Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2015
Last exams 2025
The Atmosphere as a Dynamic System
Written by: Alistair Marjot
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
The Atmosphere as a Dynamic System
The atmosphere is primarily composed of nitrogen (about 78%) and oxygen (about 21%)
These two gases make up the majority of the atmosphere and play vital roles in supporting life on Earth
In addition to nitrogen and oxygen, the atmosphere contains smaller amounts of other gases, including carbon dioxide, argon, water vapour, and various trace gases
Carbon dioxide, although present in relatively low concentrations (around 0.04%), is essential for maintaining the greenhouse effect, which helps regulate the Earth's temperature, and is essential for photosynthesis
Argon is an inert gas that does not participate in chemical reactions but contributes to the overall composition of the atmosphere
Water vapour is a variable component that plays a crucial role in the Earth's weather patterns, the formation of clouds and precipitation, and photosynthesis
Trace gases, such as methane, ozone, and nitrous oxide, are present in even smaller quantities but can have significant impacts on climate and atmospheric chemistry
The gaseous composition of the Earth's atmosphere
Atmospheric Layers
The atmosphere is stratified into different layers based on temperature changes
The inner layers of the atmosphere, where most interactions related to living systems occur, are the troposphere and the stratosphere
The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere, extending from the Earth's surface up to about 10 kilometres
It is where weather phenomena, such as cloud formation, precipitation, and the mixing of gases, primarily occur
The troposphere contains the highest concentration of water vapour, carbon dioxide, and other trace gases that are important for the functioning of living systems and the regulation of climate
Above the troposphere is the stratosphere, which extends from approximately 10 kilometres to 50 kilometres above the Earth's surface
The stratosphere contains the ozone layer, a region with a higher concentration of ozone molecules that absorb and block most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation
This layer is crucial for protecting life on Earth from excessive UV radiation and has important implications for the health of ecosystems
The reactions occurring in the inner layers of the atmosphere, particularly the troposphere and the stratosphere, are crucial for maintaining the balance of gases, regulating climate patterns, and supporting life
Within the troposphere, chemical reactions involving pollutants, greenhouse gases, and atmospheric particles can impact air quality and climate
In the stratosphere, chemical reactions involving ozone play a vital role in maintaining the ozone layer and protecting the Earth from harmful UV radiation
Approximate atmospheric temperatures and pressures up to an altitude of about 120 km - note the warmer temperatures in the troposphere, below the zone of maximum ozone concentration (in the stratosphere)
Atmospheric Systems
The atmosphere is a dynamic system that plays a crucial role in the Earth's climate and weather patterns
As with other systems, the atmospheric system is made up of storages, flows, inputs and outputs
Storages:
The atmosphere acts as a storage for gases, including greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane, which contribute to the greenhouse effect and influence the Earth's temperature
These gases are present in different concentrations and can vary over time due to natural and human activities
Flows:
Within the atmosphere, there are constant flows of gases and particles, driven by processes such as air currents, weather patterns, and atmospheric circulation
These flows contribute to the movement and redistribution of gases and other substances within the atmosphere
Inputs:
The atmosphere receives inputs from various sources
Natural inputs include gases emitted from volcanic eruptions, gaseous emissions from plants and other living organisms, and dust particles from desert regions
Anthropogenic inputs, resulting from human activities, include the release of greenhouse gases, air pollutants from industrial processes, and aerosols from combustion and other human-made sources
Photo by Michal Pech on Unsplash
Human activities such as emissions from industrial chimneys create inputs into atmospheric systems
Outputs:
The atmosphere also has outputs through different processes
It releases gases through natural processes like respiration and photosynthesis
Additionally, pollutants and aerosols can be removed from the atmosphere through precipitation, dry deposition, and chemical reactions
Exchanges and interactions with other Earth systems:
The atmosphere interacts with other components of the Earth system, including the biosphere (plants, animals, and microorganisms), hydrosphere (oceans, lakes, and rivers), and lithosphere (landmasses and rocks)
It exchanges gases and particles with these systems through various mechanisms - for example, the exchange of carbon dioxide occurs through photosynthesis by plants and respiration by organisms
These interactions involve the exchange of gases, energy, and particles, shaping climate patterns, weather events, and overall Earth system dynamics
Changes through Geological Time
The composition of the atmosphere has changed significantly over geological time
For example, during the early stages of Earth's history, the atmosphere had high levels of carbon dioxide and lacked oxygen
Over millions of years, photosynthetic organisms evolved and began to release oxygen as a byproduct, leading to the oxygenation of the atmosphere
Additionally, geological processes such as volcanic activity and meteorite impacts have influenced the atmospheric composition throughout Earth's history
Clouds
Photo by Jason Blackeye on Unsplash
Clouds form when warm, moist air rises and cools, causing water vapour to condense into tiny water droplets or ice crystals
The majority of clouds form in the troposphere
This layer is characterised by decreasing temperature with increasing altitude, creating conditions favourable for the cooling and condensation of water vapour
Albedo Effect of Clouds
Clouds play a crucial role in the planet's albedo effect
Albedo refers to the reflectivity of a surface, indicating how much solar radiation is reflected back into space
Clouds have a high albedo, reflecting a significant portion of incoming sunlight back into space
This reflection of solar radiation helps cool the Earth's surface and lower the amount of energy absorbed by the planet, offsetting some of the warming effects caused by the greenhouse gases
In this way, the albedo effect from clouds contributes to the regulation of global average temperature
Clouds also act as a feedback mechanism in the climate system
In addition, low clouds have a net cooling effect by reflecting more sunlight, while high clouds can have a net warming effect by trapping more outgoing infrared radiation
The balance between different cloud types and their altitude can influence the overall albedo effect and temperature regulation
Changes in cloud cover and properties can lead to variations in the albedo effect and impact global average temperature
Factors such as aerosol pollution, changes in atmospheric circulation patterns, and climate change can influence cloud formation, distribution, and properties, affecting the net radiative forcing and temperature patterns on a regional and global scale
Last updated:
Did this page help you?