This article explains all the characteristics, functions, composition and importance of the troposphere, one of the most important outer layers of the planet earth and the layer of the atmosphere closest to the earth’s crust.
What is the troposphere?
The troposphere or troposphere is the most superficial or lowest layer that belongs to the layers of the atmosphere and to the outer layers of the earth. It is characterized because it contains the largest amount of air mass in the entire atmosphere, that is, 75% of the mass. In addition, because it contains 78% nitrogen (N2), 21% oxygen (O2) and other gases such as argon, water vapor (H2O) and carbon dioxide with less than 1% of the gaseous composition of the troposphere. Remember that oxygen is essential for living beings to breathe.
By definition the troposphere is a layer of the atmosphere that is below the stratosphere limited by the tropopause, at about 14 km in height.
The troposphere is one of the most important external layers of the earth because it allows biological processes such as photosynthesis and respiration, it also regulates the planet’s climate because it allows the water cycle, the formation of clouds and the generation of winds, It also contains the largest amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) which is the gas responsible for climate change.
The troposphere is also a layer that contains the largest amount of water vapor of all the layers of the atmosphere and is important because it allows the water cycle, the same that helps the vital liquid reach all corners of the planet allowing life..
Characteristics of the troposphere
- The troposphere is the lowest or innermost layer of the atmosphere, that is to say, it is that which is found on the crust of the earth.
- It is in this layer of the atmosphere where all weather events occur and the mixture of gases or processes that produce weather, wind, rain, and other processes.
- Have a thickness or approximate thickness between 8 to 14 kilometers Depending on where it is measured from, it is thus thinner at the north and south poles of the earth and wider at the equatorial zones. Therefore the average altitude of this layer is 14 kilometers.
- The height of this layer also varies depending on whether it is summer or winter, so that in summer it even reaches 20 kilometers high in the equatorial zones and a height of 7 kilometers above the poles in winter.
- the troposphere It is the layer of the earth that contains air and oxygen. breathed by human beings and all living things that inhabit the earth’s crust. It also contains the clouds from which rain falls and the water that sustains life on the planet.
- The troposphere is the layer that contains at least 3/4 of the mass of the entire atmosphere.
- Their chemical and gas composition it is 78% Nitrogen (N2), 21% Oxygen (O2), while the final 1% is made up of Argon (Ar), Water Vapor (H2O) and Carbon Dioxide (CO2).
- It is considered as the most important layer of the atmosphere of the earth because it is where all living things interact.
- the troposphere contains 99% of the water vapor in the atmosphere. Concentrations of water vapor vary with latitudinal position (from north to south). They are higher above the tropics, where they can reach 3% and decrease towards the polar regions.
- The troposphere is joined at the top by a layer of air called the tropopause, which separates the troposphere from the stratosphere and at the bottom by the Earth’s surface.
- The temperature in the troposphere it varies from 16°C near the surface to -60°C near the tropopause, that is, it decreases as altitude increases.
Composition and gases of the troposphere
Below is a table with the chemical composition average gases in the troposphere. It is noticeable at first glance that it is nitrogen and oxygen that dominate, while water vapor and carbon dioxide represent less than 1% of the composition.
However, it must be taken into account that carbon dioxide (CO2) is responsible for global warming and climate change on the planet. And human activities such as industrialization, the large number of cars, etc. have increased the amount of CO2 on the planet over time.
| Gaseous composition of the atmosphere | |
|---|---|
| gases | Proportion |
| Nitrogen (N2) | 78% |
| Oxygen (O2) | twenty-one% |
| Argon (Ar) | 0.93% |
| Water vapor (H2O) | 0.0005% |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) | 0.039% |
| Ozone (O3) | 0.0003% |
| Methane (CH4) | 1.6ppmv |
| Nitric Oxide (N2O) | 350ppbv |
| Carbon Monoxide (CO) | 70ppbv |
Importance and functions of the troposphere
Functions for life on the planet
It is clear that all the oxygen that living beings use to survive is found in the troposphere. In fact, this layer is composed of at least 21% oxygen.
In addition, in this layer of the atmosphere occurs the various biogeochemical cycles that promote life and the terrestrial processes that maintain it, such as the water cycle, which through rain allows water to be distributed in all corners of the planet, promoting life and biodiversity.
Importance in the planet’s climate
It is in this layer of the atmosphere where all weather processes occur, for example:
- Clouds are formed in the troposphere, which in turn contribute to temperature regulation and also produce condensation and rain.
- In this layer of the atmosphere, the winds are produced, which, with the combination of temperature, the movement of gases and the water cycle, produce the different tropospheric events.
- the troposphere contains the gas carbon dioxide (CO2) which is the cause of the greenhouse effect on earth. The greater the amount of CO2, the more the temperature increases. This gas is well known today because it is the responsible for climate change.
Promotes biological and terrestrial processes
The troposphere is a layer that is directly in contact with the earth’s surface and therefore allows a lot of biological processes such as photosynthesis (which allows the development of plants), the breathing of living beings, the evaporation of the oceans (allows the water cycle) and all the human activities.
In the formation of rocks and soil
Thanks to the fact that the troposphere allows all the climatic and tropospheric processes, the rocks can continue with their normal cycle, especially affecting the generation of sediments, through the processes of weathering and erosion that will form the sedimentary rocks of the planet.
Both the weathering such as erosion are caused by wind, water and snow that are actually formed in the troposphere.
In addition, these sediments that are formed by weathering and erosion of the crustal rocks before becoming sedimentary rocks make up the soil that is used for agriculture and by many living beings as their home or as a source of food.