The 5 most interesting facts about our atmosphere that will surprise you

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The atmosphere is a shell of gas that surrounds our Earth. It stretches from the planet’s surface to space itself, but most interestingly, it rotates with the Earth as a whole. Thanks to the atmosphere on Earth. The conditions for the origin of life in the method in which we know it appeared. And life on the planet depends entirely on this shell. After all, it protects us from harmful cosmic radiation, provides oxygen, determines the weather and climate.

And also, the average temperature on Earth depends on its composition. That is why the whole world is trying so hard to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a large concentration of which can turn our planet into a giant “greenhouse.” If this process is not stopped, temperatures can escalate to the point that life is threatened. But, what extra do we know about our atmosphere? I have prepared some interesting facts about her that will surely surprise you.

Why is the atmosphere blue? She’s purple!

Any child in his first drawings depicts the sky blue. It would seem that this is so. It is enough to look out the window in clear weather to be convinced of this. But we see the atmosphere is blue due to the peculiarities of vision and the optical laws of physics. If not for them, the atmosphere would be purple.

When sunlight passes through gas and water vapor, it scatters. In this case, short emissions, including the violet tone of the spectrum, are absorbed more strongly. Human eyes are more sensitive to blue tint. That is, they perceive it better than purple. As a result, when we see the sky, it appears blue to us.

Oxygen content in the atmosphere of the Earth and other planets

Our atmosphere contains less than 21% oxygen by volume. The central part of the atmosphere is nitrogen – ≈78% and oxygen. The rest of the gases account for only 1%. Few people know that the Earth has far from the highest oxygen content in its atmosphere. For example, on Mercury, this gas is about 42%. True, you will not be able to breathe it, since the atmosphere on the planet is very rarefied.

In general, in terms of atmospheric density, the Earth ranks third among the solar system’s celestial bodies. A denser atmosphere on Titan, as well as on Venus, ranks first in this indicator. The density is so high that it gradually becomes liquid and smoothly passes into the ocean closer to the surface.

By the way, oxygen on Earth in such a large amount did not appear immediately. Scientists associate the saturation of the atmosphere with oxygen—the slowing down of the Earth’s rotation due to the appearance of the Moon.

Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are essential.

We all know that greenhouse gases are hazardous for the atmosphere – they, as I said above, cause global warming. Scientists have different approaches to the issue of limiting greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. Some of the ideas seem fantastic. For example, I recently talked about how scientists are working to “revitalize” the mammoth, which, according to their concept, should restore pastures in the Arctic.

However, it would also be uncomfortable on Earth without greenhouse gases at all. The fact is that they absorb solar energy and distribute it evenly over the surface of the Earth. Without them, most of the world would be too cold, and in the equatorial zone, on the contrary, there would be unbearable heat. Thus, the atmosphere contains the ideal composition of gases for a comfortable life, and its change is fraught with severe consequences.

Airplane trail in the sky – where does it come from?

Have you ever wondered why a white “track” remains in the sky after a jet plane, which looks beautiful against the blue sky? We all watched how it lasts for a long time and then slowly diverges. We see ice in the sky. It occurs as a result of the cold atmosphere meeting the wet and hot exhaust from the aircraft. As a result, water immediately turns into tiny crystals.

If the trail is poorly visible and quickly dissipates, there is low humidity at the plane’s altitude. If the path is clear and lasts a long time, accordingly, there is increased humidity in the air. That means that the weather may worsen soon. Even a thunderstorm is possible.

The troposphere is warmer than the stratosphere.

Many believe that the higher, the lower the temperature in the atmosphere. However, this is not entirely true. The stratosphere, which is located higher, is warmer than the troposphere. That is because it is in it that the ozone layer is located, which protects the inhabitants of the Earth from the deadly ultraviolet radiation.

The stratosphere heats up because it absorbs the solar heat. In the article on the ozone hole, I talked about how ozone is formed. Finally, I note that the stratosphere is also essential because it is the flight space in jet planes, and meteorological probes fly.