Since the existence of life, the comfort and safety of all organisms depend on it. The indicators of gases in the mixture are decisive for the study of problem areas or environmentally friendly areas.

General information

The term "atmosphere" refers to the gaseous layer that envelops our planet and many other celestial bodies in the universe. It forms a shell that rises above the Earth for several hundred kilometers. The composition contains a variety of gases, the main of which is oxygen.

The atmosphere is characterized by:

• Heterogeneity with physical point vision.
• Increased dynamism.
• Dependent on biological factors(high vulnerability in case of adverse events).

The main influence on the composition and processes of its changing, living beings (including microorganisms). These processes have been going on since the formation of the atmosphere - several billion years. Protective shell the planet is in contact with such formations as the lithosphere and hydrosphere, while it is difficult to determine the upper boundaries with high accuracy, scientists can only name approximate values. The atmosphere passes into interplanetary space in the exosphere - at a height
500-1000 km from the surface of our planet, some sources give a figure of 3000 km.

The importance of the atmosphere for life on earth is great, as it protects the planet from collision with space bodies, provides optimal indicators for the formation and development of life in its various forms.
The composition of the protective shell:

• Nitrogen - 78%.
• Oxygen - 20.9%.
• Gas mixture - 1.1% (this part is formed by substances such as ozone, argon, neon, helium, methane, krypton, hydrogen, xenon, carbon dioxide, water vapor).

The gas mixture performs important function- absorption of excess solar energy. The composition of the atmosphere varies depending on the height - at an altitude of 65 km from the Earth's surface, nitrogen will be contained in it
already 86%, oxygen - only 19%.

The constituent elements of the atmosphere

The diverse composition of the Earth's atmosphere allows it to perform various functions and protect life on the planet. Its main elements:

• Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is an essential component involved in the process of plant nutrition (photosynthesis). It is released into the atmosphere due to the respiration of all living organisms, rotting and burning. organic matter. If carbon dioxide disappears, then plants will cease to exist with it.
• Oxygen (O₂) - provides an optimal environment for the life of all organisms on the planet, is required for respiration. With its disappearance, life will end for 99% of organisms on the planet.
• Ozone (O 3) is a gas that acts as a natural absorber of ultraviolet radiation emitted by solar radiation. Its excess negatively affects living organisms. Gas forms a special layer in the atmosphere - ozone screen. Under the influence external conditions and human activity, it begins to gradually collapse, so it is important to carry out activities to restore the ozone layer of our planet in order to save life on it.

Also in the composition of the atmosphere there are water vapor - they determine the humidity of the air. The percentage of this component depends on various factors. Influenced by:

• Air temperature indicators.
• The location of the area (territory).
• Seasonality.

It has an effect on the amount of water vapor and temperature - if it is low, then the concentration does not exceed 1%, when it is elevated, it reaches 3-4%.
Additionally included in earth's atmosphere there are solid and liquid impurities - soot, ash, sea ​​salt, a variety of microorganisms, dust, water drops.

Atmosphere: its layers

It is necessary to know the structure of the earth's atmosphere by layers in order to have full view about the value of this gas envelope. They stand out because the composition and density gas mixture are different at different heights. Each layer is different chemical composition and the functions to be performed. Arrange the atmospheric layers of the earth in order as follows:

The troposphere is located closest to the earth's surface. The heights of this layer reach 16-18 km in tropical zones and 9 km on average over the poles. Up to 90% of all water vapor is concentrated in this layer. It is in the troposphere where clouds form. Air movement, turbulence and convection are also observed here. Temperature indicators are different and range from +45 to -65 degrees - in the tropics and at the poles, respectively. With an increase of 100 meters, there is a decrease in temperature by 0.6 degrees. It is the troposphere, due to the accumulation of water vapor and air, that is responsible for cyclonic processes. Accordingly, the correct answer to the question, what is the name of the layer of the earth's atmosphere in which cyclones and anticyclones develop will be the name of this atmospheric layer.

Stratosphere - this layer is located at an altitude of 11-50 km from the surface of the planet. In its lower zone, temperature indicators tend to values ​​of -55. There is an inversion zone in the stratosphere - the boundary between this layer and the next one, called the mesosphere. Temperature indicators reach values ​​of +1 degree. Airplanes fly in the lower stratosphere.

