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Role of Atmosphere in Climate Control is determined by absorption and radiation of energy coming from sun. Atmosphere of Earth is made up of a thin layer of gases and microscopic particles called air. This eventually helps in maintaining temperature. Some of the gases in air are required for the survival of all living organisms. Abundance of liquid water on Earth's surface, along with its vapour in atmosphere is the reason behind our planet's unique position in Solar System.
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Key Terms: Atmosphere, Climate, Global Warming, Greenhouse Effect, Climate Change, Weather
What is Atmosphere?
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One of the most essential elements of life is air. Life is impossible without it. It is made up of a combination of gases, water vapour, and some impurities. Atmosphere is the blanket of air that surrounds Earth's surface. It is an essential component of the planet. Because of the gravitational pull, this thin layer of gases is unable to separate from the earth.
Also, read: Difference Between Gravitation and Gravity
It protects the earth from harsh conditions of the solar system by shielding it from them. The air is a poor heat conductor. It prevents a rapid increase in the earth's temperature during the day and prevents heat from escaping to outer space at night. It maintains the earth's average temperature. On the moon, there is no atmosphere, and temperatures range from 121°C during the day to -157°C at night.
Atmosphere on Earth
Importance of Atmosphere
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Carbon dioxide and oxygen, which are required for life, are found in the atmosphere. For photosynthesis, plants require carbon dioxide. They convert carbon dioxide and water to food with the help of sunlight. Oxygen is released throughout the procedure. Atmosphere protects living organisms from the most damaging rays of the Sun. The most powerful beams of sunlight are reflected or absorbed by gases.
Atmosphere acts like a blanket, covering Earth and helps to retain a temperature that is suitable for human existence. During the day, gases block part of the Sun's scorching heat. They keep the heat near to surface at night, preventing it from radiating into space. Atmosphere is source of clouds and rain.
Majority of weather changes happen as a result of atmosphere heating up more in certain locations than it does in others. Sound is a wave-like type of energy that moves through the air. Sound waves are unable to pass across empty space, yet they can traverse gases. Majority of the noises in environment are created by gases in air. Birds singing, horns tooting, and pals laughing can all be heard because of air.
Role of Atmosphere in Climate Control
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Atmosphere provides protection from cosmic rays and radiation from outer space. Ozone layer in the earth's atmosphere shields the planet from damaging UV rays. Cosmic rays, gamma rays, and X-rays are absorbed by thick layers of molecular gases, which block the majority of the damaging effects.
Read about Ozone Layer Depletion
Every day, tonnes of space debris collide with the Earth. They are destroyed before they reach the earth by the molecules in the atmosphere. The water vapour condenses and falls as rain, delivering a life-sustaining resource to the planet. The water would have boiled out into space or stayed frozen if there had been no atmosphere.
Role of Atmosphere in Climate Control
Movement of Air (Wind)
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Differential pressure between lower and higher layers of atmosphere, as well as on land and sea bodies, causes wind to flow. A powerful breeze blows in environment at times, while a moderate breeze blows at other times. All of these occurrences are consequence of changes in atmosphere caused by pressure differences between land and sea bodies.
Also, read: Land Breeze and Sea Breeze
Some of the solar energy that strikes Earth is absorbed. Land and water bodies, on the other hand, reflect a majority of them back into atmosphere. As a result of reflected radiation heating lower layer of atmosphere, a convection current forms in air. However, because land heats up quicker than water, air above it heats up as well, resulting in a low-pressure zone on land.
Wind is created when wind travels from a zone of high pressure over aquatic bodies to a region of lower pressure over land. During the day, wind blows from sea to land, while at night, wind blows from land to sea. Formation of a large wind belt over the earth's surface, which creates the world's climatic zone, is caused by this temperature differential throughout the globe. Aside from it, the rotation of the globe and the existence of mountains are two more variables that impact wind flow.
Movement of Air (Wind)
Precipitation
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Any liquid or frozen water body that originates in atmosphere and falls back to Earth is referred to as Precipitation. Among various types of precipitation, there's snow, sleet, and rain. Precipitation, together with evaporation and condensation, is one of the three primary components of global water cycle.
