EARTH ENVIRONMENT
Earth is a planet. Its surface is compacted by the natural force of gravity. All around its compacted surface, there is an atmosphere enfolding it. Interestingly, atmosphere itself is a compact-word made of two words from the Greek language: atmos and sphaira. In Greek, "atmos" means vapours, and meaning of "sphaira" is sphere. So it became "atmosphere" meaning vapours or gases around the sphere of Earth.
Earth environment is composed of its atmosphere and four other environmental spheres namely as: Biosphere, Cryosphere, Hydrosphere and Lithosphere. Biosphere is the collective name of all ecosystems and environments which contain humans, plants, all species and creatures found on the surface of Earth. Cryosphere is made of all the glaciers, frozen waters and ice on Earth. Hydrosphere is the sphere of flowing waters of streams, ponds, lakes, rivers, seas and oceans. Lithosphere is made of continents, islands, and all types of solid surfaces, rocks, sand, dust.
As a planet, Earth is a sphere spinning around its axis, and speeding on its track or orbit, around the Sun with a velocity of about 66,000 miles per hour. A sphere revolving around a planet is called a satellite in the language of astronomy. The moon is the only natural satellite of Earth, while more than 1400 artificial satellites are revolving along numerous orbits around the planet Earth, presently.
What is atmosphere of Earth and how important it is for the humankind? Its answer can be comprehended easily by knowing that there is no atmosphere of the moon. The moon is not only the satellite of Earth but its nearest neighbor in space, too. As there is no atmosphere of the moon, also there is no air on the surface of the moon. Other planets of the Solar system have extreme atmospheres so there are no possibilities of life on those planets. For instance, Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn and Neptune are all gaseous & cloudy. There is no atmosphere of the Mercury. Mars is very thin and Venus is very thick. It is a modest atmosphere on Earth only which made it a planet habitable for the humankind and various plants, species and creatures.
Atmosphere of Earth is composed of different gases. Mostly it is made of Nitrogen (78%) and Oxygen (21%). The remaining one percent is made of Carbon-dioxide, water vapours and small gaseous molecules of Argon, Hydrogen, Helium, Neon and Methane.
For atmospheric stratification, five strata or divisions, starting from the surface of Earth towards space, are named as: Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere and Exosphere. All these spheres are connected and, therefore, interact with each other. Energy and mass are transferred from one sphere to another during atmospheric and environmental interactions.
News reports indicate that some human activities are harmful to the natural environment of Earth in recent times and environmental problems need collective human consideration for solutions and a good care of the natural environment of Earth.
In Cryosphere, ice, frozen waters & glaciers are melting bringing harmful changes in various parts of the world. Large emissions of gases & other materials from man made machinery, industries, vehicles & numerous other things, are affecting the atmosphere & environment of Earth. For human well being, health and progress, there is a growing need of maintaining and keeping Earth environment as natural and clean as possible.
Earth environment is composed of its atmosphere and four other environmental spheres namely as: Biosphere, Cryosphere, Hydrosphere and Lithosphere. Biosphere is the collective name of all ecosystems and environments which contain humans, plants, all species and creatures found on the surface of Earth. Cryosphere is made of all the glaciers, frozen waters and ice on Earth. Hydrosphere is the sphere of flowing waters of streams, ponds, lakes, rivers, seas and oceans. Lithosphere is made of continents, islands, and all types of solid surfaces, rocks, sand, dust.
As a planet, Earth is a sphere spinning around its axis, and speeding on its track or orbit, around the Sun with a velocity of about 66,000 miles per hour. A sphere revolving around a planet is called a satellite in the language of astronomy. The moon is the only natural satellite of Earth, while more than 1400 artificial satellites are revolving along numerous orbits around the planet Earth, presently.
What is atmosphere of Earth and how important it is for the humankind? Its answer can be comprehended easily by knowing that there is no atmosphere of the moon. The moon is not only the satellite of Earth but its nearest neighbor in space, too. As there is no atmosphere of the moon, also there is no air on the surface of the moon. Other planets of the Solar system have extreme atmospheres so there are no possibilities of life on those planets. For instance, Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn and Neptune are all gaseous & cloudy. There is no atmosphere of the Mercury. Mars is very thin and Venus is very thick. It is a modest atmosphere on Earth only which made it a planet habitable for the humankind and various plants, species and creatures.
Atmosphere of Earth is composed of different gases. Mostly it is made of Nitrogen (78%) and Oxygen (21%). The remaining one percent is made of Carbon-dioxide, water vapours and small gaseous molecules of Argon, Hydrogen, Helium, Neon and Methane.
For atmospheric stratification, five strata or divisions, starting from the surface of Earth towards space, are named as: Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere and Exosphere. All these spheres are connected and, therefore, interact with each other. Energy and mass are transferred from one sphere to another during atmospheric and environmental interactions.
News reports indicate that some human activities are harmful to the natural environment of Earth in recent times and environmental problems need collective human consideration for solutions and a good care of the natural environment of Earth.
In Cryosphere, ice, frozen waters & glaciers are melting bringing harmful changes in various parts of the world. Large emissions of gases & other materials from man made machinery, industries, vehicles & numerous other things, are affecting the atmosphere & environment of Earth. For human well being, health and progress, there is a growing need of maintaining and keeping Earth environment as natural and clean as possible.
By: Ashraf Naushahi
(Educator, Writer, Book-Reviewer, Specialist in English Literature, Translator)
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