Question

Why is the atmosphere essential for life?

Answer 1

Hint: The layer that surrounds the earth and also helps in the maintenance of life on earth. It constitutes the gases that are essential for the process of living in both animals, plants, and human beings.

Complete answer:
The Earth’s atmosphere consists of many different gases. These gases are present in various percentages which help in the functioning of various processes of life. Some of the gases present in the atmosphere are in very small quantities and some of them are in the majority. These gases are present in different quantities. The oxygen is present in $21\% $ and is the most essential gas of the atmosphere. Its main function is in the process of respiration in the case of both plants and animals. The most abundant gas in the atmosphere is the nitrogen gas. It constitutes about $78\% $ of the total atmospheric air. Nitrogen is also essential as it helps the plants to grow and carry out their life process. Various other gases like carbon dioxide, neon, and hydrogen are present in very minute quantities.
The gases produced are helpful in the production of food by the process of photosynthesis in plants along with the sunlight. It also helps in various processes that include respiration, burning, combustion, etc. Nitrogen gas is essential for the process of nitrogen fixation in the case of leguminous plants. Due to these gases, the various biogeochemical cycles are able to run like the water cycle, nitrogen cycle, oxygen cycle, etc.
The atmosphere protects the earth by the formation of ozone molecules. Ozone is an allotrope of oxygen that helps in the absorption of ultraviolet radiation and protects the living organisms of the earth. It also helps in the Maintenance of the normal temperature all around the earth and balances the environment.

Note:
The word atmosphere comes from the Greek word ‘atmos’, meaning vapor. It is a layer present in the biosphere. In 1875, Geologist Eduard Suess coined the term ‘biosphere’. Sir Arthur Tansley in the year 1935 coined the term ‘ecosystem’. The abiotic factors are the nonliving factors that include oxygen, water, sunlight, temperature, soil, climate, etc. They affect living organisms and have a huge impact on them.