Earth’s Atmosphere

Constant Component

Nitrogen (N2) 78.08%

Oxygen (O2) 20.95%

Argon (Ar) 0.93%

Neon, Helium, 0.0001%

Krypton
 Variable Components

Carbon dioxide (CO2) 0.038%

Water vapor (H20) 0-4%

Methane (CH4) trace

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) trace

Ozone (O3) trace

Nitrogen oxides (NO, NO2, N2O) trace

Composition of dry atmosphere, by volume[2]

Gas Volume
Nitrogen (N2) 780,840 ppmv (78.084%)
Oxygen (O2) 209,460 ppmv (20.946%)
Argon (Ar) 9,340 ppmv (0.9340%)
Carbon dioxide (CO2) 390 ppmv (0.039%)
Neon (Ne) 18.18 ppmv (0.001818%)
Helium (He) 5.24 ppmv (0.000524%)
Methane (CH4) 1.79 ppmv (0.000179%)
Krypton (Kr) 1.14 ppmv (0.000114%)
Hydrogen (H2) 0.55 ppmv (0.000055%)
Nitrous oxide (N2O) 0.3 ppmv (0.00003%)
Carbon monoxide (CO) 0.1 ppmv (0.00001%)
Xenon (Xe) 0.09 ppmv (9×10−6%) (0.000009%)
Ozone (O3) 0.0 to 0.07 ppmv (0 to 7×10−6%)
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) 0.02 ppmv (2×10−6%) (0.000002%)
Iodine (I2) 0.01 ppmv (1×10−6%) (0.000001%)
Ammonia (NH3) trace
Not included in above dry atmosphere:

Water vapor (H O) ~0.40% over full atmosphere, typically 1%-4% at

Argon
Rayleigh scattering
 Figure 1: Craters on the far side of the moon (L) and
Manicouagan crater in Quebec (R). Image courtesy of NASA.
Ozone Molecule
What the Ozone Layer Does
 Low level ozone

• Low level ozone (or tropospheric ozone) is an atmospheric

pollutant. It is not emitted directly bycar engines or by
industrial operations, but formed by the reaction of
sunlight on air containing hydrocarbons and nitrogen
oxides  that react to form ozone directly at the source of
the pollution or many kilometers down wind.
• Ozone reacts directly with some hydrocarbons such
as aldehydes and thus begins their removal from the air,
but the products are themselves key components
of smog.
 Usefulness of Ozone
• Disinfect laundry in hospitals, food factories, care homes etc
• Disinfect water in place of chlorine
• Deodorize air and objects, such as after a fire. This process is extensively
used in fabric restoration
• Kill bacteria on food or on contact surfaces
• Sanitize swimming pools and spas
• Kill insects in stored grain
• Scrub yeast and mold spores from the air in food processing plants;
• Wash fresh fruits and vegetables to kill yeast, mold and bacteria
• Manufacture chemical compounds via chemical synthesis
• Clean and bleach fabrics (the former use is utilized in fabric restoration;
the latter use is patented);
• Assist in processing plastics to allow adhesion of inks;
• Age rubber samples to determine the useful life of a batch of rubber;
• Eradicate water borne parasites
• DEGRADE PLASTICS
Propellant/Foam
Ozone Depletion
Ozone Hole
 Carbon Dioxide
• A candy called Pop Rocks is pressurized with carbon
dioxide gas at about 40 bar
• Leavening agents produce carbon dioxide to cause
dough to rise. Baker's yeast produces carbon dioxide
by fermentation of sugars.
• arbon dioxide is used to produce carbonatedsoft
drinks and soda water
• Fire extinguisher
 Toxicity
• 1% can cause drowsiness with prolonged exposure.
• At 2% it is mildly narcotic and causes increased blood
pressure and pulse rate, and causes reduced hearing.
• At about 5% it causes stimulation of the respiratory
center, dizziness, confusion and difficulty in breathing
accompanied by headache and shortness of breath.
Panic attacks may also occur at this concentration.
• At about 8% it causes headache, sweating, dim vision,
tremor and loss of consciousness after exposure for
between five and ten minutes.