Structure of the Atmosphere | Layers of atmosphere in Order, Atmosphere and its Composition

Structure of the Atmosphere

In this article, we will tell you about the structure of the atmosphere, 5 different layers of the atmosphere in Order from ground to the upward, and what is atmosphere, and its composition.

The layers of the atmosphere are defined on the basis of temperature and various other factors.

We will learn about some interesting facts related to this article.

What is atmosphere and its composition?

The earth is surrounded by a layer of gas called the atmosphere. It extends up to a height of 1600 km.

The atmosphere consists of mainly nitrogen and oxygen which alone make up about 99% of the clean dry air.

Nitrogen 78%, oxygen 28%, and other gases like carbon dioxide, argon, and others comprise 1% by volume.

The atmosphere is divided into five layers based on composition, temperature, and other properties. Which are as follows:-

5 different layers of the atmosphere in Order

Troposphere

This is the lowest layer where we do live in. It consists of clouds, rain, snow, and weather.

As the distance from earth increases in this layer temperature gets colder by 6.5-degree Celsius per kilometer.

The decrease in temperature happens due to a decrease in air pressure.

As air moves upwards pressure decreases and the air gets expands due to this low-pressure air gets cool.

The top of the troposphere is called the tropopause. It ranges from 0-13 km from the earth’s surface.

Stratosphere

It ranges from 13-30 km from tropopause. This layer mainly consists of ozone which prevents us from harmful Ultraviolet rays of the sun by absorbing them.

The absorption of UV rays results in an increase in the temperature of this layer.

By absorbing harmful Uv rays stratosphere protects us from skin cancer and other health damages.

The uses of CFCs, freons, and halon in refrigerators and fire extinguishers have reduced the amount of ozone in the atmosphere.

At polar latitudes uses of the aforesaid CFCs and halon gaseous had caused a hole known as the Antarctic ozone hole.

But we had now minimized its uses to recover this setback.

Mesosphere

It ranges from 30-50 km. In this layer again temperature decreases up to -90 degrees celsius.

Thermosphere or Ionosphere

It lies above the mesosphere and ranges from 50-400 km. The temperature in this layer again increases with the increase in height due to the absorption of ultraviolet and X-ray radiation from the sun.

This layer is also known as the ionosphere due to the presence of ions with a positive charge.

The ionosphere absorbs and reflects radio waves allowing us to receive shortwave radio broadcasts.

Exosphere

The region above 400 km is known as the exosphere. It consists of mainly oxygen and hydrogen atoms.

Why do climbers experience difficulty in breathing at high altitudes?

The density of the atmosphere varies with height. It is maximum at the sea level and decreases rapidly as we go up.

The climbers experience problems in breathing due to a decrease in the density of air. The temperature also decreases as we go upwards.

FAQs on Structure of the Atmosphere

Which is the lowest layer of Atmosphere?

Troposphere is the lowest layer of Atmosphere.

Which is the upper most layer of earth’s atmosphere?

Exosphere is the upper most layer of the earth’s atmosphere.

Which is the most important layer of atmosphere?

Troposphere is the most important layer of the atmosphere it gives us the weather and we live in this layer.

How many layers are there in earth’s atmosphere?

There are 5 different layers in earth’s atmosphere namely, Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Troposphere and Exosphere.

Which is the earth’s densest atmospheric layer?

Troposphere is the densest atmospheric layer, due to the weight of atmosphere above it.

Which is the coldest layer of atmosphere?

Mesosphere it the coldest layer of earth’s atmosphere.

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