Atmosphere
The Components Of Earth’s Atmosphere And How Our Climate Is Affected By Volcanic Eruptions
Introduction
The atmosphere is all that lies between us, and the vast and unforgiving conditions of space. It absorbs energy from the sun, protects us from radiation, supports the cycle of water and other chemicals, and interacts with Earth’s magnetic fields to give us a climate capable of supporting life.
Without it there would be no water, no air, no life. So we must protect it. But to protect it, we must first understand it.
Climate change due to atmospheric damage is in the limelight of modern science. The burning of fossil fuels, methane emissions from livestock and even natural events such as volcanic eruptions can all contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions interrupt the atmospheric system and are believed to be the cause of changing climate conditions. Even though our Earth has many buffers that help to maintain its environment, the interactions between these systems are not yet fully understood and modern science aims to solve these puzzles.
This essay will review the components of Earth’s atmosphere and our modern climate, and how our climate can be affected by natural events such as large volcanic eruptions.
When we look up to the sky mostly we see clear sky, straight to the sun, straight to the moon, straight to the stars. But there is a whole lot going on in that seemingly clear space. Figure 1.1 shows gives a “behind the scenes” glimpse of the many systems that are hard at work supporting the balance of our climate and protecting our planet. Figure 1.1 (Wikimedia, 2012)
Our Atmosphere
The atmosphere is best described as a series of concentric circles enveloping our earth. Each circle is layer with a unique chemical composition, temperature range and function.
Chemical Composition of the Atmosphere
The current molecular composition of Earth’s atmosphere is diatomic nitrogen (N2), 78.08 percent; diatomic oxygen
Introduction
The atmosphere is all that lies between us, and the vast and unforgiving conditions of space. It absorbs energy from the sun, protects us from radiation, supports the cycle of water and other chemicals, and interacts with Earth’s magnetic fields to give us a climate capable of supporting life.
Without it there would be no water, no air, no life. So we must protect it. But to protect it, we must first understand it.
Climate change due to atmospheric damage is in the limelight of modern science. The burning of fossil fuels, methane emissions from livestock and even natural events such as volcanic eruptions can all contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions interrupt the atmospheric system and are believed to be the cause of changing climate conditions. Even though our Earth has many buffers that help to maintain its environment, the interactions between these systems are not yet fully understood and modern science aims to solve these puzzles.
This essay will review the components of Earth’s atmosphere and our modern climate, and how our climate can be affected by natural events such as large volcanic eruptions.
When we look up to the sky mostly we see clear sky, straight to the sun, straight to the moon, straight to the stars. But there is a whole lot going on in that seemingly clear space. Figure 1.1 shows gives a “behind the scenes” glimpse of the many systems that are hard at work supporting the balance of our climate and protecting our planet. Figure 1.1 (Wikimedia, 2012)
Our Atmosphere
The atmosphere is best described as a series of concentric circles enveloping our earth. Each circle is layer with a unique chemical composition, temperature range and function.
Chemical Composition of the Atmosphere
The current molecular composition of Earth’s atmosphere is diatomic nitrogen (N2), 78.08 percent; diatomic oxygen