What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word atmosphere? If you answered sky, it means you are one step closer to the true definition of atmosphere. So in short, the atmosphere is an upper layer of gas that surrounds a planet.
Please note that the layers of the atmosphere of the planets, especially those in the Solar System, are different, Ma. If for the planet Earth itself, the atmosphere is composed of 78% nitrogen gas, 21% oxygen gas, and 0.9% other gases.
Not only the various kinds of content, the Earth’s atmosphere is composed of several layers, you know. And even each layer has different characteristics from each other.
If you’re curious, let’s look at the information from Popmama.com about the 5 layers that make up the Earth’s atmosphere. Read on to the end, Ma.
1. Troposphere Layer
Unsplash / Miguel A. Amutio—
The layers that made up the Earth’s first atmosphere are known as the troposfer. It is called so because in this layer, climate and weather changes occur which include storms, rain, typhoons. As the name implies,tropos” which means changing, climatic and weather conditions will always change.
As the layer closest to the Earth’s surface, the troposphere provides the air for humans to breathe. This is because this layer contains 80–90 percent of gases consisting of nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor, and carbon dioxide. In this layer too, Mama saw clouds and flocks of birds flying in the sky.
In addition, the average height of the troposphere is 12 km. However, its height will vary depending on where it is located. For example, at the equator, such as Indonesia, the average height of the troposphere ranges from 16-18 km, while in the polar regions it is only 8 km.
In this layer as well, the law applies gradient thermometric. That is, the air temperature will be cooler when it reaches a higher altitude, and conversely the air temperature will be warmer the closer it is to the ground.
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2. Stratosphere Layer
Unsplash / Liane Metzler—
Before finally arriving at the next layer, there is something called tropopause, which is the highest layer of the troposphere which separates it from stratosphere. “Strat” means layer.
This naming is adapted to the characteristics of the stratosphere which is composed of several other layers. More specifically, there are layers isotherm, the hot layer, and the top mixed layer that composes its ‘body’.
If you have heard of the term ozone, the chemical element is in the stratosphere. In addition, with an altitude of 12–80 km, the air in this layer is fairly dry. That’s why it’s quite difficult to find the clouds up there.
Furthermore, the increase in temperature will change in the stratosphere. If previously the altitude caused the temperature to cool, in this layer, the temperature will actually get hotter when it reaches a higher area.
This can happen because of the ozone layer that absorbs heat from the sun’s UV rays. In addition, jet planes and hot air balloons reach their maximum heights in this layer.
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3. Mesosphere Layer
Pexels / Marek Piwnicki—
After the stratosphere, the next layer that makes up Earth’s atmosphere is mesosphere–“meso” which means middle. So called because this layer is squeezed by two layers, namely the thermosphere (above) and the stratosphere (below).
Not much is known about this layer. The reason is, the hot air balloon that can be used to study its characteristics is no longer able to reach this point. But clearly, the law gradient thermometric will again apply to this layer, namely the air temperature will get colder, can reach -90 degrees Celsius, when it rises up.
In addition to the cold temperature, humans can no longer breathe in this layer because the air is so thin. Even so, the mesosphere layer exists to protect Earth from falling meteors and other celestial bodies. With this layer, Mama can witness the phenomenon of shooting stars.
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4. Thermosphere layer
Pexels / stone egil liland—
Located at an altitude of 90 km to between an altitude of 500-1000 km, lies the layer that composes the next atmosphere, the thermosphere layer. The temperature in this layer is no longer insane, Ma, which is around 1700 degrees Celsius.
This is because there is also a process of absorption of UV and X rays in this layer. Even so, Mama will not feel the extreme temperature. This is because the gas molecules in this layer are too few so that they are not able to conduct heat to the human body.
In addition, the International Space Station (ISS) also orbits in this layer. In this layer, you can see the polar light, aka the aurora, with its eye-catching colors.
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5. Exosphere Layer
Unsplash/Richard Gatley—
This is the layer that composes the last Earth’s atmosphere, namely the layer exosphere. Actually, the existence of the exosphere layer as part of the Earth’s atmosphere is still debated. But what is certain, this layer is the separation between Earth and outer space.
As it is a little closer to vacuum, the gravitational force has become less and less in the exosphere. That’s why the body will float in the air. In addition, this layer is very thick, which is about 10,000 km with an altitude of 400-1000 km above sea level.
In addition, the temperature in the exosphere is very cold. There’s almost no oxygen to breathe so Mama needs an astronaut suit to breathe freely.
That was information about the 5 layers of the atmosphere that make up the Earth’s atmosphere. Hopefully the knowledge of Mama and children about the Earth will increase, yes!
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