The atmosphere is like a blanket on our planet. It is the barrier between us and space. It protects us from harmful radiation and maintains a habitable temperature and gas balance that we need to survive. The question is “how?” There are four layers that make up our atmosphere: the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere and the thermosphere. Each layer has a different function and quality, which makes it unique. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The troposphere is the layer we live in and it is the layer with the most water vapor. Water vapor creates all clouds and precipitation. As carbon dioxide does, water vapor absorbs heat emitted by the earth, including some of the sun's energy. This layer is also where all of our time occurs. Climate occurs due to unequal heating of the Earth (caused by the Earth's movements relative to the sun) which creates winds and drives ocean currents. This movement transports heat from the tropics to the poles in an attempt to create energy homeostasis. The results of these processes are phenomena we call weather. Air pressure is higher in this layer and temperatures are initially warmer, becoming colder as you approach the top. The thickness of the troposphere is not the same everywhere as it varies with latitude and season. This is one of the most important layers as we live in it. Crossing the barrier known as the “tropopause,” you will find yourself in the stratosphere. Here the temperature remains constant up to a height of about 20 kilometers before starting to slowly increase until reaching the stratopause. Temperatures rise this way due to the concentration of ozone in the atmosphere here. Ozone actively absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the sun. This results in warming of the stratosphere. If ozone did not absorb these harmful rays and they reached the surface, the Earth would be uninhabitable for many living organisms. Jets often fly in this layer of the atmosphere because they can overcome the elements, there is often less turbulence and the air pressure is lower, which offers less drag and better fuel economy. After crossing the next barrier known as the “stratopause,” you enter the mesosphere. We don't often visit this level ourselves. The mesosphere rapidly decreases in temperature with altitude and is the layer where meteors encounter sufficient resistance to burn. The last barrier is known as the “mesopause” and gives way to the thermosphere. This is the highest layer of the atmosphere and has no definite end. The temperature increases dramatically with altitude and atmospheric pressure is almost non-existent. This layer contains only a small fraction of the mass of the atmosphere. Temperatures rise due to oxygen and nitrogen absorbing short-wave, high-energy solar radiation. This is also the layer where auroras occur. The air itself is also an important part of our atmosphere. Air is a mixture of different gases. It is mainly composed of nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%). Argon therefore represents 0.93% followed by carbon dioxide at 0.039%. There are also variable components of the air. These include water vapor, dust particles and ozone. These components strongly influence weather and climate. The amount of water vapor will vary between 0 and 4%. While this may not seem like a lot, it almost exclusively accounts for the majority of time here on Earth. Please note: this is just an example. Get a personalized document from us now.