1.
2 Structure of the Atmosphere, Ozone, Photons and UV
Environmental Chemistry
Module 1.2.1 Structure of the atmosphere
1.2.2 Ozone
1.2.3 Photons and UV
1.2 Structure of the Atmosphere, Ozone, Photons and UV
Structure of the Atmosphere
Most of the atmospheric mass is confined in the lowest 100 km above sea level,
thickness of the atmosphere is only about 2% of Earth’s thickness (Earth’s radius =
~6500 km). Because the shallowness of the atmosphere, its motion over large areas
are primarily horizontal.
The typical, horizontal wind speeds are a thousand times greater than vertical wind
speed.
Fig 1. Atmosphere composition (Image sourced: ESS5 Prof Jin-Yi Yu Power point)
1.2 Structure of the Atmosphere, Ozone, Photons and UV
Permanent and Variable Gasses in the Atmosphere
Gases that form a
constant form a constant
portion of the
atmospheric mass
Gases concentration
changes from time to
time, place to place.
some gases of the
given gases are
important to weather
and clmate
Fig 2. Atmosphere composition (Image sourced: ESS5 Prof Jin-Yi Yu Power point)
Water Vapor
The most abundant variable gas that is supplied to the atmosphere by evaporation from the surface and is
removed from the atmosphere by condensation (ex. Rain clouds). Water vapor important to climate because
it is a greenhouse gas that can absorb thermal energy emitted by Earth and can release latent heat to fuel
weather phenomena. The concentration of water vapor in the atmosphere was substantially reduced.
Carbon Dioxide
Carbon dioxide is supplied into the atmosphere by plant and animal respiration, the decay of organic
material, volcanic eruptions, and natural and anthropogenic combustion. Carbon dioxide is removed from
the atmosphere via photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide is an allowable pollutant in a minimal concentration
and an important greenhouse gas also.
1.2 Structure of the Atmosphere, Ozone, Photons and UV
Methane
A variable gas in small but recently increasing concentrations. Released to the atmosphere through fossil
fuel activities (ex. volcanic eruption, vehicles and etc.), livestock, digestion and agriculture cultivation (esp.
rice and corm). An effective absorber of terrestrial radiation from the space it plays a vital role in near
surface warming (can be considered as allowable pollutant).
Ozone
Fig 3. Ozone level in atmosphere (Image sourced: ESS5 Prof Jin-Yi Yu Power point)
Ozone is a gas made up of the three oxygen atoms (O3). It occurs naturally in small trace amounts in the
upper atmosphere (stratosphere). Ozone protects life on Earth from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In
the lower atmosphere (troposphere) near the Earth’s surface, ozone is created by chemical reactions
between air pollutants from vehicle exhaust, gasoline vapors, and other emissions.
1.2 Structure of the Atmosphere, Ozone, Photons and UV
At ground level, high concentrations of ozone are toxic to
people and plants.
oxygen emerging as a major component of the atmosphere,
the concentration of ozone increased in the atmosphere
through a photodissociation process.
Fig 4. Ozone formation (Image sourced: ESS5 Prof Jin-Yi Yu Power point)
Aerosol
Small solid particles and liquid droplets in the air: they serve as condensation nuclei for cloud formation.
Frequently occurs as air pollutant gas produced by human activity whose concentration threatens living
organism or the environment.
Origin of the Atmosphere
When Earth formed 4.6 Billion years ago, Earth’s atmosphere was probably mostly hydrogen and
helium plus hydrogen compounds such as methane (CH4) and ammonia (NH3).
The release gases from rock through volcanic eruption (so-called outgassing) was the principal
source of the atmospheric gases.
The primeval atmosphere produced by the outgassing was mostly carbon dioxide (CO2) with
some Nitrogen (N2) and water vapor (H2O), and trace amounts of other gases.
1.2 Structure of the Atmosphere, Ozone, Photons and UV
Chemical reaction in atmosphere frequently occurs in mesosphere and radio frequency are high in
ionosphere, as the altitude increases the temperature increases as well.
Vertical Composition of Atmosphere
Heterosphere
Dominated by lighter gases with increasing altitude, such hydrogen and helium.
