Chapter 7: Composition and Structure of Atmosphere
Geography - Fundamental of Physical Geography • Class 11
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Chapter Analysis
Intermediate7 pages • EnglishQuick Summary
The chapter on 'Composition and Structure of Atmosphere' elucidates the various components of Earth's atmosphere, including gases, water vapor, and dust particles, and their significance. It discusses how the proportion of these components changes with altitude and explains the essential roles of gases like carbon dioxide and ozone in regulating temperature and filtering ultraviolet radiation. The chapter also describes the structure of the atmosphere, divided into layers like the troposphere, stratosphere, and mesosphere, each with unique characteristics impacting weather, climate, and biological activities.
Key Topics
- •Composition of the atmosphere
- •Structure of the atmosphere
- •Greenhouse effect and global warming
- •Importance of ozone layer
- •Atmospheric layers and characteristics
- •Role of dust and water vapour
- •Temperature variations with altitude
Learning Objectives
- ✓Understand the composition and layers of the atmosphere.
- ✓Recognize the roles of various atmospheric gases.
- ✓Comprehend the greenhouse effect and its implications.
- ✓Identify the significance of the ozone layer.
- ✓Explain the impact of human activities on atmospheric composition.
- ✓Describe the relationship between altitude and temperature.
Questions in Chapter
Which one of the following gases constitutes the major portion of the atmosphere?
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Atmospheric layer important for human beings is:
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Sea salt, pollen, ash, smoke soot, fine soil — these are associated with:
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Oxygen gas is in negligible quantity at the height of atmosphere:
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Which one of the following gases is transparent to incoming solar radiation and opaque to outgoing terrestrial radiation?
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What do you understand by atmosphere?
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What are the elements of weather and climate?
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Describe the composition of atmosphere.
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Why is troposphere the most important of all the layers of the atmosphere?
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Describe the composition of the atmosphere.
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Draw a suitable diagram for the structure of the atmosphere and label it and describe it.
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Additional Practice Questions
Explain the role of water vapour in maintaining Earth's temperature.
mediumAnswer: Water vapour contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing heat and reflecting it back to the Earth's surface, helping to maintain a stable temperature.
How does the concentration of atmospheric dust particles affect weather and climate?
mediumAnswer: Dust particles serve as cloud condensation nuclei, facilitating cloud formation and affecting weather patterns and climate through radiative properties.
Describe the significance of the ozone layer in the stratosphere.
easyAnswer: The ozone layer absorbs harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun, protecting living organisms on Earth from potential damage.
What are the differences between the troposphere and the stratosphere?
mediumAnswer: The troposphere is closest to Earth's surface, containing most weather phenomena, while the stratosphere is above it, containing the ozone layer and experiencing little weather.
Discuss how human activities have altered the composition of the atmosphere.
hardAnswer: Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, have increased carbon dioxide levels, enhancing the greenhouse effect and contributing to global warming.