The ozone layer is a small area on the border between the stratosphere and mesosphere, but precisely ozone layer atmosphere protects all life on earth from the action of ultraviolet radiation. It also separates comfortable and favorable conditions for the existence of living organisms and harsh space, where it is impossible to survive without special conditions even bacteria. It was formed as a result of the interaction of organic components and oxygen, which comes into contact with ultraviolet radiation and enters into photochemical reaction which produces a gas called ozone. Since ozone absorbs ultraviolet radiation, it contributes to the heating of the atmosphere, maintaining optimal conditions for life in its usual form. Accordingly, to answer the question: what layer of gas protects the earth from cosmic radiation and excessive solar radiation, followed by ozone.

Considering the layers of the atmosphere in order from the surface of the earth, it should be noted that the next is the mesosphere. It is located at an altitude of 50-90 km from the surface of the planet. Temperature indicators - from 0 to -143 degrees (lower and upper limits). It protects the Earth from meteorites that burn up as they pass through
it is the phenomenon of the glow of the air. The gas pressure in this part of the atmosphere is extremely low, which makes it impossible to study the entire mesosphere, since special equipment, including satellites or probes, cannot work there.

The thermosphere is the layer of the atmosphere that is located at an altitude of 100 km above sea level. This is the lower limit, which is called the Karman line. Scientists conditionally determined that space begins here. The immediate thickness of the thermosphere reaches 800 km. Temperature readings reach 1800 degrees, but keep the skin spacecraft and missiles intact allows a slight concentration of air. In this layer of the earth's atmosphere, a special
phenomenon - northern lights - special kind glow, which can be observed in some regions of the planet. They appear due to the interaction of several factors - the ionization of air and the action on it cosmic radiation and radiation.

What layer of the atmosphere is farthest from the earth - the exosphere. There is a zone of air dispersion here, since the concentration of gases is small, as a result of which they gradually escape from the atmosphere. This layer is located at an altitude of 700 km above the Earth's surface. The main element that makes up
this layer is hydrogen. In the atomic state, you can find substances such as oxygen or nitrogen, which will be highly ionized by solar radiation.
The dimensions of the Earth's exosphere reach 100 thousand km from the planet.

By studying the layers of the atmosphere in order from the surface of the earth, people got a lot valuable information, which helps in the development and improvement of technological capabilities. Some facts are surprising, but it was their presence that allowed living organisms to develop successfully.

It is known that the weight of the atmosphere is more than 5 quadrillion tons. The layers are capable of transmitting sounds up to 100 km from the surface of the planet, above this property disappears, as the composition of gases changes.
Atmospheric movements exist because the heating of the Earth varies. The surface at the poles is cold, and closer to the tropics, warming increases, temperature indicators are influenced by cyclonic eddies, seasons, and time of day. The atmospheric pressure can be measured by using a barometer. Scientists have observed that the presence of protective layers allows you to prevent contact with the planet's surface of meteorites with a total mass of 100 tons daily.

An interesting fact is that the composition of the air (a mixture of gases in layers) remained unchanged over a long time period - several hundred million years are known. Significant changes are taking place in recent centuries- since the moment when humanity is experiencing a significant rise in production.

The pressure exerted by the atmosphere affects the well-being of people. Normal for 90% are indicators of 760 mmHg, this value should occur at 0 degrees. It should be borne in mind that this value is valid for those parts of the earth's land where the sea level passes with it in the same band (without drops). The higher the altitude, the lower the pressure will be. It also changes during the passage of cyclones, since changes occur not only vertically, but also horizontally.

The physiological zone of the earth's atmosphere is 5 km, after passing this mark, a person begins to manifest special condition- oxygen starvation. In this process, 95% of people experience a pronounced decrease in working capacity, and their well-being also deteriorates significantly even in a trained and trained person.

That is why the importance of the atmosphere for life on earth is great - people and most living organisms cannot exist without this gas mixture. Thanks to their presence, it became possible to develop the habitual modern society life on earth. It is necessary to assess the damage caused by industrial activities, to carry out air purification measures in order to reduce the concentration certain types gases and bring in those that are not enough for a normal composition. It is important to think now about further measures to preserve and restore layers of the atmosphere in order to save optimal conditions for future generations.

