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Atmospheric Sciences

Atmospheric science is the study of the atmosphere, its processes, and the interaction of the atmosphere with other systems, including the effects other systems have on the atmosphere and visa versa. Fields in Atmospheric Sciences include Meteorology, Climatology, and Aeronomy. Ask and answer questions about Atmospheric Sciences in this category.

7,660 Questions

What is 99 percent of the atmosphere is made up of either oxygen or?

Nitrogen. Oxygen makes up approximately 21% of the Earth's atmosphere, while nitrogen makes up about 78%. Together, they account for the vast majority of the gases present in the atmosphere.

Is the lowest layer of the atmosphere called the troposphere?

Yes, the lowest layer of the atmosphere is called the troposphere. It is where most weather phenomena occur and where temperature decreases with altitude.

How can atmosphere helps to sustain life on earth?

The Earth's atmosphere plays a crucial role in sustaining life by providing oxygen for respiration, regulating temperature through the greenhouse effect, protecting against harmful solar radiation, and facilitating the water cycle through precipitation. It also helps distribute gases and nutrients essential for life among different regions of the planet.

What was the most common element in earth's first atmosphere?

The most common element in Earth's first atmosphere was likely hydrogen, along with helium and traces of other elements. These gases were likely present during the planet's formation and early evolution.

Is it true that the second most abundant gas in the Earth's atmosphere is carbon dioxide?

No - Nitrogen is the largest quantity of gas in the atmosphere at 79% - followed by Oxygen at 20%. Carbon dioxide and other minute quantities of inert gasses make up just 1% of the total volume.

How is the atmosphere of Saturn similar to the atmosphere of earth?

Both Saturn and Earth have atmospheres primarily composed of molecular hydrogen and helium, but Earth's atmosphere also contains significant amounts of oxygen, nitrogen, and other trace gases that support life. Additionally, both atmospheres support weather systems, such as clouds and storms, driven by temperature variations.

What part of the earth atmosphere experiences convection?

The troposphere, which is the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere, experiences convection. This is where most of the weather phenomena occur, driven by the movement of air masses due to variations in temperature and pressure.

Do you need atmosphere to breathe?

Yes, humans need a specific mixture of gases in the atmosphere, including oxygen, to breathe and survive. Without a sufficient amount of oxygen in the air, the body cannot adequately function, leading to potentially serious health consequences.

Do soils emit carbon into the atmosphere?

Yes, soils can emit carbon into the atmosphere through a process called soil respiration, where microorganisms decompose organic matter and release carbon dioxide as a byproduct. This process is a natural part of the carbon cycle.

Do rain shadows blow in circular belts across Earth?

No, rain shadows are areas of decreased precipitation on the leeward side of mountains due to the blocking of moisture by the mountains. They do not blow in circular belts across the Earth; rather, they are localized phenomena influenced by the geography of the area.

What are the sources of lead in the atmosphere?

Until relatively recently, lead was added to petrol to raise its octane rating. After decades of cars emitting this into our atmosphere, scientists began to find high levels of lead in the air of our cities and along major traffic arteries. Even after lead is no longer added to fuel, the lead remains in our urban environment and re-enters the atmosphere when disturbed.

Where is a trench most likely to occur?

Trenches are most likely to occur at convergent plate boundaries, where tectonic plates collide and one is forced beneath the other in a process called subduction. This creates deep oceanic trenches, such as the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean, which is the deepest known trench on Earth.

What makes up majority of earths atmosphere?

Nitrogen makes up the majority of Earth's atmosphere, with about 78%. Oxygen is the second most abundant gas, making up about 21% of the atmosphere. Other gases like argon, carbon dioxide, and trace gases make up the remaining composition.

What prediction do scientists make about how the composition of earths atmosphere will change in the future?

Scientists predict that the composition of Earth's atmosphere will change in the future due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels, leading to an increase in greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. This is expected to cause global warming and climate change, with potential negative impacts on the planet's ecosystems and weather patterns.

What fuels release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere?

Fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas release carbon dioxide when burned for energy production. This carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming and climate change. Reducing the use of these fossil fuels is important in combating the buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Which gas makes up around 80 percent of the earth's atmosphere?

Nitrogen makes up around 78% of the Earth's atmosphere, while oxygen makes up around 21%.

What are the 2 dominant elements in Earth's atmosphere?

The two dominant elements in Earth's atmosphere are nitrogen and oxygen. Nitrogen makes up about 78% of the atmosphere, while oxygen accounts for about 21%.