Also, read: Hydrosphere
When water vapour condenses into larger droplets of water, precipitation occurs in Clouds. When the drops get too heavy, they fall to the ground. Water droplets in a cloud may freeze to create ice if it is colder, as it would be at higher altitudes. Depending on temperatures within clouds and at surface of Earth, these ice crystals fall as snow, hail, or rain. Majority of rain forms as snow in the clouds. Snowflakes turn into raindrops as they descend into warmer air.
Water Cycle
Global Warming
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Global warming or Climate Change is a prolonged heating of Earth’s climate system. This happens due to human activities like fossil fuel burning, which raises leves of heat-trapping greenhouse gas in Earth’s atmosphere. Climate change is the result of both, human- and naturally-produced warming and its effect on the planet. It is measured as the average increase in Earth’s global surface temperature.
Global Warming
Top 3 Causes of Global Warming
As per recent studies, Oil and Gases industry is one of the top factors that has contributed to Global Warming. Here are other causes of Global Warming:
- Oil and Gases
Oil and Gas is used continously throughout a day in almost every industry. It is mostly used in vehicles, buildings, and production of electricity. Upon burning of coal, oil and gases lead to major climatic disturbances. Use of fossil fuels also harms the wildlife and surrounding environments. Due to toxicity of these emissions, plant life and leaves areas become uninhabitable.
- Deforestation
Deforestation is reffered as clearance of woodland and forest. It is either done for wood or to create space for farms. Trees and forests turn carbon dioxide into oxygen. Thus, when they are cleared, stored carbon is also released into the environment. Also, deforestation can occur naturally, which creates a greater effect because of the fumes released from fire.
- Wastage
Humans have been creating more waste due to the amount of packaging used and short shelf life of products. Several items, waste and packaging are not recyclable. Therefore, they end up in landfills. When waste in landfills decomposees, it releases harmful gases into atmosphere which lead to global warming.
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Things to Remember
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- Gases that are required for photosynthesis and other biological processes make up the atmosphere.
- Water cycle is incomplete without the atmosphere. It is a significant water reservoir as well as a precipitation source.
- Earth's temperature is moderated by the atmosphere. Weather occurs in the atmosphere.
- Earth would be deafeningly silent if it didn't have air.
- A part of the sun's energy is absorbed by the ozone layer in the stratosphere, preventing it from reaching the planet's surface. It absorbs the UVB part of the spectrum, which is the most significant. Skin cancer, cataracts, and damage to some crops and marine life have all been related to UVB exposure.
Sample Questions
Ques. How does atmosphere affect wind? (1 Mark)
Ans. Wind is movement of air produced by pressure changes in our environment. High-pressure air travels towards low-pressure regions. The faster the air moves, the bigger the pressure differential.
Ques. What is Weather? (1 Mark)
Ans. Weather refers to the condition of the atmosphere at a certain location for a short period of time. Temperature, humidity, precipitation (kind and amount), air pressure, wind, and cloud cover are all factors to consider.
Ques. Why is atmosphere important? (1 Mark)
Ans. Atmosphere includes the air we breathe, protects us from the Sun's damaging radiation, aids in keeping the planet's heat on the surface and is crucial to the water cycle and weather.
Ques. What are three important atmospheric processes in water cycle? (2 Marks)
Ans. Water cycle explains how water is exchanged through Earth's land, atmosphere, and ocean. Water exists in all three places, and in various forms. Lakes and rivers, oceans and seas, glaciers and ice sheets, underground aquifers, and vapor in the air and clouds are different forms of water. Water cycle consists of three major processes: evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
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| Ecology | Components of Ecosystem |
Ques. What is the role of the atmosphere in earth’s temperature control? (2 Marks)
Ans. Atmosphere has a significant impact on temperature regulation. Atmosphere is like a blanket that covers Earth. Air is a poor heat conductor. Through the atmosphere, average temperature of Earth remains fairly constant throughout the day and throughout the year. It also keeps temperature from rising too quickly during the day. Furthermore, it delays the escape of heat into space throughout the night.
