The importance of the atmosphere to human nutrition

Earth is the only planet in our solar system which has an atmosphere with the ability to sustain life, the
gases surrounded the earth do not only contain the air which is needed to breathe, it contains elements
which protects life from heat blasts and radiation from the sun. It keeps the planet warm throughout
the day and allows the earth to cool at night.

The Earth’s atmosphere is around 300 miles thick, but most of it is within 10 miles of the earth surface.
The air pressure decreases with altitude. Meaning there is less oxygen to breathe, an example of this is
at sea level divers have to use oxygen tanks due to the reduced air pressure.

The composition of the air according to NASA is as follows;

‘Nitrogen — 78 percent

Oxygen — 21 percent

Argon — 0.93 percent

Carbon dioxide — 0.04 percent

Trace amounts of neon, helium, methane, krypton and hydrogen, as well as water vapor’
(https://www.space.com/ accessed 21/10/2018)

The layers of the atmosphere is divided into 5 layers, which are; the exosphere, thermosphere,
mesosphere, the stratosphere and the troposphere. There is no exact distance between the atmosphere
and space, there is an imaginary line which is around 62 miles.

The troposphere is the layer which is the layer which is closes to the Earth’s surface. It’s around 4 to 12
miles thick, it contains half of the Earth’s atmosphere. The air is warmest closer to the ground and the
temperature decreases the higher you go. Most of the water vapor and dust which is in the atmosphere
is within this layer, clouds are formed here also due to this. The stratosphere is the second layer and
starts above the troposphere ending around 31 miles above the ground. The Ozone layer is consumed
within this layer, heating the atmosphere and absorbing harmful radiation which the sun emits. The air
is a very dry and is a lot thinner in this layer which is why airplanes and hot air balloons fly within this
layer. The mesosphere is the next layer, this being the coldest part of the Earth’s atmosphere. Scientists
have found it hard to study this layer as airplanes do not fly in this layer. However scientists do know
that meteors burn in this layer. The next layer is thermosphere, which extends from 56 miles to
anywhere between 310 and 620 miles. This layer is considered part of the Earth’s atmosphere even
though the air density is very low as what is considered as out of space. Space shuttles have flew and is
where the international space station orbits the Earth. Charged particles from space collide with atoms
and molecules from the thermosphere, allowing them to become in higher states of energy. The atoms
lose this excess energy by emitting protons of light, ‘which we see as the colorful Aurora Borealis and
Aurora Australis.’ (https://www.space.com/ accessed 21/10.2018). The exosphere is the highest layer,
making it very thin, this is where the atmosphere merges into outer space. It is composed of very widely
dispersed particles if hydrogen and helium.
The food chain
Food chain refers to the sequence of events in an ecosystem, where one organism eats another
and then is eaten by another organism. It starts with the primary source like the sun or
hydrothermal vents where producers make food, continues with consumers or animals
who eat the food, and ends with the top predator. (https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-
of-food-chains.htm accessed 21/10.2018

The human food chain

The food chain for humans starts with plants, the fruit and vegetables we eat are the plants that
we consume, which indicates we are primary consumers, we also eat animals further up the
food chain all of which give us energy all which have important roles within our eco system,

Humans are known as top of the food chain as they eat both plants and animals and are not
eaten by animals consistently, a basic human food chain has only 3 or 4 organisms even though
humans are considered to be at the top of the food chain most humans diet consists of food at
the bottom of the chain.

The Nitrogen Cycle

A cycle in which

The ''nitrogen cycle'' is the biogeochemical cycle by which nitrogen is converted into multiple
chemical forms as it circulates among atmosphere, terrestrial, and marine ecosystems. The
conversion of nitrogencan be carried out through both biological and physical processes.

Carbon dioxide and hydrogen get into the food chain by photosynthesis

Nitrogen doesn’t react as it is an inert gas , yet nitrogen compounds are found in things such as fertile
soils, all living things and many foods, inorder for plants to take in nitrogen they must go through other
processes, there are 3 methods in which plants can take up nitrogen compounds, a process called
nitrogen fixation:

There are 3 methods of nitrogen fixation lightening, bacteria and the harber process

Lightening Is essential to break up nitrogen molecules into single natural elements

Bacteria can be broken down to make nitrogen

Harber process is through animals that excrement the immonia after decomposition which then
becomes a fertilizer

Either we eat the plants directly or eat animals that have eaten them

Photosynthesis is a chemical reaction which they need for energy

Starts with carbon dioxide and water we need light and chlorophyll green colour in plants absorbs
sunlight

Turn equation around helps us to live,

6co2 + 6H2o -> C6H12)6 + 602 makes glucose which is shown in the diagram reference

Carbohydrates

Glucose and fructose (simple sugars carbs) also called monosaccharides both of which have the same
chemical formula but the difference is in the bond that

Polysaccharides are found in plants consist of glycogen, (animal based compound) found in animals

Other reasons we need carbs?

Source of energy

protein sparing action

fat oxidation … role in gastro intestinal function

amino acids can fix bone repair

proteins construction

amino acids are linked toghether by peptide bonds which form a peptide chain

one or more peptide chains twisted into 3d chain

The ratio of carbon to hydrogen is 1:2:1

Describe how nitrogen carbon dioxide and hydrogen enter the food chain

Structure and roles of biological molecules

The structure of and roles of carbohydrates proteins lipids nucleic acids in the human body

The structures

COMPARE ELEMENTS COMPOUNDS AND MICTURES

DESCRIBE THE COMPOSOITION OF THE ATMOSPHERE

EXPLAIN HOW NITROHEN CARBON DIOXIDDE AND HYDROGEN ENTER INTO THE FOOD CHAIN

EXPLAIN THE STRUCTURE AND ROLE OF CARBS PROTEINS LIPIDS NUCLEIC ACIDS IN THE HUMAN BODY

REFERENCE!!!!

In regards to human nutrition, eating a balanced diet is vital for good health and well being , the
atmosphere around us contributes significantly to allowing us to do so,