to do the photosynthesis.

Oxygen(O2) is essential for the respiration of living things.

Nitrogen(N2) is essential for the construction of proteins.

Wather vapour(H2O)is essential for the wáter cycle, which is essential for liquid wáter avalible.

ATMOSPHERIC PHENOMENA PRODUCED BY WATER VAPOUR

Water vapour condense and change to a liquid

Clouds: wáter vapour ascends and condense.

Fog:Clouds form close to the ground.

Dew:water vapour condense in the ground

Frost:droplets of dew freeze.

ATMOSPHERIC PHENOMENA DUE O PRECIPITATION

Precipitation is the fall of wáter from the atmosphere to the ground in liquid or solid state.

Liquid state: rain

Temperatures below 0ºC: snowflakes

Increasein size and freeze: hail

Página 3

3.AIR POLLUTION

Air pollution is the alteration of the normal composition of air due to the presence of formsof energy and particles of matter, which can be harmanful for living things and the enviroment.

TYPES OF POLLUTANT

Natural pollutant: generate by natural phenomena, dust,ashes and gases.

Artificial pollutant:generate by human activity.

Types of artificial pollutant:

Pysical pollutants:

Electromagnetic radiaction.

Noise.

Radioactivity.

Chemical pollutants:

CONSEQUENCES OF AIR POLLUTION

Global level:Gases released by industries combine with wáter vapour and form acid rain.

Ecosystems:Polluting destroy natural habitats, this provocate two situations, change their habitat or even cause their extinción.

Individual level:Respiratory problems and other disorders.

PREVENTATIVE AND CORRECTIVE MEASURES

Clean and purify,

Reduce emissions

Encourage reforestation

Reduce energy consumption

Substitute sources of energy or non-renewable energy

Reduce the amount of rubbish,reuse and recycle.

Página 4

4.THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT

The greenhouse effect is the phenomene by which the atmosphere retains some of the heat from the un.Inthis way, it regulates the temperatura of the Earth´s Surface,maintaining temperature levels adequate for life to exist.

CAUSES OF THE INCREASE IN THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT

The burning of fossil fuels such as coal and oil,for industry,heating systems and vehicles.

The destruction of forests,which has reduced the amount of photosyntetic organisms that absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere.

CONSEQUENCES OF THE INCREASE IN THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT

The increase in the greenhouse effectcauses an increase in the average temperature of the planet.This process is called global warming.

Consequences of the global warming:

Glaciers melt.

Alteration of the wáter cycle.

Development of plagues.

Disappearance of ecosystems.

Página 5

5.THE OZONE LAYER

The atmosphere acts as a filte thats protects us from harmful solar radiation and the impact of meteorites.

Not all radiation from the Sun is harmful:visible light and infrared radiation,for example,are essential for living things.

Types of rays

X-rays and gamma rays

Ultraviolet rays(UV)

CAUSES OF THE DEPLETION OF THE OZONE LAYER

The main causes of the hole in the ozone layer are artificial chemical compounds, called CFCsor chloroluorocarbon gases.

CONSEQUENCES OF DESTROYING THE OZONE LAYER

Effects on the skin:burns,cancer or premature aging.

Effects on the body´s defences:alter the genetic information and deterioratethe immune system.

Effects on sight:Premature cataracts