What is Air and Atmosphere?
Air is the constant pressure of gases, that we feel all around us but cannot see. Atmosphere, on the other hand, is the layer of gases all around the surface held by the gravitational force of the earth. Thus, air can be said to be a component of the atmospheric conditions and atmospheric pressure indicating that air and atmosphere are very closely related. The difference between air and atmosphere is the physical characteristic such as air being a pressure of gases and atmosphere being a mixture of gases. The oxygen gas which is responsible for all the living creatures on earth underlines the importance of air for a living being. The importance of the atmosphere around Earth can be characterized by the possibility of life on earth in the current state which would not have been possible with the meteorite event and sun rays from the sun.
Importance of Atmosphere and the Atmospheric Layers
From the introduction, it is clear that the atmosphere is a mixture of gases presents around the surface of the earth due to its gravitational attraction. This mixture of gases can be divided into different layers depending on various factors. So, what are the five layers of the atmosphere? They are the following from top to bottom (near the surface): Exosphere, Thermosphere, Mesosphere, Stratosphere and Troposphere. These five different layers provide protection and also make life possible because of the constituent gases which state the significance and importance of the atmosphere. The five layers provide a wide range of distribution of gases and the densities of the gases at each layer of the atmosphere.
The five layers of the atmosphere and their composition and properties are explained below:
Exosphere
The exosphere is the outermost layer of the atmosphere. Its limits reach from around 700 km to 10,000 km from the surface of the earth. There is not much definite boundary between the vaccum of space and the exosphere, as the air gets thinner and thinner moving away from the surface of the Earth. It mostly consists of a few particles that move to and from space.
Thermosphere
It is the layer of the atmosphere ranging from 100 km to 700 km limit of the atmosphere. It begins at the Karman line and is the space where the space shuttles mostly revolve around the Earth. Even though the temperatures are high, the heat is not felt because of the low atmospheric pressure. The International Space Station also orbits around the Earth in this region.
Mesosphere
This is the densest layer of atmosphere amongst the top three layers. Because of this density, this layer is responsible for the burning of the meteors and other objects falling from space due to the gravitational force of the Earth. Also, there is a temperature drop in this layer with temperatures reaching -110° C. The layer between the mesosphere and the stratosphere known as the mesopause is the coldest place on Earth. It expands from 50 km to 90 km above the earth’s surface.
Stratosphere
This layer of atmosphere is right above the troposphere and is without any or much water vapour. This layer also consists of the ozone layer which is filled with ozone (O3) gas. As is well-known the main function of the ozone layer is to protect the earth from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the Sun. It ranges from 30 to 50 km above the surface of the earth.
Troposphere
This is the last layer and the closest layer to the surface of the Earth. This layer reaches up to 39 km from the surface of the earth. It is the densest layer and is filled with many different gases. The most abundant gas is Nitrogen which comprises 78% of the component and Oxygen 21% with other gases taking up 0.9% argon and 0.04% carbon dioxide with small traces of other gases.
The above-mentioned earth air layers also show the importance of the atmosphere in the protection of the earth and their contribution to the possibility of life on Earth. The distribution of the layers of the atmosphere is given below in the diagram:
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Importance of Air
Air is the fundamental building block without which life would cease to exist as it is. All the organisms require oxygen present in the air for respiration and generating energy. It is utilised for the generation of energy by metabolism by the cells. The nitrogen is also utilised by the nitrogen-fixing bacteria for the growth of plants in a symbiotic relationship with the plants. The importance of air is also signified as it is responsible for many phenomena such as the scattering of light and the travelling of sound.
As per the definition of Air, the pressure is because of the density of various gases present in the atmosphere. The pressure differences between different places lead to an increase in the flow of air and it is known as wind. The pressure difference is also a phenomenon of air and atmosphere which is responsible for rainfall.
Conclusion
The given article briefly explains the difference between air and atmosphere and their definitions. It also underlines the importance of air and the importance of the atmosphere. Thus, it can be concluded that without air and atmosphere life as we know it wouldn't have been possible on Earth. This is one of the most important differences between Earth and other planets for the existence of living organisms.
Layers of Atmosphere and Importance of Air
You must have gone through the above-mentioned notes and got an overview of the layers of atmosphere and the importance of air. Both the topics are very important and considered to be the foundational topics, you need to understand these topics very well as they play a vital role in the higher classes.
You shall have gone through all of it and have an understanding of the topic. If you still have some doubts or you want more material, you may download the Vedantu Learning App which provides you with detailed study notes and live classes that will guide you and help you crack all your exams.
Since this subject is challenging, students must note that with proper guidance and required efforts, nothing is unattainable.
When you start claiming your inner powers and start using them to strengthen the core belief, you start winning. Understanding that challenges will be everywhere you go but they don’t have to stop you, rather they will help you to grow. Always have the courage to see the end of the tunnel and that's where your success begins.
Let's begin to understand some of the tips that can help the students prepare for the subject with ease.
Practice, Practice and Practice!
If you want to memorize things for a longer period, two things which you should keep in mind while preparing are to understand the concepts and practice them time and again. Practice makes you learn things effectively and efficiently. You should keep practising the topics and that too with breaks. You should never study at a stretch, your mind gets exhausted after a certain point of time and you shall be able to respect the fact that it deserves to get that.