What are two processes that return CO2 to the atmosphere?

  1. Respiration (breathing). This is carbon dioxide recently removed from the atmosphere, so does not contribute to global warming.
  2. Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas). This is carbon dioxide that has been underground for 300 million years, so it does contribute to global warming.

What layer of atmosphere is responsible for change in weather?

The troposphere is the layer of the atmosphere responsible for weather changes. It is the lowest layer and contains most of the atmosphere's mass, where temperature, pressure, and moisture levels fluctuate to create weather patterns such as rain, clouds, and storms.

Does not increase carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere?

Using renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power does not increase carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere because they do not produce greenhouse gas emissions during operation. This helps to combat climate change by reducing the overall carbon footprint associated with energy production.

What is causes by the uneven heating of the earth and it atmosphere?

Pole. Specifically the North and South Poles. :)
It is one of the factors that cause what we know as weather. Wind, ocean currents and evaporation, and clouds. Uneven heating works with the earth's rotation, upon the the land and seas to cause weather patterns flowing across the earth.
It causes convective flows that are the major source of the Earth's winds.

Convection occurs when air is heated and rises, then is cooled and sinks again. Uneven heating works with the Earth's rotation to cause weather patterns flowing across the earth. This creates unique climates based on the location of land and water areas.

Are winds strong or weak near the equator?

Winds near the equator are generally weak, as a result of the weak pressure gradient caused by the warm air rising at the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). This region is characterized by light and variable winds, known as the doldrums.

How has the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere changed over the earths history?

Five Ga (five billion years ago)

  • The earth's atmosphere, like other planets', was largely hydrogen and helium, very light gases which soon escaped the gravity of the earth.
Earth's primordial atmosphere (Hadean Eon, 4.56 to 3.8 Ga)
  • The atmosphere then consisted of methane, ammonia, water vapour, and small percentages of nitrogen and carbon dioxide.
  • Volcanic activity started to increase levels of carbon dioxide.
  • The high temperatures of the molten surface of the earth began reducing methane levels as it combined with water vapour to form carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
Earth's second atmosphere (Archean Eon, 3.8 to 2.5 Ga)
  • The molten surface cooled, water vapour condensed and millions of years' rainfall filled up the oceans.
  • Rain removed ammonia and sulphur from the air, making new minerals.
  • Nitrogen 75%, carbon dioxide 15%.
Earth's third atmosphere (Proterozoic Eon, 2.5 to 0.54 Ga)
  • Organisms began using photosynthesis to remove carbon dioxide and produce oxygen.
  • Carbon dioxide was replaced by oxygen, so with nitrogen and oxygen, the atmosphere was becoming more like it is today.
  • The cooling earth stabilised the volcanoes and methane and carbon dioxide levels were greatly reduced.
  • Oxygen atoms in the upper atmosphere struck by ultraviolet radiation became the ozone layer.
Earth's present atmosphere (Phanerozoic Eon, 0.542 Ga to present)
  • Most of the animals appeared and the earth was covered with dense vegetation.
  • Oxygen was 30% of the atmosphere.
  • 251 million years ago a mass-extinction event occurred (probably millions of years of volcanic eruptions in Siberia). Oxygen levels went from 30% to 12%, and carbon dioxide reached about 2000 ppm.
  • By 228 million years ago oxygen had climbed back to 15% and dinosaurs appeared.
  • For the past 100 million years earth's atmosphere has been much the same as today, Nitrogen 78%, Oxygen 21% and tiny amounts of Argon, Carbon dioxide and Neon.
Earth's future atmosphere.
  • Since the start of the Industrial Revolution in 1750, we have been burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) to provide the energy to power machinery. This combustion has been generating large quantities of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O).
  • For the past 2000 years carbon dioxide levels have been around 280 ppm (parts per million). They are now 400 ppm or 0.04%.
  • The average temperature of the North Pole is now -20C (-4F), but 200 million years ago, when carbon dioxide levels were 2000 ppm, temperatures at the North Pole averaged 23°C (73.4°F).
  • Scientists believe that the high levels of greenhouse gases are causing global warming. If the ice in Greenland and Antarctica melts, then many coastal cities will become flooded.

How many times Nibiru is bigger than Earth?

Nibiru is believed to be a hypothetical planet described in various conspiracy theories. There is no scientific evidence for the existence of Nibiru. Therefore, it is not possible to accurately quantify how many times bigger it is than Earth.