Atmosphere Layers: Facts About the Atmosphere Layers
Atmosphere layers envelope the Earth to create a safe sanctuary for all the organisms. The facts about the atmosphere layers are interesting to read. To know more about the atmosphere layers facts, read on…
The life on the Earth exists because of the atmosphere that surrounds it. It is a body of air that contains oxygen without which life on the Earth is not possible. Gases like nitrogen (78%), oxygen (just under 21%) are the main constituents of the air in the atmosphere. Rare gases like helium, neon, argon, krypton, radon, xenon and carbon dioxide make the rest of the air. The atmosphere is dense, near the surface of the Earth and protects life on the planet Earth. There are four layers of the Earth’s atmosphere. The following are the atmosphere layers facts.
Facts About the Atmosphere Layers, #1 – Troposphere The troposphere is where we breath in and is also referred to as the lower atmosphere. Of all atmosphere layers, this is the most closest to the Earth. The cool facts about the atmosphere is that this atmosphere layers is the birthplace of the weather
, storms and rain. From the surface of the Earth, it extends out to about 6-8 kilometers at the poles and 17 kilometers at the equator.
As you move away from the surface of the Earth, the air becomes thin and temperature of the troposphere decreases by 6.5” Celsius per kilometer. However, the temperature stabilizes at 12 kilometer. This area is called the tropopause which is considered as the boundary of the troposphere.
Facts About the Atmosphere Layers, #2 – Stratosphere
The stratosphere, which is the next among the atmosphere layers, is above the troposphere. The Stratosphere starts from the tropopause and extends to an altitude of about 50 kilometers above the surface of the Earth. We can safely say from the atmosphere layers facts that we know, all such atmospheric layers are separated be regions like the tropopause. The temperature of the lower stratosphere is about -50” Celsius. However, its upper level is comparatively warmer, at -18” Celsius, than the lower, even though they are below freezing point.
One of the interesting facts about this atmosphere layer is that the air is not steady and moves at a tremendous speed of 320 kilometer per hour. This movement of air is termed as the ‘Jet Streams’, which plays an important role in the weather of the Earth.
The stratosphere is very important for the preservation of animal life on the Earth. It contains Ozone in abundant quantity. The layer formed by the ozone absorbs the skin cancer causing, ultra-violet radiations and thus, protects the life on the Earth. Ozone reacts with the ultra-violet rays and gives out heat, which warms the upper layers of the stratosphere. This is another atmosphere layers fact. The stratopause separates the stratosphere and the mesosphere, which is the next layer of atmosphere.
Facts About the Atmosphere Layers, #3 – Mesosphere
The mesosphere is the layer of atmosphere that lies beyond the stratosphere. It extends from the stratopause to about 80 kilometers above the the Earth’s surface. In this layer, the air is very thin. Temperatures in the mesosphere can be as low as -100” Celsius. At its maximum height, the mesosphere is bounded by the mesopause, which separates the atmosphere layers of the mesosphere and the thermosphere. The atmosphere layers; the stratosphere and the mesosphere together are referred to as the middle atmosphere of the Earth.
Facts About the Atmosphere Layers, #4 – Thermosphere
The last in the atmosphere layers is the thermosphere, which is also referred to as the upper atmosphere. This layer of the Earth’s atmosphere extends from, the mesopause, i.e. approximately 80 kilometers above the surface of the Earth to the space. The interesting facts about the atmosphere is that the temperature in the thermosphere increases as you go away from the Earth and it can be as high as 2000” Celsius.
One of the atmosphere layers facts is that, the air in the thermosphere would feel cold because the molecules of nitrogen and oxygen, which absorb the Sun’s energy are so far apart that the heat concentration is ineffective. This layer is divided in two sub-layers, the ionosphere and the exosphere.
The ionosphere contains electrically charged molecules of the oxygen, nitrogen and etc., which reflects the radio waves back to the Earth and enables the long distance communication. The ionosphere stretches from 80 to 550 kilometers, above the Earths surface. Atmosphere layers facts points out that a sun flair can disturb the radio communication by increasing the number of charged particles in the ionosphere.
The exosphere stretches from the 550 kilometers onwards into the space for thousands of kilometers. Satellites performing different functions occupy this layer.
The different atmosphere layers have different characteristics and roles. Each layer is important to man and forms an important part of Earth science. I hope the facts about the layers of the atmosphere proves to be of some help to you.
