\u201cThe Thin Blue Line (1)\u201d<\/a>:<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Our atmosphere as it exists today probably derives (as our oceans also do) from the \u201cdegassing\u201d of the primitive semi-molten earth, supplemented by later additions belched up from volcanoes and emitted by hot springs. \u00a0The atmosphere of early geologic times was made up of such gases as hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, water vapor, and various forms of hydrogen chloride. \u00a0The lighter gases (e.g., hydrogen) presumably escaped. \u00a0Five hundred miles above the earth, our \u201catmosphere,\u201d if it can still be called that, is composed of 50% helium and 50% hydrogen.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Somewhat later in our planet\u2019s history, when living organisms developed that were capable of photosynthesis, they provided the oxygen that then permitted animal respiration and eventually the colonization of land, as well as providing the famous ozone layer that shields the earth (and us) from the sun\u2019s ultraviolet radiation.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evidence for this sequence of atmospheric development can be found, to some degree at least, in Precambrian rocks and a few fossils, which seem to suggest a transition from a largely oxygen-free environment to . . . \u00a0well, to a free-oxygen environment.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Denser and, thus, heavier gases such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and water vapor hang low in the current atmosphere, mostly within about three miles of the planet\u2019s surface. \u00a0They are essential to life. \u00a0Above roughly three miles over sea level, we humans cannot usually function very well without supplemental oxygen.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Altogether, the gases in the atmosphere serve to insulate the earth by filtering out most cosmic radiation and, as mentioned, most of the sun\u2019s ultraviolet radiation. \u00a0They prevent large swings in temperature. \u00a0They also burn up untold millions of meteors before those objects are able to collide with our planet. \u00a0Again in these ways, they are essential to life.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fortunately,\u00a0too, our atmosphere probably deflects or reflects much interstellar \u201cnoise\u201d into space. \u00a0Without that, radio and television broadcasts would be effectively impossible, lost in an impenetrable wall of static. \u00a0On its \u201cunderside,\u201d though, our atmosphere partially reflects (rather than merely transmitting) radio waves, which makes communication by radio possible. \u00a0Such communication is essential\u00a0for the Interpreter Radio Show<\/a> and, thus, for humanity in general.<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0 \u00a0 Continuing with some thoughts on the earth\u2019s atmosphere from my previous post on the subject, \u201cThe Thin Blue Line (1)\u201d: \u00a0 Our atmosphere as it exists today probably derives (as our oceans also do) from the \u201cdegassing\u201d of the primitive semi-molten earth, supplemented by later additions belched up from volcanoes and emitted by […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-77331","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
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<\/a>