Question

How does the atmosphere act as a blanket?

Answer 1

Hint: We know that air is a bad conductor of heat. Atmosphere regulates an average temperature throughout the year. Ozone layer protects earth by absorbing UV radiation.

Complete Answer:
- The earth atmosphere contains air which is basically composed of different types of gases, water vapours and dust particles.
- So, it acts as a bad conductor of heat. As, the heat can not flow in air which results in a balanced average temperature of the Earth.
- The atmosphere prevents the sudden increase in temperature during the daytime. Also, at night it helps to maintain an average temperature by slowing down the escape of heat from the Earth surface to outer space.
- Also, the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere absorbs the UV radiation coming from sunlight and protects the earth and living beings. This helps in preventing the rise in temperature and global warming.
- In this way, the atmosphere acts as a blanket to the Earth's surface.

Note: There are different layers present in the earth’s atmosphere, i.e., exosphere, thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere and troposphere.
- Troposphere is the lowest layer of earth’s atmosphere and the exosphere is the topmost layer.
- The Stratosphere contains an ozone layer.