Earth’s atmosphere and the weather
An application of Earth Sciences is meteorology related with physics and
geology. Meteorology is a branch of geophysics that studies atmospheric phenomena,
atmosphere’s properties and specifically the relationship between the weather
and Earth’s surface and oceans. Through the observation of atmospheric
phenomena, meteorologists try to predict and define the interactions of the
atmosphere with different systems. This way scientifics can understand and
create models of climate and their changes in the future. To understand the
weather and atmospheric phenomena, we need to know general things about the
atmosphere.
Earth’s atmosphere is a big mass of air that surrounds the planet, it is
composed of gases and other necessary elements to maintain living conditions,
for this reason there is life on Earth. Also, the atmosphere protects us from
sunlight and circulates air around the world. It is held in place thanks to
gravity forces and it is composed of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% of other
gases. Earth’ atmosphere is subdivided into some layers where the temperature,
atmospheric pressure, composition and height varies. The first layer from Earth
to space is the troposphere, this is the most important layer and it extends
from Earth’s surface up to 5 miles in at the poles and 11 miles at the equator;
here is where 90% of the gases exists and it is here where meteorological
phenomena and weather occur; also while height increases, temperature and
atmospheric pressure decrease. The second layer is the stratosphere, it begins
about 11 miles from the troposphere, until 30 miles; here is where the ozone
layer is found, a gas responsible of protecting us from Sun’s ultraviolet rays;
in this layer temperature increases as height increases, converting oxygen into
ozone. The third layer is the mesosphere, the coldest layer of the atmosphere,
it extends between 30 until 50 miles above; here the air is very thin and is an
important layer because chemical changes occur, including ionization; also is
there where meteors burn and create their lights, produced by the friction with
the layer. The forth layer is the thermosphere that extends from 50 miles to
500 miles, it contents warmer temperatures, sometimes reaching more than 2,000° F; here is where the space shuttle orbits and the polar lights or
aurora occur. The fifth and most external atmosphere’s layer is the exosphere, it
extends from 500 miles to 800 miles and is where atoms escape to space and where
satellites orbit around the Earth.
As we know, the most meteorological phenomena occurs in the layer most
near the Earth’s surface, the troposphere. Although it is important to note
that some clouds can reach the stratosphere, the next layer in the atmosphere.
These atmospherics phenomena are related with the types of clouds and many
atmospheric and Earth factors that can modify this. Hurricanes, winter storms,
tornadoes, frontal systems, heavy rains and droughts are some of these
meteorological phenomena. For example, tropical storms and hurricanes are
phenomenons that occur in the tropical latitudes of Earth, these produce heavy
winds and rains as they are formed by the hot waters of oceans and other
atmospheric factors. Tornadoes and heavy rains are associated with cumulonimbus
clouds formed by the combination of different masses of air with different
temperatures and pressures. These are some of the factors that affect the daily
weather of our planet.
The weather governs and modifies our life every day. Both rainy and
sunny days affect us, and this is determinate to occur by factors in the
atmosphere and the oceans. For this reason understanding the weather is
important to society, also to know if an atmospheric phenomenon like a
hurricane, tornado or heavy rains can affect us. The presence or lack of this
phenomenon can generate some problems for society, for example, a frontal
system can generate enough rain to produce floods, or on the other hand, the
lack of these types of phenomenon can generate droughts. The objective of
meteorology is to predict all of this to prepare the population for these
natural disasters.
References:
Information:
(2011, February 14). Mi Resuelve Escolar: La atmósfera.
Primera Hora.
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