Ques. What is climate? (2 Marks)
Ans. The climate is the conditions of the atmosphere at a specific location over a long period of time; it is the sum of the atmospheric elements (and their variations) that, over a short time period, form the weather. Radiation from the sun, temperature, humidity, precipitation (type, frequency, and amount), atmospheric pressure, and wind speed and direction are the elements involved.
Also, read: Ecology and Environment
Ques. Study the climatic data given below and answer the questions that follow: (3 Marks) [CBSE 2014] 
(i) Calculate the annual range of temperature of Station A. Why is the range of temperature very low?
(ii) Which of the two Stations has the lower temperature? Why?
(iii) Calculate the annual rainfall of Station B.
Ans. Correct solutions for above questions are as follows:
(i) The annual range of temperature of Station A is 5.6 because station is located near the sea.
(ii) Station B has a lower temperature because of high altitude.
(iii) Annual rainfall of station B is 31.8 cm.
Ques. Explain the factors affecting India’s climate. (4 Marks) [CBSE 2015]
Ans. Various factors affecting India’s climate are:
Latitude: Tropic of Cancer passes through middle of country from Rann of Kuchchh in West to Mizoram in East. Almost half of the country, belongs to tropical area. Remaining area, i.e., North of the Tropic, lies in sub-tropic. Therefore, India’s climate has characteristics of tropical as well as subtropical climates.
Altitude: India has mountains to North which have an average height of about 6,000 metres. India also has avast coastal area where maximum elevation falls around 30 metres. Himalayas prevent cold winds from Central Asia from entering subcontinent. It is because of these mountains that India experiences comparatively milder winters as compared to Central Asia.
Pressure and Wind: Pressure and Wind conditions over India are unique. During winter, there is a high-pressure area: North of Himalayas. Cold dry winds blow from this region to low-pressure areas over oceans to South. In summer, a low-pressure area develops over interior Asia as well as over Northwestern India. This causes complete reversal of direction of winds during summer. Air moves from high-pressure area over Southern Indian Ocean, in a South-easterly direction, crosses equator, and turns right towards low-pressure areas over Indian subcontinent. These Southwest Monsoon winds blow over warm oceans, gather moisture and bring widespread rainfall over mainland of India.
Factors Affecting Climate of India
Ques. Human activities lead to increasing levels of pollution of air, water bodies and soil. “Isolating these activities to specific and limited areas would not help in reducing pollution.” Justify the statement giving at least five reasons. (5 Marks) [CCE 2011, 2012]
Ans. All polluting units to be shifted outside city limits, so that less impact is caused on residential area. This, however, doesn’t help much because of following reasons:
- Burning of fossil fuels cause acid rain which spreads over large areas killing vegetation, water bodies. They also cause harm to human beings and their assets.
- Polluting factories, industries, etc. add green house gases into atmosphere. They have global warming effect.
- Several air pollutants pass into stratosphere causing a depletion in ozone layer.
- Sewage passage into water bodies can make the water unfit for consumption since it becomes a source of several water-borne diseases. There is scum, odour and bad taste.
- Dumping industrial effluents over soil leads to formation of toxic chemicals. Heavy metals slowly percolate down and get mixed with ground water.
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| Solid Waste | Biodiversity and Conservation |
Ques. Answer the following:
(a) With the help of a well sketched diagram, explain water cycle in nature.
(b) How is green house effect related to global warming ? Explain. (5 Marks) [CCE 2011, 2012]
Ans.
(a) Water evaporates from wet surfaces and plants. This process is called transpiration. Water vapours being light rise in air, become cool and condensed over dust particles forming clouds. Clouds move along air currents, cooling further and undergoing precipitation.
Water Cycle in Nature
(b) Green house effect keeps an area warm by letting solar radiations pass in. It prevents long waves to escape due to presence of radiatively active gases and glass panes.
Green house effect is shown by several radiately active gases, also called green house gases (GHGs), e.g., CO2, methane, chlorofluorocarbons, nitrous oxide. Gases allow solar radiations to pass through and reach the surface of earth. However, heat waves (infra-red rays) coming from hot surfaces of Earth cannot pass out of atmosphere as higher concentration of green house gases reflect most of them back to earth. This raises temperature of Earth. This phenomenon is termed as Global Warming.
