how the atmosphere supports life

• gases for natural processes : the atmosphere contains carbon , oxygen , hydrogen and nitrogen . These are needed to make the biological molecules used by living organisms . these are extracted from the atmosphere as carbohydrates , lipids and proteins all contain carbon , oxygen and hydrogen . proteins also contain nitrogen.
• Adsorption of electromagnetic radiation from the sun: much of the biologically damaging radiation in the 'solar wind ' is prevented from reaching earth by the upper atosphere . Most of the ultraviolet light that passes through the upper atmosphere is prevented from reaching the earth's surface the various forms of oxygen found in the stratosphere .
• The element oxygen is present in the atmosphere in three forms with one , two or three atoms known as monatomic , diatomic and triatomic oxygen . Together the three form a dispersed layer in the stratosphere called the ozonne layer . These gases absorb ultraviolet light , producing a dynamic equilibrium of chemical reactions which form and destroy ozone .
• delaying the escape of infrared energy : much of the incoming visible light is absorbed converted to heat and re-emmitted as infrared energy . naturally occurring atmospheric gases absorb this infrared energy , convert it to heat and increase the temperature of the atmosphere . this raises the temperature of the earth in 2 ways : the warm atmosphere emits infrared energy which is absorbed by the earth's surface andthe warm atmosphere reduces heat loss by conduction from land and the oceans
• heat distribution : most of the energy from the sun , absorbed at the earth's surface is absorbed in tropical regions , the warm surface heats the atmosphere above and this heat is distributed t higher latitudes by warm winds , such as the south-westerly winds that bring heat energy to the UK from the Caribbean Sea.
• ocean currents : winds blowing over the ocean create currents that distribute heat by carrying warm water from tropical areas to higher latitudes , such as the north Atlantic conveyor . these currents can also distribute dissolved nutrients .
• transport of water vapour : winds transport water vapour to areas that would otherwise get little or no precipitation
• atmospheric pressure : controls the ease with which water molecules can evaporate and escape from the water surface . f atmospheric pressure was much lower here would be no liquid water on earth .
• gases for human exploitation : humans extract a variety of industrially important gases from the atmosphere including nitrogen , oxygen ,carbon dioxide and inert gases such as argon , neon , krypton and xenon.
• structure of the atmosphere : altituded affects the composition and physical features of the atmosphere resulting in a series of layers , of which the troposphere and the stratosphere at are the most significant . It Is these layers that are affected by human activity .
• energy processes in the atmosphere : the solar energy arriving at earth and the energy being radiated to space are generally in a state of dynamic equilibrium . the wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation arriving are mainly ultraviolet , visible light and near infrared . this energy and the processes it drives , controls factors such as the climate , ocean currents , the hydrological cycle and therefore the distribution of species .