Our atmosphere

The Earth’s atmosphere surrounds our planet, like a protective gaseous blanket held by gravity, providing breathable air and shielding the surface from harmful solar radiation.

The atmosphere has five main layers: the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere, each with different characteristics and roles in protecting and supporting life on Earth.

The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere, extending roughly four to eleven miles high, where most human activity and daily weather events occur.

The ozone layer is part of the Earth’s stratosphere containing high concentrations of ozone gas that absorbs most of the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation.

Albedo is the amount of incoming solar radiation reflected back into space by any surface, where snow has a high value and soil is low.

An atmospheric scientist studies the Earth’s atmosphere, including weather, climate, air pollution and atmospheric processes, to improve our understanding of how the atmosphere works and how it affects people and the environment.

Atmospheric chemistry is the study of the gases, particles, and chemical reactions in the atmosphere, helping us understand air pollution, climate change, ozone depletion and the quality of the air we breathe.