The gaseous envelope that surrounds our planet Earth, known as the atmosphere, consists of five main layers. These layers originate on the surface of the planet, from sea level (sometimes below) and rise to outer space in the following sequence:

• Troposphere;
• Stratosphere;
• Mesosphere;
• Thermosphere;
• Exosphere.

Diagram of the main layers of the Earth's atmosphere

In between each of these main five layers are transitional zones called "pauses" where changes in air temperature, composition and density occur. Together with pauses, the Earth's atmosphere in total includes 9 layers.

Troposphere: where the weather happens

Of all the layers of the atmosphere, the troposphere is the one with which we are most familiar (whether you realize it or not), since we live at its bottom - the surface of the planet. It envelops the surface of the Earth and extends upwards for several kilometers. The word troposphere means "change of the ball". A very fitting name, as this layer is where our day to day weather happens.

Starting from the surface of the planet, the troposphere rises to a height of 6 to 20 km. The lower third of the layer closest to us contains 50% of all atmospheric gases. It is the only part of the entire composition of the atmosphere that breathes. Due to the fact that the air is heated from below earth's surface absorbing thermal energy Sun, with increasing altitude, the temperature and pressure of the troposphere decrease.

At the top is a thin layer called the tropopause, which is just a buffer between the troposphere and stratosphere.

Stratosphere: home of ozone

The stratosphere is the next layer of the atmosphere. It extends from 6-20 km to 50 km above the earth's surface. This is the layer in which most commercial airliners fly and balloons travel.

Here, the air does not flow up and down, but moves parallel to the surface in very fast air currents. As you ascend, the temperature increases, thanks to the abundance of natural ozone (O 3 ) - a by-product solar radiation and oxygen, which has the ability to absorb the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays (any rise in temperature with altitude is known in meteorology as an "inversion").

Since the stratosphere has more warm temperatures below and cooler above, convection (vertical movements air masses) is rare in this part of the atmosphere. In fact, you can view a storm raging in the troposphere from the stratosphere, because the layer acts as a "cap" for convection, through which storm clouds do not penetrate.

The stratosphere is again followed by a buffer layer, this time called the stratopause.

Mesosphere: middle atmosphere

The mesosphere is located approximately 50-80 km from the Earth's surface. The upper mesosphere is the coldest natural place on Earth, where temperatures can drop below -143°C.

Thermosphere: upper atmosphere

After the mesosphere and mesopause comes the thermosphere, located between 80 and 700 km above the surface of the planet and containing less than 0.01% of the total air in atmospheric envelope. Temperatures here reach up to + 2000 ° C, but due to the strong rarefaction of air and the lack of gas molecules for heat transfer, these high temperatures perceived as very cold.

Exosphere: the boundary of the atmosphere and space

At an altitude of about 700-10,000 km above the earth's surface is the exosphere - the outer edge of the atmosphere, bordering space. Here meteorological satellites revolve around the Earth.

How about the ionosphere?

The ionosphere is not a separate layer, and in fact this term is used to refer to the atmosphere at an altitude of 60 to 1000 km. It includes the uppermost parts of the mesosphere, the entire thermosphere and part of the exosphere. The ionosphere gets its name because it is in this part of the atmosphere that the Sun's radiation is ionized as it passes through magnetic fields Lands on and . This phenomenon is observed from the earth as the northern lights.

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Subtitles

Atmosphere boundary

The atmosphere is considered to be that area around the Earth in which gaseous environment rotates together with the Earth as a whole. The atmosphere passes into interplanetary space gradually, in the exosphere, starting at an altitude of 500-1000 km from the Earth's surface.

According to the definition proposed by the International Aviation Federation, the boundary between the atmosphere and space is drawn along the Karmana line, located at an altitude of about 100 km, above which air flights become completely impossible. NASA uses the 122 kilometers (400,000 ft) mark as the boundary of the atmosphere, where the shuttles switch from propulsion maneuvering to aerodynamic maneuvering.

Physical Properties

In addition to the gases indicated in the table, the atmosphere contains Cl 2, SO 2, NH 3, CO, O 3, NO 2, hydrocarbons, HCl,, HBr, vapors, I 2, Br 2, as well as many other gases in minor quantities. In the troposphere there is constantly a large amount of suspended solid and liquid particles (aerosol). Radon (Rn) is the rarest gas in the Earth's atmosphere.