Don't re-read the Books Again and Again
It is one of the most common study techniques that students follow while preparing for exams. Give practice more important than reading the books again. Re-reading the text over and over again is nothing but just superficial. You should read once and then focus on trying it yourself and not just cram the bookish language. It is because cramming might help you pass the exam, but when you consider the fact of how much knowledge you have gained, you will lag.
Test Yourself
Students after completing their revision think that they are done with their preparation, but this is wrong. Another very important part that is yet to be done is to test your knowledge and solve mock tests. The most efficient way to understand things better is to explain them to someone else, if you can do so then you are all ready to jump into the exam. Quizzing yourself is another useful tip that you shall be doing to test your knowledge.
Use Examples
Learning, understanding and memorizing the concepts may be difficult for the students but it may turn around and become easy. This can be done with the help of examples. If you have a realistic and basic daily use example in your mind, you may ace the topic and that too very easily. For example, if you try to learn that sour foods contain acids it may be difficult to remember but if you memorize them through vinegar or even through lemon it may set in your mind forever. You just need to understand and connect things and everything is sorted.
Use Pictures
Visual representation is one of the oldest methods and is also very effective. It includes graphs, charts, flowcharts, diagrams and much more. You must have noticed that diagrams are easier to understand than the text written with them. These pictures can boost up your memory and also make you understand things better. It is because the human mind might forget the text but a replica of pictures and colours are created in the subconscious mind.
FAQs on Layers of Atmosphere and Importance of Air
1. What are the five main layers of the Earth's atmosphere in order from the ground up?
The Earth's atmosphere is divided into five main layers. In order from the ground level to outer space, they are:
- Troposphere: This is the lowest layer, where we live and where all weather phenomena, like clouds and storms, occur.
- Stratosphere: This layer contains the vital ozone layer, which absorbs the majority of the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
- Mesosphere: This is the layer where most meteors burn up upon entering the atmosphere, creating shooting stars.
- Thermosphere: In this layer, the air is very thin but temperatures can be extremely high. The International Space Station orbits here, and it's also where auroras happen.
- Exosphere: This is the final frontier of the atmosphere, which gradually fades into the vacuum of space.
2. What is the composition of the air in our atmosphere?
The air in Earth's atmosphere is a mixture of several gases. The primary components are Nitrogen (about 78%) and Oxygen (about 21%). The remaining 1% is made up of other gases, including Argon (0.93%), Carbon Dioxide (0.04%), and trace amounts of neon, helium, methane, krypton, and hydrogen, as well as water vapour.
3. Why is the atmosphere crucial for sustaining life on Earth?
The atmosphere is essential for life for several critical reasons. Firstly, it contains the oxygen that most living organisms need for respiration. Secondly, the ozone layer in the stratosphere shields us from the sun's harmful UV rays. Thirdly, it helps regulate the Earth's temperature through the greenhouse effect, preventing extreme heat during the day and extreme cold at night. Finally, it protects us from space debris like meteors, which burn up in the mesosphere.
4. How does the stratosphere protect life on Earth?
The stratosphere plays a crucial protective role primarily because it contains the ozone layer. This layer of ozone gas (O3) acts as a natural sunblock, absorbing about 98% of the sun's damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Without the ozone layer, this intense UV radiation would reach the Earth's surface, causing severe harm to plants, animals, and humans, including increased rates of skin cancer and cataracts.
5. What is the difference between weather and climate, and how does the atmosphere influence both?
The key difference is time. Weather refers to the short-term conditions of the atmosphere at a specific place and time, such as rain, wind, or sunshine on any given day. Climate, on the other hand, is the long-term average of weather patterns in a region, typically over 30 years or more. The atmosphere, specifically the troposphere, is where all weather happens. The movement of air, water vapour, and energy within the atmosphere drives weather systems, and the consistent patterns of these systems over decades define an area's climate.
6. Why do meteors burn up in the mesosphere and not in the layers above or below it?
Meteors burn up in the mesosphere because it represents a 'sweet spot' of atmospheric density. The layers above it, the thermosphere and exosphere, have air particles that are too few and far between to create enough friction to burn a fast-moving meteor. The mesosphere is the first layer a meteor encounters with a sufficient number of air molecules. The intense friction between the meteor and these molecules generates immense heat, causing the meteor to glow and vaporise before it can reach the much denser lower layers and the ground.
7. Besides breathing, what are some other important uses of air?
Beyond its essential role in respiration, air has many other important functions. The wind, which is moving air, is a source of renewable energy (wind power) and is crucial for the pollination of many plants and the dispersal of seeds. Air is necessary for combustion (burning), as fire requires oxygen to sustain itself. Furthermore, compressed air is used to power tools and inflate tyres, and the properties of air enable flight for birds and aeroplanes.
8. How does air pressure change as you move up through the atmosphere?
Air pressure decreases as you increase your altitude and move up through the layers of the atmosphere. This is because air pressure is the weight of the air column above you. At sea level, the entire weight of the atmosphere is pushing down, resulting in the highest pressure. As you go higher, there is less air above you pushing down, so the pressure becomes lower. This is why mountaineers often need supplemental oxygen at high altitudes.
9. If air is invisible, how do we know it has weight and exerts pressure?
Although we cannot see air, we can observe its effects to know it has weight and exerts pressure. You can feel the weight of air when the wind blows against you or when you try to move an open umbrella against a breeze. We know it exerts pressure because if you suck the air out of a plastic bottle, the pressure of the air outside crushes it. This demonstrates that the invisible air around us is constantly pushing on all surfaces, including our bodies. This force is what we call air pressure.
