Composition and Structure of Atmosphere Test - 3

The atmosphere is a mixture of different gases and it envelopes the earth all round. 

The stratosphere extends from the top of the troposphere to about 50 km (31 miles) above the ground. The infamous ozone layer is found within the stratosphere.

CO₂ makes up only about 0.04% of the atmosphere, and water vapor can vary from 0 to 4%. 

The volume of other gases is constant but the volume of carbon dioxide has been rising in the past few decades mainly because of the burning of fossil fuels. This has also increased the temperature of the air.

Ozone is another important component of the atmosphere found between 10 and 50 km above the earth’s surface and acts as a filter and absorbs the ultraviolet rays radiating from the sun and prevents them from reaching the surface of the earth.

The atmosphere has a sufficient capacity to keep small solid particles, which may originate from different sources and include sea salts, fine soil, smoke-soot, ash, pollen, dust, and disintegrated particles of meteors.

A small layer called tropopause separates the stratosphere from the troposphere.

Carbon dioxide is largely responsible for the greenhouse effect.

The main elements of atmosphere which are subject to change and which influence human life on earth are temperature, pressure, winds, humidity, clouds and precipitation.

The thickness of the troposphere is greatest at the equator because heat is transported to great heights by strong convectional currents.