EVS/ Module3 (1 of 5) MKM, Deptt of Chemistry, BIT Sindri

Module-3, Atmosphere
Composition of atmosphere:
The atmosphere is composed of various gases and water vapour, and in its uppermost reaches, it
is charged with subatomic particles. The major gases of pollution-free dry air in the lower
atmosphere are nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and carbon dioxide, while there are a number of other
minor (or trace) gases like neon, helium, methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, ozone etc. The
four major gases (i.e. nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and carbon dioxide) account for more than 99% of
dry air. Nitrogen alone constitutes nearly four-fifth by volume and oxygen one-fifth.

On the other hand the total of all the trace gases does not exceed 0.02%. Varying amount of these
gases may be found in the atmosphere at different elevations. Water vapour is also present in
lower atmosphere (up to 12 Km) in concentration ranging from 0.01 to 5%. Although the amount
of water vapour present in the atmosphere is very small, its important is very great. For without
water in the atmosphere, there would be no water on the earth. Water enters the atmosphere by
evaporation from the hydrosphere (and by transpiration) and leaves the atmosphere by
precipitation; it is never ending two way traffic.
Atmospheric composition
Table – Principle gases of dry air in the lower atmosphere (near ground level)

S.N. Gas Symbol Concentration % by Concentration (ppm) by

volume volume*
1 Nitrogen N2 78.084 780000
2 Oxygen O2 20.9476 209500
3 Argon Ar 0.934 9340
4 Carbon dioxide CO2 0.0314 314
5 Neon Ne 0.0018 18
6 Helium He 0.00052 5.2
7 Methane CH4 0.00015 1.5
8 Krypton Kr 0.00011 1.1
9 Hydrogen H2 5.0x10-5 0.5
10 Nitrous oxide N2O 2.0x10 -5
0.2
11 Carbon monoxide CO 1.2x10 -5
0.12
12 Xenon Xe 8.0x10-6 0.08
13 Ozone O3 2.0x10 .-6
0.02
14 Ammonia NH3 6.0x10-7 0.001
15 Nitrogen dioxide NO2 1.0x10 -7
0.001
16 Nitric oxide NO 6.0x10-8 0.0006
17 Sulphur dioxide SO2 2.0x10 -8
0.0002
18 Hydrogen sulphide H2S 2.0x10 -8
0.0002
*The concentration values in ppm can be obtained by multiplying the corresponding
concentration value in % by volume by 104

1|Page
 Energy Balance

The sun supplies the earth with an enormous amount of energy, but that energy is not evenly
distributed over the globe of the solar energy that reaches the outer atmosphere:

 One quarter is reflected by clouds and atmospheric gases and

 Another quarter is absorbed by CO2, water vapour, ozone, methane, and a few
other gases.

This energy absorption warms the atmosphere slightly. About half of incoming solar radiation
reaches on the earth’s surface. Most of this energy is in the form of light or infra red (heat)
energy. Some of this energy reflected by the bright surfaces such as snow, ice and sand. The rest
is absorbed by the earth’s surface and by water.

Thus:

1. Surfaces that reflect energy have a high albedo*(reflectivity). For example- fresh snow
and dense clouds can reflect about 85-90 % of the light falling on them.
2. Surfaces that absorb energy have a low albedo (reflectivity) and generally appear dark.
For example- black soil and water have low reflectivity as low as to 3-5%.

*Albedo- The fraction of the incident solar radiation that is reflected and scattered back into
the space is called albedo.

2|Page
 Energy balance in the atmosphere

 The atmosphere absorbs or reflects about half of the solar energy reaching on the earth.
 Most of the energy reemitted from the earth’s surface is long – wave IR energy which is
absorbed by aerosols and gases in the atmosphere and is re – radiated towards the planet,
keeping the surface warm.

Absorbed energy, heats materials, evaporates water and provides the energy for
photosynthesis in plants. Following the 2nd law of thermodynamics, absorbed energy is
gradually reemitted as lower quality heat energy.

For example – A brick building absorbs energy in the form of light and
reemits that energy in the form of heat.

3|Page
 The change in energy quality is very important because the atmosphere selectively absorbs
longer wavelengths. Most solar energy comes in the form of intense, high-energy light or
near IR wavelengths. This short wavelength energy passes relatively easily through the
atmosphere to reach the earth’s surface. Energy re-released from the earth’s warmed surface
is lower intensity, longer wavelength energy in the IR part of the spectrum. Atmospheric
gases specially CO2 and water vapour absorb much of this long wavelength energy, re-
releasing it in the lower atmosphere and letting it leak out to space only slowly. This re-
irradiated energy provides most of the heat in the lower atmosphere.

The energy transport plays a vital role in maintaining the earth’s radiation balance
and this process proceeds through various mechanisms as follows:

 Conduction of energy through the interaction of atoms, molecules and other species.
 Convection of energy by air circulation.
 Radiation of energy from the earth in the IR- region.
 Re-absorption of most of the outgoing IR-radiation by water vapour, and other gases,
such as CO2, CH4 and re-emitting a part of this radiation to the earth’s surface.
 Further the particulate matter in the atmosphere, which is released by natural forces or
anthropogenic activities also exert cooling or heating effect depending upon the nature of
particles which may reflect, scatter or absorb radiations.
 Deforestation and consequent soil erosion, industrial operations and other such activities
also influence the earth’s energy balance by altering the albedo.

4|Page