The structure of the atmosphere

boundary layer of the atmosphere

The lower layer of the troposphere (1-2 km thick), in which the state and properties of the Earth's surface directly affect the dynamics of the atmosphere.

Troposphere

Its upper limit is at an altitude of 8-10 km in polar, 10-12 km in temperate and 16-18 km in tropical latitudes; lower in winter than in summer. The lower, main layer of the atmosphere contains more than 80% of the total mass atmospheric air and about 90% of all water vapor in the atmosphere. Turbulence and convection are strongly developed in the troposphere, clouds appear, cyclones and anticyclones develop. Temperature decreases with altitude with an average vertical gradient of 0.65°/100 m

tropopause

The transitional layer from the troposphere to the stratosphere, the layer of the atmosphere in which the decrease in temperature with height stops.

Stratosphere

The layer of the atmosphere located at an altitude of 11 to 50 km. A slight change in temperature in the 11-25 km layer (lower layer of the stratosphere) and its increase in the 25-40 km layer from −56.5 to 0.8 ° (upper stratosphere or inversion region) are typical. Having reached a value of about 273 K (almost 0 °C) at an altitude of about 40 km, the temperature remains constant up to an altitude of about 55 km. This region of constant temperature is called the stratopause and is the boundary between the stratosphere and the mesosphere.

Stratopause

The boundary layer of the atmosphere between the stratosphere and the mesosphere. There is a maximum in the vertical temperature distribution (about 0 °C).

Mesosphere

Thermosphere

The upper limit is about 800 km. The temperature rises to altitudes of 200-300 km, where it reaches values ​​of the order of 1500 K, after which it remains almost constant until high altitudes. Under the action of solar radiation and cosmic radiation, air is ionized (“polar lights”) - the main regions of the ionosphere lie inside the thermosphere. At altitudes above 300 km, atomic oxygen predominates. The upper limit of the thermosphere is largely determined by the current activity of the Sun. During periods of low activity - for example, in 2008-2009 - there is a noticeable decrease in the size of this layer.

Thermopause

The region of the atmosphere above the thermosphere. In this region, the absorption of solar radiation is insignificant and the temperature does not actually change with height.

Exosphere (scattering sphere)

Up to a height of 100 km, the atmosphere is a homogeneous, well-mixed mixture of gases. In higher layers, the distribution of gases in height depends on their molecular weights, the concentration of heavier gases decreases faster with distance from the Earth's surface. Due to the decrease in gas density, the temperature drops from 0 °C in the stratosphere to −110 °C in the mesosphere. However kinetic energy individual particles at altitudes of 200–250 km corresponds to a temperature of ~150 °C. Above 200 km, significant fluctuations in temperature and gas density are observed in time and space.

At an altitude of about 2000-3500 km, the exosphere gradually passes into the so-called near space vacuum, which is filled with rare particles of interplanetary gas, mainly hydrogen atoms. But this gas is only a part interplanetary matter. The other part is composed of dust-like particles of cometary and meteoric origin. In addition to extremely rarefied dust-like particles, electromagnetic and corpuscular radiation of solar and galactic origin penetrates into this space.

Review

The troposphere accounts for about 80% of the mass of the atmosphere, the stratosphere accounts for about 20%; the mass of the mesosphere - no more than 0.3%, the thermosphere - less than 0.05% of total weight atmosphere.

Based electrical properties emitted in the atmosphere the neutrosphere and ionosphere .

Depending on the composition of the gas in the atmosphere, they emit homosphere and heterosphere. heterosphere- this is an area where gravity affects the separation of gases, since their mixing at such a height is negligible. Hence follows the variable composition of the heterosphere. Below it lies a well-mixed, homogeneous part of the atmosphere, called the homosphere. The boundary between these layers is called turbopause, it lies at an altitude of about 120 km.

Other properties of the atmosphere and effects on the human body

Already at an altitude of 5 km above sea level, an untrained person develops oxygen starvation, and without adaptation, a person's performance is significantly reduced. This is where the physiological zone of the atmosphere ends. Human breathing becomes impossible at an altitude of 9 km, although up to about 115 km the atmosphere contains oxygen.

