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Oxygen content of the atmosphere over the last billion years [50] [51 Main article: Geological history of oxygen The constant re-arrangement of continents by plate tectonics influences the long-term evolution of the atmosphere by transferring carbon dioxide to and from large continental carbonate stores.
A dry atmosphere is composed of 78.084% nitrogen, 20.946% oxygen, 0.934% argon, and trace amounts of carbon dioxide and other gaseous molecules. [212] Water vapor content varies between 0.01% and 4% [212] but averages about 1%. [3] Clouds cover around two-thirds of Earth's surface, more so over oceans than land. [213]
The atmosphere of Earth is composed of nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), argon (0.9%), carbon dioxide (0.04%) and trace gases. [2] Most organisms use oxygen for respiration ; lightning and bacteria perform nitrogen fixation which produces ammonia that is used to make nucleotides and amino acids ; plants , algae , and cyanobacteria use carbon ...
The amount of nitrogen in the atmosphere is relatively small compared to the amount of carbon dioxide, but because the atmosphere is so much thicker than that on Earth, its total nitrogen content is roughly four times higher than Earth's, even though on Earth nitrogen makes up about 78% of the atmosphere. [1] [13]
The phenomenon is caused when electrically charged particles from space enter Earth's atmosphere and collide with molecules and gases like oxygen and nitrogen, causing the atmospheric particles to ...
The atmosphere of Mars has been losing mass to space since the planet's core slowed down, and the leakage of gases still continues today. [ 4 ] [ 8 ] [ 9 ] The atmosphere of Mars is colder than Earth’s owing to the larger distance from the Sun, receiving less solar energy and has a lower effective temperature , which is about 210 K (−63 °C ...
On Earth, the atmosphere warms the planet, contains the oxygen people breathe, protects against solar radiation and creates the pressure needed for liquid water to remain on the planet's surface.
The heterosphere of Earth begins at about 100 km altitude and extends to the outer reaches of its atmosphere. [3] It incorporates most of the thermosphere and all of the exosphere. The major constituents of Earth's heterosphere are nitrogen, oxygen, helium, and hydrogen. Nitrogen and oxygen compose the lower portion of the heterosphere.