Atmosphere features

• Atmosphere protects life by absorbing extreme UV solar radiation
• The surface is warmed by the retention of uv rays and infrared radiation (this is known as the greenhouse effect)
• Greenhouse effect reduces extreme temperatures during the night and day
• Ozone layer absorbs most of the sun's harmful UV rays
• Atmosphere provides all necessary gaseous elements
• The atmosphere supports life by providing gases for natural processes e.g. carbon dioxide for photosynthesis
• The atmosphere supports life by absorbing electromagnetic radiation from the sun therefore protecting the eartg
• The atmosphere supports life by delaying the escape of infrared energy from earth
• Infrared energy is absorbed by gases this heats the troposphere
• Atmosphere supports life by aiding in heat distribution
• Atmosphere supports life by aiding in the transport of water vapour
• Atmosphere supports life by providing gases for human exploitation
• Atmosph4re supports life by providing ocean currents
• Human activities such as burning fossil fuels have increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
• Increase in greenhouse gases contributes to global warming and climate change
• Climate change can result in habitat loss, species extinction and affect the distribution of species
• Increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere leads to ocean acidifaction this impacts marine life
• Oxygen is essential for respiration
• Niteogen is important for amino acids, proteins and DNA
• Carbon dioxide is key for photosynthesis, plants convert light energy into chemical energy
• Photosynthesis and aerobic respiration both influence life on earth
• Carbon dioxide and water vapour trap infrared radiation emitted from earth, this maintains temperatures in the troposphere
• Nitrogen is used as raw material for protein synthesis via nitrogen fixation
• There is a dynamic equilibrium of processes that maintain the average composition of the atmosphere
• Concentrations of gases fluctuate around a mean Concentration
• Concentration of carbon in the atmosphere changes over a 24 hour cycle, there is a higher concentration at night as respiration occurs and photosynthesis does not
• Concentration of water vapour varies, vegetation releases H2O in transpiration
• Photosynthesis, combustion, respiration, transpiration, evaporation and nitrogen fixation are all processes that alter atmosphere composition
• Atmosphere absorbs around 23 percent of upcoming solar energy
• The sun generates energy this is transferred through space to earth's atmosphere and surface
• Radiation is the transfer of heat energy through space as electromagnetic radiation
• Most solar radiation is absorbed by the atomoshere much of what reaches the surface is radiated back into the atmosphere to become heat energy
• Dark coloured objects absorb radiant energy faster
• Conduction is the transfer of heat energy from one substance to another
• Convection is the transfer of heat energy in fluid
• Surface temperatures increase due to conduction, heat energy is released into the atmosphere, forming bubble of warmer air, as this bubble rises into the atmosphere, cooling and hence allowing its heat to move into the surrounding atmosphere
• Large cycles of movement of air are called convection currents this is responsible for weather patterns
• Feedback mechanisms include carbon and nitrogen cycle
• Atmospheric pressure decreases as altitude increases