The atmosphere provides us with the oxygen we need to breathe. However, due to the drop in the total pressure of the atmosphere, as you rise to a height, respectively, decreases and partial pressure oxygen.

In rarefied layers of air, the propagation of sound is impossible. Up to altitudes of 60-90 km, it is still possible to use air resistance and lift for controlled aerodynamic flight. But starting from altitudes of 100-130 km, the concepts of the number  M and the sound barrier, familiar to every pilot, lose their meaning: there is a conditional line  Karman, beyond which begins the area of ​​​​purely ballistic flight, which can only be controlled using reactive forces.

At altitudes above 100 km, the atmosphere is also deprived of another remarkable property - the ability to absorb, conduct and transfer thermal energy by convection (that is, by mixing air). It means that various elements equipment, orbital equipment space station will not be able to cool outside the way it is usually done on an airplane - with the help of air jets and air coolers. At such a height, as in general in space, the only way heat transfer is thermal radiation.

History of the formation of the atmosphere

According to the most common theory, the Earth's atmosphere has been in three different compositions throughout its history. Initially, it consisted of light gases (hydrogen and helium) captured from interplanetary space. This so-called primary atmosphere . At the next stage, active volcanic activity led to the saturation of the atmosphere with gases other than hydrogen (carbon dioxide, ammonia, water vapor). This is how secondary atmosphere. This atmosphere was restorative. Further, the process of formation of the atmosphere was determined by the following factors:

• leakage of light gases (hydrogen and helium) into interplanetary space;
• chemical reactions that take place in the atmosphere under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, lightning discharges and some other factors.

Gradually, these factors led to the formation tertiary atmosphere, characterized by a much lower content of hydrogen and a much higher content of nitrogen and carbon dioxide (formed as a result of chemical reactions from ammonia and hydrocarbons).

Nitrogen

Education a large number nitrogen N 2 is due to the oxidation of the ammonia-hydrogen atmosphere by molecular oxygen O 2, which began to come from the surface of the planet as a result of photosynthesis, starting from 3 billion years ago. Nitrogen N 2 is also released into the atmosphere as a result of the denitrification of nitrates and other nitrogen-containing compounds. Nitrogen is oxidized by ozone to NO in the upper atmosphere.

Nitrogen N 2 enters into reactions only under specific conditions (for example, during a lightning discharge). Oxidation of molecular nitrogen by ozone at electrical discharges used in small quantities in the industrial production of nitrogen fertilizers. Oxidize it with low energy consumption and convert it into biologically active form cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and nodule bacteria can form rhizobial symbiosis with leguminous plants, which can be effective green manure plants that do not deplete, but enrich the soil with natural fertilizers.

Oxygen

The composition of the atmosphere began to change radically with the advent of living organisms on Earth, as a result of photosynthesis, accompanied by the release of oxygen and the absorption of carbon dioxide. Initially, oxygen was spent on the oxidation of reduced compounds - ammonia, hydrocarbons, the ferrous form of iron contained in the oceans, etc. this stage the oxygen content in the atmosphere began to rise. Gradually formed modern atmosphere, which has oxidizing properties. Since this caused serious drastic changes many processes occurring in the atmosphere, lithosphere and biosphere, this event was called the Oxygen Catastrophe.

noble gases

Air pollution

AT recent times man began to influence the evolution of the atmosphere. result human activity there was a constant increase in the content of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere due to the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels accumulated in previous geological epochs. Huge amounts of CO 2 are consumed during photosynthesis and absorbed by the world's oceans. This gas enters the atmosphere due to the decomposition of carbonate rocks and organic substances of plant and animal origin, as well as due to volcanism and human production activities. Over the past 100 years, the content of CO 2 in the atmosphere has increased by 10%, with the main part (360 billion tons) coming from fuel combustion. If the growth rate of fuel combustion continues, then in the next 200-300 years the amount of CO 2 in the atmosphere will double and may lead to global climate changes.

