Do you know the air we breathe? Do you know how important air is to our lives? Do you know what else is wonderful in the air? Today, I'm going to share with you 10 interesting trivia facts about air that will give you a whole new perspective on this ubiquitous thing.
Air appears to be transparent, but it is actually made up of a variety of gases. About 78% of the air in the Earth's atmosphere is nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 09% is argon, 003% is carbon dioxide, as well as some trace amounts of other gases, such as neon, hydrogen, ozone, etc. The proportion of different gases in the air can vary with time, location, temperature, altitude, and other factors.
Although air is mostly made up of gases, there are many other things in it, such as tiny particles. These particulate matter are called aerosols, and some of them are naturally generated, such as dust, pollen, volcanic ash, etc., and some are man-made, such as soot, car exhaust, factory emissions, etc. When there is too much particulate matter in the air, it causes air pollution that affects the breathing and health of humans, animals and plants.
Humans and many animals need to breathe, and plants are no exception. Respiration is one of the fundamental characteristics of life. In respiration, an organism absorbs oxygen from the air and then releases carbon dioxide. This process can provide energy to living beings so that they can grow. Different organisms have different needs for oxygen in the air, some organisms can survive in a low-oxygen environment, while others need a high-oxygen environment.
When humans and animals breathe, they release a colorless and odorless gas called carbon dioxide (CO2). Plants use this gas, combined with sunlight, to produce energy in a process called photosynthesis. In this process, plants also release oxygen for use by other organisms. Therefore, carbon dioxide in the air is important for maintaining the balance of the biosphere.
If there is too much carbon dioxide in the air, it can cause some problems. For example, when cars and power plants burn fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gasoline, large amounts of carbon dioxide are produced, which accumulate high in the atmosphere, creating a phenomenon called the greenhouse effect, which causes the earth's temperature to rise and causes global warming. Carbon dioxide is also one of the main causes of human-caused climate change.
When you're on a hot and humid summer day, you may hear a word called "humidity". But what exactly does humidity mean? Humidity refers to the amount of moisture contained in the air. The moisture in the air mainly exists in the form of water vapor, which can evaporate from water bodies, soil, plants, etc., or it can condense from the air to form phenomena such as rain, snow, dew, and fog. Humidity is usually expressed as a percentage, for example, when the moisture in the air reaches its maximum capacity, it rains, and the humidity is 100%. The distribution of humidity in the air is uneven, and it varies with factors such as temperature, altitude, season, geographical location, etc.
Air looks light, but it actually weighs a lot. Air exerts a pressure on the Earth's surface, called barometric pressure. The air pressure you feel at sea level is the highest because you are carrying the weight of the entire atmosphere. When you climb to the top of the mountain, the air pressure you feel decreases because there is less air above you. The change in air pressure can cause your ears to rattle because your eardrum is adjusting the pressure difference between inside and outside.
On Earth, we are fortunate to have an air-filled atmosphere. Air plays many important roles in the atmosphere, for example, it can act as a thermal barrier to keep the Earth's temperature from getting too cold or too hot. The ozone layer in the air can also block too much ultraviolet rays and protect us from the sun. Air can also act as a buffer in the atmosphere against some dangers from outer space, such as meteors. When meteors come into contact with the atmosphere, they rub against the air, creating high temperatures that can burn into small pieces or form the beautiful spectacle of a meteor shower.
There are many microorganisms in the air, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc. These organisms are called airborne microorganisms, and they can float, fly, multiply, and even influence the weather and climate in the air. For example, there are organisms called ice nucleobacteria, which can promote the freezing of water, which can form snowflakes.
Air is not only a necessity, but also a resource. Humans can use gases, moisture, and particulate matter in the air to carry out various activities, such as manufacturing, transportation, communication, entertainment, etc. For example, humans can use nitrogen in the air to produce ammonia compounds, which are used in agriculture, medicine, cleaning and other fields.
I hope you have a deeper understanding of the air through this article, and also have more awe and love for the natural world. Thank you for reading and see you soon!
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