Understanding Earth's Atmosphere and Its Impact on Life

1. Structure of the Atmosphere

1.1. Lonosphere

Here, equi-rays and gamma rays are absorbed. Comets appear.

1.2. Mesosphere

It contains clouds of ice and dust.

1.3. Stratosphere

The ozone layer is located here.

1.4. Troposphere

It contains 80% of the total mass of Earth. It is where meteorological phenomena occur.

2. The Weather and the Climate

2.1. Weather

Weather refers to a series of atmospheric phenomena that occur at a specific moment in a specific place.

2.2. Climate

Climate refers to the main atmospheric phenomena in a specific region over a long period of time.

3. Atmospheric Phenomena

They occur in the troposphere and are responsible for changes in the weather. The wind and water in the air can cause these phenomena.

3.1. Atmospheric Phenomena Caused by Wind

• Hurricanes: They are violent tropical storms that form over the ocean.
• Whirlwinds or Dust Storms: They occur on sunny days in dry open spaces.
• Tornadoes: They start inside large storm clouds and have an inverted cone shape when they leave the clouds and reach the ground or the sea.

3.2. Atmospheric Phenomena Caused by Water Vapor

Due to condensation:

• Clouds: They form when air charged with water vapor rises, cools, and condenses around tiny dust particles, salt, or ash.
• Fog: This occurs when the air on the ground cools down but does not go below 0ºC.
• Frost: It forms when the temperature of the Earth's surface is below 0ºC and water vapor freezes.
• Dew: This occurs during the night when temperatures drop.

Due to precipitation:

• Rain: This occurs when water droplets join together.
• Snow: This occurs when the temperature inside a cloud reaches 0ºC.
• Hail: This occurs when there are strong rising air currents inside the cloud which deep freeze the water droplets to -50ºC.

4. The Atmosphere and Living Things

The atmosphere has certain characteristics that provide our planet with the right environment for life to exist and develop:

• Carbon dioxide is necessary for photosynthesis.
• Oxygen is necessary for respiration.
• The ozone layer protects living things from harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
• Water vapor condenses and forms clouds, which provide water for living things through rainfall.