Fuel combustion is the main source of polluting gases (СО,, SO 2). Sulfur dioxide is oxidized by atmospheric oxygen to SO 3, and nitric oxide to NO 2 in the upper atmosphere, which in turn interact with water vapor, and the resulting sulfuric acid H 2 SO 4 and nitric acid HNO 3 fall on the Earth's surface in the form so-called. acid rain. Usage

The atmosphere is what makes life possible on Earth. We receive the very first information and facts about the atmosphere back in primary school. In high school, we are already more familiar with this concept in geography lessons.

The concept of the earth's atmosphere

The atmosphere is not only on the Earth, but also on other celestial bodies. This is the name of the gaseous shell surrounding the planets. The composition of this gas layer different planets is significantly different. Let's look at the basic information and facts about otherwise called air.

Its most important component is oxygen. Some mistakenly think that the earth's atmosphere is made entirely of oxygen, but air is actually a mixture of gases. It contains 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. The remaining one percent includes ozone, argon, carbon dioxide, water vapor. Let be percentage these gases are few, but they perform an important function - they absorb a significant part of the solar radiant energy, thereby preventing the luminary from turning all life on our planet into ashes. The properties of the atmosphere change with altitude. For example, at an altitude of 65 km, nitrogen is 86% and oxygen is 19%.

The composition of the Earth's atmosphere

• Carbon dioxide essential for plant nutrition. In the atmosphere, it appears as a result of the process of respiration of living organisms, rotting, burning. The absence of it in the composition of the atmosphere would make it impossible for any plants to exist.
• Oxygen is a vital component of the atmosphere for humans. Its presence is a condition for the existence of all living organisms. It makes up about 20% of total volume atmospheric gases.
• Ozone It is a natural absorber of solar ultraviolet radiation, which adversely affects living organisms. Most of it forms a separate layer of the atmosphere - the ozone screen. Recently, human activity has led to the fact that it begins to gradually collapse, but since it is of great importance, it is being active work for its conservation and restoration.
• water vapor determines the humidity of the air. Its content may vary depending on various factors: air temperature, territorial location, season. At low temperatures, there is very little water vapor in the air, maybe less than one percent, and at high temperatures, its amount reaches 4%.
• In addition to all of the above, in the composition of the earth's atmosphere there is always a certain percentage hard and liquid impurities . These are soot, ash, sea salt, dust, water drops, microorganisms. They can get into the air both naturally and by anthropogenic means.

Layers of the atmosphere

temperature, density, and qualitative composition air is not the same at different heights. Because of this, it is customary to distinguish different layers of the atmosphere. Each of them has its own characteristic. Let's find out which layers of the atmosphere are distinguished:

• The troposphere is the layer of the atmosphere closest to the Earth's surface. Its height is 8-10 km above the poles and 16-18 km in the tropics. Here is 90% of all water vapor that is available in the atmosphere, so there is an active formation of clouds. Also in this layer there are such processes as the movement of air (wind), turbulence, convection. The temperature ranges from +45 degrees at noon in the warm season in the tropics to -65 degrees at the poles.
• The stratosphere is the second furthest layer from the atmosphere. It is located at an altitude of 11 to 50 km. In the lower layer of the stratosphere, the temperature is approximately -55, towards the distance from the Earth it rises to +1˚С. This region is called the inversion and is the boundary between the stratosphere and the mesosphere.
• The mesosphere is located at an altitude of 50 to 90 km. The temperature at its lower boundary is about 0, at the upper it reaches -80...-90 ˚С. Meteorites entering the Earth's atmosphere burn out completely in the mesosphere, which causes airglows to occur here.
• The thermosphere is about 700 km thick. In this layer of the atmosphere, northern lights. They appear due to the action of cosmic radiation and radiation emanating from the Sun.
• The exosphere is a zone of air dispersion. Here, the concentration of gases is small and their gradual escape into interplanetary space takes place.

boundary between the earth's atmosphere and outer space considered to be a milestone of 100 km. This line is called the Karman line.

atmospheric pressure

Listening to the weather forecast, we often hear barometric pressure readings. But what does atmospheric pressure mean, and how might it affect us?

We figured out that air consists of gases and impurities. Each of these components has its own weight, which means that the atmosphere is not weightless, as was believed until the 17th century. Atmospheric pressure is the force with which all layers of the atmosphere press on the surface of the Earth and on all objects.