Ques. Answer the following:
(a) Describe the role of photosynthesis and respiration in carbon cycle.
(b) What is meant by biogeochemical cycle ? Name two essentials which are transferred between different components of the biosphere. (5 Marks) [CCE 2011]
Ans. (a) Photosynthesis assimilates CO2 and produces organic food like glucose and starch, proteins and fats. Organic food with its contained energy is passed from producers to herbivores and then to carnivores in ecosystem. Respiration oxidises glucose and other organic compounds to release energy for body activities.
Photosynthesis and Respiration in Carbon Cycle
(b) Biogeochemical Cycle: Repeated circulation of biogeochemicals or biogenetic nutrients between abiotic and biotic components of environment is called biogeochemical cycling, e.g., CO2 cycle, N2 cycle, Water cycle, O2 cycle.
Biogeochemicals and Energy: Biogeochemicals are picked up by plants and made part of organic matter which also includes chemical energy during photosynthesis. From plants, biogeochemicals and energy contained in organic food pass into animals which feed on plants. Animals eat other animals. Biogeochemicals and energy contained in organic matter pass into them. However, whole energy is not passed on higher trophic levels. Energy is dissipated at every step of its transfer. Organic wastes and dead bodies of all organisms are acted upon by decomposers to release biogeochemicals into abiotic environment.
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| Photosynthesis and Respiration | Photochemical Reactions |
Ques. Answer the following question:
(a) Define air pollution. What are the visible indications of air pollution?
(b) Define acid rain.
(c) Mention any two adverse effects of acid rain. (5 Marks) [CCE 2013]
Ans. (a) Air Pollution: It is addition of particulate matter, gases and vapours into air that have an adverse effect on humans, animals, vegetation and human assets.
Visible Indications of Air Pollution:
- Occurrence of suspended particulate matter (SPM).
- Common occurrence of asthma, bronchitis and allergic cold in the residents,
- Irritation in eyes, throat and lungs.
- Occurrence of smog during winter causing suffocation and uneasiness.
(b) Acid Rain: Sources of Fresh Water
- GroundWater. It is brought to the surface through water pumps, dug wells, tube- wells, etc.
- Water Reservoirs. They store run off and rain water.
- Rain. It brings fresh water every where that can be stored.
- Rivers. They develop through melting of snow and formation of springs in the catchment areas. Rivers supply fresh water all through their passage to sea.
(c) Adverse Effects of Acid Rain:
Some common adverse effects of acid rain are:
- Corrosion and pitting of marble and limestone structures,
- Killing of vegetation and aquatic life.
Read more about Acid Rain
Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) Questions
Ques. A motor car, with its glass closed, is parked under the sun. Inside temperature of the car rises very high. Explain why. (2 Marks)
Ans. Infrared radiations in sunlight pass through glass and heat interior of car. Radiation emitted by upholstery and other inner parts of car cannot pass out of glass. Thus, heat trapped inside raises temperature of interior. The reason being, glass is transparent to infrared radiation from Sun having smaller wavelength as compared to radiation emitted by interior of car which are of longer wavelength to which glass is opaque.
Ques. How can topsoil loss be prevented? (2 Marks)
Ans. Topsoil loss can be prevented by:
(i) Expanding vegetational cover
(ii) Tracking the falling of trees
(iii) Prevention of excessive animal grazing
Also, read: Grazing Food Chain
Ques. Name any two categories of fertilizers whose excessive presence in water bodies result in algal growth. What are the consequences of eutrophication? Define Eutrophication. (3 Marks)
Ans. Two categories of fertiizers are:
Nitrates and Phosphates
Presence of nitrates arid phosphate fertilizers in sewage water provide lots of nutrients to algae present in water body and causes algal bloom. When algae die, aerobic decomposers become active and consume dissolved oxygen of water. This results in shortage of oxygen for other aquatic life forms.
Eutrophication
It is a process in which presence of extra quantity of nitrogenous and phosphate fertilizers causes overgrowth of algae in water body. This further leads to depletion of dissolved oxygen in water, which ultimately causes killing of other aquatic organisms.
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