The Atmosphere and Climate Change
Functions of the Atmosphere
Screen Protector
The ozone layer in the stratosphere prevents ultraviolet radiation from reaching Earth’s surface. The atmosphere also avoids the impact of meteorites and other bodies from outer space that disintegrate when crossing the layers of the atmosphere.
Involved in the Water Cycle
The water vapor it contains condenses, forms clouds, and precipitates as rain or snow.
Containing Gas Requirements of Life
CO2 and O2 are used for vital processes like breathing or photosynthesis.
Maintaining Suitable Temperature for Life
The atmosphere has a regulatory function of temperature because it maintains a balance of solar radiation on Earth. This is possible thanks to the greenhouse effect, which prevents some of the heat that reaches Earth’s surface from the sun from escaping into outer space.
Climate
Climate is the sequence of weather events occurring in a given region over time. The climate of a region is defined by climatic elements: temperature, pressure, humidity, wind, cloudiness, precipitation, etc. These elements, in turn, depend on several climatic factors:
Latitude
Influences the amount of solar radiation on Earth. This affects the general circulation of the atmosphere.
Altitude
Temperature decreases as altitude increases, so the upper regions will be colder than those located at lower altitudes.
Continentality
The proximity or remoteness of the oceans affects the climate. Water cools and heats more slowly than continental rocks, so coastal regions have fewer temperature fluctuations and milder climates.
Topography
Mountain chains, depending on their orientation, can generate different climates on two fronts and even large areas of no rain.
On Earth, there are many types of climates. We can classify them as low-latitude climates, mid-latitude climates, and high-latitude climates.
Air Pollution
Air pollution is defined as the condition of the atmosphere in which certain substances and/or energy reach levels that are above their normal environmental level, causing risks, damage, or disruption to people, ecosystems, and property.
Acid Rain
Much of the sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emitted into the atmosphere return to the Earth’s surface either in gaseous form, near emission sources, or dissolved in raindrops as acids. Sulfur dioxide is the main contributor to acid rain since it is more soluble than nitrogen dioxide and its oxidation is easier. Two-thirds of the anthropogenic origin of the acidity of rainwater comes from sulfuric acid, and one-third from nitric acid.
Tall chimneys prevent contamination in the area of origin and spread pollutants, but they cause these pollutants to remain longer in the atmosphere. Nitrogen oxides and sulfur can remain in the atmosphere for several days before being transformed into nitric and sulfuric acids, respectively. Therefore, they can travel great distances and cause acid rain in places far away from emission sources.
Ozone Layer Depletion
The deterioration of the ozone layer is one of the most serious environmental problems facing our planet. Located in the stratosphere, ozone acts as a powerful filter that lets through only a small part of the ultraviolet radiation from the sun, which we call UV-B. This region of the spectrum extends from 290 nanometers to 310 nanometers. High-intensity radiation or prolonged exposure time can cause rashes, conjunctivitis, and damage to the immune system in humans. It also restricts plant growth and damages phytoplankton, with consequences for the normal development of marine wildlife.
The way in which ozone is destroyed is quite simple. It starts with UV radiation breaking down a molecule of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), releasing a chlorine atom. This chlorine atom, when combined with an ozone molecule, destroys it and then combines with other ozone molecules, eliminating them. The process is highly detrimental because, on average, a chlorine atom can destroy up to 100,000 ozone molecules. This process eventually stops when the chlorine atom mixes with a chemical that neutralizes it.
Greenhouse Effect
The greenhouse effect is a phenomenon whereby certain gases in the planetary atmosphere retain some of the energy emitted by the soil after being heated by solar radiation. It affects all planetary bodies with an atmosphere. According to the current scientific consensus, the greenhouse effect is being increased on Earth by emissions of certain gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, due to human economic activity.
This phenomenon prevents the solar energy received by the Earth from constantly returning to space, producing a planetary-scale effect similar to that observed in a greenhouse.