Scientists have carried out complex calculations and proved that for one square meter area, the atmosphere presses with a force of 10,333 kg. Means, human body subject to air pressure, the weight of which is 12-15 tons. Why don't we feel it? It saves us its internal pressure, which balances the external one. You can feel the pressure of the atmosphere while on an airplane or high in the mountains, as Atmosphere pressure much less at altitude. In this case, physical discomfort, stuffy ears, dizziness are possible.

A lot can be said about the atmosphere around. We know a lot about her. interesting facts, and some of them may seem surprising:

• The weight of the earth's atmosphere is 5,300,000,000,000,000 tons.
• It contributes to the transmission of sound. At an altitude of more than 100 km, this property disappears due to changes in the composition of the atmosphere.
• The movement of the atmosphere is provoked by uneven heating of the Earth's surface.
• A thermometer is used to measure air temperature, and a barometer is used to measure atmospheric pressure.
• The presence of an atmosphere saves our planet from 100 tons of meteorites daily.
• The composition of the air was fixed for several hundred million years, but began to change with the onset of rapid industrial activity.
• It is believed that the atmosphere extends upwards to an altitude of 3000 km.

The value of the atmosphere for humans

The physiological zone of the atmosphere is 5 km. At an altitude of 5000 m above sea level, a person begins to experience oxygen starvation, which is expressed in a decrease in his working capacity and a deterioration in well-being. This shows that a person cannot survive in a space where this amazing mixture of gases does not exist.

All information and facts about the atmosphere only confirm its importance for people. Thanks to its presence, the possibility of the development of life on Earth appeared. Already today, having assessed the extent of the harm that mankind is capable of inflicting with its actions on the life-giving air, we should think about further measures to preserve and restore the atmosphere.

The exact size of the atmosphere is unknown, since its upper boundary is not clearly visible. However, the structure of the atmosphere has been studied enough so that everyone can get an idea of ​​​​how the gaseous shell of our planet is arranged.

Atmospheric physics scientists define it as the area around the Earth that rotates with the planet. The FAI gives the following definition:

• The boundary between space and the atmosphere runs along the Karman line. This line, according to the definition of the same organization, is the height above sea level, located at an altitude of 100 km.

Anything above this line space. The atmosphere gradually passes into interplanetary space, which is why there are different ideas about its size.

With lower bound atmosphere, everything is much simpler - it passes through the surface earth's crust and the water surface of the Earth - the hydrosphere. At the same time, the border, one might say, merges with the earthly and water surface, since the particles there are also dissolved particles of air.

What layers of the atmosphere are included in the size of the Earth

Interesting fact: in winter it is lower, in summer it is higher.

It is in this layer that turbulence, anticyclones and cyclones arise, clouds form. It is this sphere that is responsible for the formation of the weather; approximately 80% of all air masses are located in it.

The tropopause is the layer in which temperature does not decrease with height. Above the tropopause, at an altitude above 11 and up to 50 km is located. The stratosphere contains a layer of ozone, which is known to protect the planet from ultraviolet rays. The air in this layer is discharged, these are explained by the characteristic purple hue sky. The speed of air currents here can reach 300 km/h. Between the stratosphere and the mesosphere is the stratopause - the boundary sphere, in which the temperature maximum takes place.

The next layer is . It extends to heights of 85-90 kilometers. The color of the sky in the mesosphere is black, so the stars can be observed even in the morning and afternoon. The most complex photochemical processes take place there, during which atmospheric glow occurs.

Between the mesosphere and the next layer is the mesopause. It is defined as a transition layer in which a temperature minimum is observed. Above, at an altitude of 100 kilometers above sea level, is the Karman line. Above this line are the thermosphere (altitude limit 800 km) and the exosphere, which is also called the "dispersion zone". At an altitude of about 2-3 thousand kilometers, it passes into the near space vacuum.

Given that the upper layer of the atmosphere is not clearly visible, it is impossible to calculate its exact size. Besides, in different countries there are organizations that different opinions on this account. It should be noted that Karman line can be considered the boundary of the earth's atmosphere only conditionally, since different sources use different boundary markers. So, in some sources you can find information that the upper limit passes at an altitude of 2500-3000 km.

NASA uses the 122 kilometer mark for calculations. Not so long ago, experiments were carried out that clarified the border as located at around 118 km.