Homosphere
This part of the atmosphere continually circulates, so that the principal atmospheric gases are well
mixed. As per study homosphere virtually the entire atmosphere.
Vertical Thermal Structure
Troposphere (overturning sphere)
Contains 80% of the mass
Surface heated by solar radiation
Strong vertical motion where most weather events occurs
1.2 Structure of the Atmosphere, Ozone, Photons and UV
Tropopause
The tropopause is the boundary in the Earth's atmosphere between the troposphere and the stratosphere. It is a
thermodynamic gradient stratification layer, marking the end of troposphere. It lies, on average, at 17
kilometres (11 mi) above equatorial regions, and about 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) over the polar regions.
Stratosphere (layer sphere)
weak vertical motions
dominated by radiative processes
heated by ozone absorption of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation ƒ warmest (coldest) temperatures
at summer (winter) pole.
The reasons for the inversion in the stratosphere is due to the ozone absorption of ultraviolet solar
energy.
Although maximum ozone concentration occurs at 25km, the lower air density at 50km allows
solar energy to heat up temperature there at a much greater degree.
Also, much solar energy is absorbed in the upper stratosphere and can not reach the level of
ozone maximum.
Stratopause
The stratopause (formerly Mesopeak) is the level of the atmosphere which is the boundary between two layers:
the stratosphere and the mesosphere. In the stratosphere the temperature increases with altitude, and
the stratopause is the region where a maximum in the temperature occurs.
Mesosphere (In-between sphere)
heated by solar radiation at the base
heat dispersed upward by vertical motion
There is little ozone to absorb solar energy in the mesosphere, and therefore, the air temperature
in the mesosphere decreases with height.
Also, air molecules are able to lose more energy than they absorb. This cooling effect is
particularly large near the top of the mesosphere.
Mesopause
The boundary in the earth's atmosphere between the mesosphere and the thermosphere, at which the
temperature stops decreasing with increasing height and begins to increase
Thermosphere (heated sphere)
has a very little mass
In thermosphere, oxygen molecules absorb solar rays and warms the air.
Because this layer has a low air density, the absorption of small amount of solar energy can cause
large temperature increase.
The air temperature in the thermosphere is affected greatly by solar activity.
1.2 Structure of the Atmosphere, Ozone, Photons and UV
Ionosphere
The ionosphere is an electrified region
within the upper atmosphere where large
concentration of ions and free electrons
exist.
The ionosphere starts from about 60km
above Earth’s surface and extends upward to
the top of the atmosphere. Most of the
ionosphere is in the thermosphere.
The ionosphere plays an important role
in radio communication
Diabatic Process: Involves direct energy changes
ex. Heating or cooling of the air as it moves across a hot or cold surface
Adiabatic Processes: Heating by compression or cooling by expansion do not involve net energy
exchange heating or cooling is achieved by compression or expansion of the air
High temperature means that the molecule has high kinetic
energy, when compress air is getting warmer, when expand air
molecules flies in a lower speed means it cools down.
Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate = 10 C / 1000 m
Moist Adiabatic Lapse Rate = 5 C / 1000 m
1.2 Structure of the Atmosphere, Ozone, Photons and UV
Photons and UVs
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Types of magnetic spectrum:
1. Radio waves
2. Microwaves
3. Infrared
4. Ultraviolet ray
5. Gamma Ray
6. Cosmic Ray
Electromagnetic Spectrum
• As the arrow goes to the right the energy and frequency are increases
• As the arrow go to the left the wavelength increases
• Wavelength increases frequency will decrease and energy photon decreases as well
• Short wavelength corresponds to high energy photon and high frequency, a long wavelength
corresponds to low frequency and low energy.
Types of UV’s
• UVC refers to ultraviolet light with wavelengths between 200 – 280 nanometers (nm). Light in
the UVC wavelength can be used for disinfecting water, sterilizing surfaces, destroying harmful
micro-organisms in food products and in air.
• UVB and UVA Phototherapy is a treatment for skin eruptions using artificial ultraviolet light.
The initials UVB stand for the type B ultraviolet, the middle energy between the tanning rays
(UVA) and the intense germicidal UVC. UVB rays are the part of sunlight that gives one
sunburn.
1.2 Structure of the Atmosphere, Ozone, Photons and UV
