Environmental Science: Earth's Atmosphere, Pollution and Conservation

This report provides an overview of the Earth's atmosphere, detailing its composition including nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and carbon dioxide. It explores the significant issue of atmospheric pollution, focusing on key pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead, which originate from sources like fossil fuel burning. The report outlines the detrimental effects of these pollutants on both the environment and human health, including ozone layer depletion and acid rain. It also emphasizes the importance of conservation strategies, such as energy conservation, raising public awareness, and reducing car travel, as essential measures to combat atmospheric pollution and promote environmental sustainability. References to relevant scientific literature are included to support the findings.

Earth’s atmosphere 1
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Earth’s atmosphere
The earth’s atmosphere is composed of layers of gases, which surround the planet earth. These
gases are retained by the earth’s gravitational pull. It creates the pressure which helps to water to
exist in liquid form on Earth’s surface, which helps to support life. The Atmosphere also helps
to absorb UV radiations and warming the earth surface through heat retention (Wallace and
Peter, 2011). By volume, the Earth’s atmosphere is composed of 78.08% of nitrogen, 20.95% of
oxygen, and 0.93% of argon, 0.04 of carbon dioxide as well as small compositions of small
gases. Additionally, by mass, the atmosphere is about 5.5 x108 kg. The earth’s atmosphere is
composed of 5 layers which include Exosphere, Thermosphere, Mesosphere, Stratosphere and
troposphere.
The atmosphere pollution is a menace which the world is facing. The major three pollutants
which are destroying the earth’s atmosphere include fossil fuel burning, Nitrogen Dioxide and
Lead. The Carbon Monoxide, (CO) comes from combustion in vehicles and engines. CO is able
to reduce the amount of Oxygen in earth, which supports life and destroys the ozone layer.
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is released to the atmosphere from burning of fossil fuels in engines and
fact6ories. The gas is choking and when combined with air it leads to formation of acid rain
which destroys the environment (Buchdahl, 2010). Lead is found on fuels and factories. The
metal is poisonous to human system and contaminates air, soil and water and therefore able to
damage flora and fauna. Conserving energy, creating awareness and minimizing car travel are
some of measures being taken against atmosphere pollution.

Earth’s atmosphere 3
References
Buchdahl, J. (July, 2010)"Atmosphere, Climate & Environment Information Programme".
Ace.mmu.ac.uk.
Wallace, J. M. and Peter V. H. (2011). Atmospheric Science; An Introductory Survey.Elsevier.
Second Edition. ISBN 978-0-12-732951-2.