Know the 7 Layers of the Atmosphere that Envelop the Earth and Their Functions

Illustration of the atmospheric layer (photo: Pixabay/ELG21)

YOGYAKARTA - The Earth's atmosphere is composed of 7 layers with different functions and characteristics. Starting from the Earth's hair and moving upwards, the 7 layers of the atmosphere include the troposphere, stratosphere, ozonosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, ionosphere and exosphere.

The seven layers envelop the Earth with a thickness of 560 kilometers from the Earth's surface.

The atmosphere protects the Earth from harmful radiation, regulates temperature, and is the site of various natural phenomena.

According to the official website of the Ministry of Education and Culture, about 34 percent of the Sun's heat is reflected back into space by the atmosphere. In addition, the atmosphere together with the clouds absorbs approximately 19 percent of the heat, while the rest, namely about 47 percent, is passed on to reach the Earth's surface.

The mechanism keeps the Earth's temperature, weather conditions, and air humidity levels stable. Not only that, the atmosphere also serves as a natural shield that protects the Earth from meteor impacts and various other celestial objects.

Viewed from the composition of the constituent gases, the Earth's atmosphere is dominated by nitrogen at around 78 percent. Other contents include oxygen at 20.95 percent, argon 0.93 percent, and carbon dioxide at around 0.038 percent.

7 Layers of Earth's Atmosphere

Here are the 7 layers of the atmosphere that envelop the Earth and their respective functions.

Troposphere

The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere and is the place of human life. This layer extends from the Earth's surface to about 10 km above sea level, quoted from the UCAR Center for Science Education website.

Almost all weather events, such as rain, wind, and cloud formation, occur in the troposphere. About 99 percent of water vapor in the atmosphere is in this layer. The higher the position, the lower the air pressure and temperature.

Stratosphere

The stratosphere lies above the troposphere and extends to an altitude of about 50 km. The ozone layer, which serves to absorb the Sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation, is in the stratosphere.

Unlike the troposphere, the temperature in this layer increases with increasing altitude. The stable air condition makes commercial aircraft often fly in the lower stratosphere.

The Ozone Layer

The stratosphere is a part of the stratosphere that is rich in ozone gas (O3). This layer is concentrated at an altitude of between 15-35 km.

The ozone layer serves to absorb harmful UV radiation from the Sun, protecting life on Earth from its harmful effects as well as skin cancer and blindness.

Mesosphere

The mesosphere extends from the stratosphere to an altitude of about 85 km. In this layer, most meteors burn before reaching the Earth's surface.

The temperature in the mesosphere decreases again and reaches the lowest point in the atmosphere, which is around -90°C. The air in this layer is so thin that it cannot be breathed by humans.

Termosfer

The thermosphere is a layer with very thin air that is above the mesosphere. This layer absorbs high-energy X-ray and ultraviolet radiation from the Sun so that its temperature can reach thousands of degrees Celsius.

Nevertheless, because the air density is low, the thermosphere does not feel hot. Many satellites orbit the Earth in this layer, and the boundary between the atmosphere and space, namely the Kármán Line, is in the thermosphere.

Ionosphere

The ionosphere is not a separate layer, but rather a region in the mesosphere and thermosphere that undergoes ionization due to solar radiation.

This layer plays an important role in reflecting radio waves and is the place where aurora phenomena occur, such as the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) and the Southern Lights (Aurora Australis).

Exosphere

The exosphere is the outermost layer of Earth's atmosphere. The air in this layer is very thin and slowly escapes into space. There is no clear boundary between the exosphere and space, so this layer is often referred to as the transition to the universe.

That's the explanation of the 7 layers of the atmosphere. Hopefully the information above can add to the reader's insight. Come on, visit VOI.id to get other interesting news updates.