Comments on: Earth’s Atmosphere

By: BregyJ

BregyJ — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:44:31 +0000

Exactly. Don’t you think that the atmosphere is pretty amazing? I mean it is so complex: its organization, composition, function, etc. But at the same time we don’t even think about our atmosphere that much and really take it for granted. And there is so much more to discover about the atmosphere.

By: ElersonG

ElersonG — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:51:08 +0000

I wouldn’t have thought of it like that, but that makes sense. If there is less matter (in this case air) that carries that temperature, then there are fewer opportunities for detection. I’m sure people don’t think of detecting air temperature as collisions between their bodies and the billions of air molecules that they move through. But that really does make sense. If there are fewer gas molecules because of low pressure (like in the high atmosphere), then there are fewer chances to bump into them.

By: BregyJ

BregyJ — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:31:50 +0000

Sorry it took so long for me to reply, I have been rather busy with school and the such.
That’s a good question Grey. One would think that our atmosphere would just go into space, leaving us to die. In fact, Earth’s gravitational pull is what keeps are atmosphere overhead and us alive. Additionally, the atmosphere gets thinner and thinner as altitude increases so there is less gas in the atmosphere to expand. In the extreme altitudes of the atmosphere, the “air” is so thin that many particles will not collide with each other because they are separated from each other by hundreds of miles. But one can also argue the fact that our atmosphere does just leave us and goes into space. Exosphere is so thin that particles and molecules are actually able to escape into space. Fortunately, this has little to no effect upon our well being.
Also, I would like to inform you of something that I did not even know. If you remember in my article I said that temperatures in the Thermosphere can rise to extreme temperatures. Well, this is true but if you were to just “take a stroll” through the Thermosphere, the air would actually feel cold to your skin because of how thin the air is up there.

By: ElersonG

ElersonG — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:32:48 +0000

Hey Josh, I have a question. Since gas expands in a vacuum, what is it that has kept our atmosphere from just kinda floating away into space over the eternity that it has been exposed to outer space?

By: BregyJ

BregyJ — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:06:30 +0000

Yes, well, it is really quite amazing how our atmosphere works. I mean, it has just the right amount of everything that enables us to survive and be protected from so many things. Which is why we should take measures to preserve it. Mmm… atmosphere. lol

By: ElersonG

ElersonG — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:47:48 +0000

Hmmm, that’s really interesting. Even I didn’t know that.

By: BregyJ

BregyJ — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:24:46 +0000

That’s correct.
Troposphere: Decreasing temperature with increasing altitude.
Stratosphere: Increasing temperature with increasing altitude.
Mesosphere: Decreasing temperature with increasing altitude.
Thermosphere: Increasing temperature with increasing altitude.

The reason for this is mainly due to the composition of the layer and for lack of better terms, the job of the layer. Here is the main reason why this temperature gradient forms: as you know, there is solar radiation that has a high amount of energy in space. This radiation comes toward the Earth and attempts to penetrate through our atmosphere but instead due to the tiny amount of residual oxygen in the atmosphere. The two mix together (I should also say that other particles are involved in this process) and the radiation is absorbed and prevents it, at least a majority of it, from reaching and harming us. During this reaction, heat is produced. Basically, the temperatures in the thermosphere are highly dependent on solar activity.

By: Jimmy

Jimmy — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:00:36 +0000

So as you increase in altitude, temperature decreases until you reach the thermosphere? why is that?

By: BregyJ

BregyJ — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:25:00 +0000

Jimmy, what I mean when I say that temperature stops decreasing is that the mesopause is the point where the temperature no longer drops because it you are beginning to reach the thermosphere where the temperature increases. When I say that the temperature stops decreasing I mean that the temperature is beginning to increase as you reach the thermosphere. Now, as for the absolute temperature in space, yes, there is an absolute temperature in space. I am not entirely sure what it is. Now, in theory the lowest temperature possible is 0 Kelvin. So, the limit on low temperatures in space is 0 Kelvin. But, they have yet to reach that temperature and if I remember correctly they have only reached 4 Kelvin. But, we do not know what is entirely possible out there in space so we will have to just wait and see.

By: Jimmy

Jimmy — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:17:08 +0000

What do you mean when you say that temperature stops decreasing at the mesopause? is there an absolute temperature for space?