Introduction

Earths atmosphere is composed of a few layers of heterogeneous compound of gas mixture.

Compared to other planets, Earths atmosphere is richer in oxygen, which gives it the ability
to sustain life. Mars atmosphere on the other hand is much thinner and contains 90% carbon
dioxide. Jupiter has no solid surface and consists of 90% hydrogen, 9% helium and 1% other
gases. The following is the list of the 11 most abundant gasses found in our atmosphere:
Gas Name Chemical Formula Percent Volume
Nitrogen N
2
78.08%
Oxygen O
2
20.95%
Water* H
2
O 0 to 4 %
Argon Ar 0.93%
Carbon Dioxide* CO
2
0.0360%
Neon Ne 0.0018%
Helium He 0.0005%
Methane* CH
4
0.00017%
Hydrogen H
2
0.00005%
Nitrous Oxide* N
2
O 0.00003%
Ozone* O
3
0.000004%
* Value may differ according to location
From the table we can see that nitrogen and oxygen are the main components of our
atmosphere, making up almost 99% of our atmosphere. Both of these gases are important in
sustaining life on earth. Nitrogen is needed for the nutrition and growth of plants. However,
nitrogen is not directly absorbed into plant. Nitrogen gas is converted via nitrogen fixation
bacteria and lightning into forms which can be absorbed by plants.
Oxygen is interchanged between the atmosphere and life form through photosynthesis and
respiration. Photosynthesis produces oxygen by converting carbon dioxide and water into
glucose with the help of sunlight. On the other hand respiration uses oxygen to consume
glucose into energy for the chemical processes in the body. Oxygen also enables combustion
to happen.
Water vapour has variable concentration in the atmosphere depending on the location. It has
the highest concentration near the equator over the oceans and tropical rain forests while
lowest at cold polar areas and subtropical continental deserts. Among some major roles of
water vapour are:
Redistributes heat energy on the Earth through latent heat energy exchange.
The condensation of water vapour provides fresh water for plants and animals.
Warms up the Earths atmosphere through the greenhouse effect.
The next gas, carbon dioxide is also essential to life on Earth. It is a by product of
respiration and is a component need for plants to create glucose through photosynthesis. The
concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increased by over 35% in the last 300
years. This is mostly contributed by the burning of fossil fuel, deforestation and other forms
of land-use change. Carbon dioxide also strengthens the greenhouse effect and contributed to
global warming over the last 100 years.
Methane is a very strong greenhouse gas. The methane concentrations in the atmosphere
have increased by more than 150% since 1750. Rice cultivation, domestic grazing animals,
termites, landfills, coal mining, and oil and gas extraction are among the major sources of
additional methane in the atmosphere. Anaerobic conditions of paddy fields flooding are
believed to lead to the formation of methane gas. However the total methane emission
through this method is difficult to be estimated as China and India, the largest producers of
rice lack the technology to collect the relevant scientific data. Grazing animals and termites
release methane as a result of herbaceous digestion. Landfills produce methane over time
when organic waste decomposed. Coal, oil and natural gas deposits release methane when the
deposits are excavated or drilled.
The average concentration of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide is now increasing at a rate of
0.2 to 0.3% per year. It plays an important role in the artificial fertilization of the ecosystems.
Among the sources of nitrous oxide are deforestation and conversion of forest, savannah and
grassland ecosystems into agricultural fields and rangeland. Nitrous oxide is also released
through the combustion of fossil fuels and biomass as well as the use of nitrate and
ammonium fertilizers to enhance plant growth.
Most of the atmospheres ozone composition can be found concentrated in the stratosphere
at an altitude of 15 to 55 kilometres above the Earths surface. This layer of ozone acts as a
shield from harmful ultraviolet rays. However the levels of stratospheric ozone have been
decreasing due to the build up of chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere. Since the late 1970s,
scientists have noticed the development of severe holes in the ozone layer over Antarctica.
Human made photochemical smog also generates a layer of ozone near the Earths surface,
especially around cities. However, rather than being helpful, this build up of ozone is toxic to
organisms living at the Earths surface.

Source:
FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY (1999), Dr. Michael Pidwirny,
University of British Columbia Okanagan. Retrieved on 17
th
January 2008.
http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/7a.html
CHEMISTRY (2005), Raymond Chang, McGraw Hill Higher Education