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How an Atmospheric Technician Assesses the Gases in our Atmosphere

Our atmosphere is made up of thin layers of gases: The troposphere, which is where over 80% of all molecules are found. The next layer is the Tropopause and the top layer is the stratosphere. The higher you go the thinner the layer of atmosphere gets. The atmosphere is comprised of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and argon. Those occur naturally what doesn't occur naturally is all the poisonous gases that are being released into our atmosphere. This is why the role of an atmospheric technician has grown over the years. Greenhouse gases are just one of the reasons why our atmosphere has become contaminated. Gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are being released into our air because of the burning of fossil fuel and de-forestation, which means the decrease in the amount of trees.

The green house effect is one of the primary reasons for the pollution in our air. Sunrays come through the atmosphere and they hit ground. Areas of ice and snow have a higher albedo therefore they reflect the sunrays back into space. However areas that are dark in color will absorb rays which changes the wavelength of radiation and then sends it back. Since the wavelengths have changed greenhouse gases and clouds pick it up and then reflect it back to the earth. Radiation is heat that can't escape the atmosphere so that is why global warming is referred to as "the greenhouse effect". Once ice melts there is less to reflect the radiation back to the atmosphere therefore there is more radiation so the earth is warming up quicker.

Damage to the ozone is another reason. Ozone is oxygen that contains molecules. High in the atmosphere there is a layer of ozone that protects the earth from the sun's UV rays. These rays can directly lead to health issues such as cancer. Chemicals called CFCs were once used in aerosols and refrigerators. They have since been phased out but because they are such a stable molecule that they remain in our atmosphere.

Sulfur dioxide, which is released during the burning of fossil fuels, and nitrogen oxides are two chemicals, which have contributed to acid rain. When released into the air the diluted chemicals change rain into acid rain. This makes trees die and lakes become acidic.

Atmospheric Technicians can use a variety of methods to measure the gases in the air. They can measure the ions in the gases by spectrometry. They can also estimate the amount of waste produced into the air from industrial procedures. It is also possible to measure the atmospheric composition from hundreds of years ago through proxy techniques such as ice core samples and measuring the gases trapped in the air bubbles. The further into the ice you go the further back in history it was.

As an atmospheric technician you get a chance to help regulate what goes into our air and by doing so can help reduce the pollutants that are contributing to global warming.

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