Post by glactus on Mar 20, 2011 13:08:28 GMT
There has been much talk about global warming and the effects that carbon dioxide has on the heating up of our planet, so lets have a look at this unwelcome gas and put it in perspective with all the others in our atmosphere.
The Atmosphere is made up in layers, and the thickness of these can be seen in the graph below.
Be aware that the two main gasses, nitrogen (78.080%) and Oxygen (20.046%) make up 98.126% of all atmospheric gasses, while carbon dioxide accounts for only 0.038%.
In addition to these three gases, there are many other gases in the atmosphere, in trace or small amounts. Additionally there are small particles, or particulates floating in the atmosphere, such as dust, water, and pollen.
Carbon Dioxide is one of the gases that helps to keep our planet and us warm and not freeze to death. Of course, there is a bad side. Too much carbon dioxide will cause the earth to heat up and become too hot. You can see in the white graph how small in volume this gas is, and it is amazing how such a small amount can have such a dramatic effect on the planet we call home.
Ultra violet ray graph
Ozone is a gas that most have heard of but don't know much about. Well, what is Ozone? Ozone, is Oxygen that has grouped into a group with three Oxygen molecules rather than the normal two. It helps us keep out harmful Ultra-Violet rays (see graph above) that could possibly burn our skin, cause cancer, or even cause death. Of course, most have heard of the "Ozone hole," but most don't realize that there is more than one hole and they are constantly waxing and waning.
The planet we call home
Eskimo
The Atmosphere is made up in layers, and the thickness of these can be seen in the graph below.
Be aware that the two main gasses, nitrogen (78.080%) and Oxygen (20.046%) make up 98.126% of all atmospheric gasses, while carbon dioxide accounts for only 0.038%.
In addition to these three gases, there are many other gases in the atmosphere, in trace or small amounts. Additionally there are small particles, or particulates floating in the atmosphere, such as dust, water, and pollen.
Carbon Dioxide is one of the gases that helps to keep our planet and us warm and not freeze to death. Of course, there is a bad side. Too much carbon dioxide will cause the earth to heat up and become too hot. You can see in the white graph how small in volume this gas is, and it is amazing how such a small amount can have such a dramatic effect on the planet we call home.
Ultra violet ray graph
Ozone is a gas that most have heard of but don't know much about. Well, what is Ozone? Ozone, is Oxygen that has grouped into a group with three Oxygen molecules rather than the normal two. It helps us keep out harmful Ultra-Violet rays (see graph above) that could possibly burn our skin, cause cancer, or even cause death. Of course, most have heard of the "Ozone hole," but most don't realize that there is more than one hole and they are constantly waxing and waning.
The planet we call home
Eskimo