Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: neilep on 19/07/2008 19:24:41

Title: How Much Atmosphere Is Leaking Into Space ?
Post by: neilep on 19/07/2008 19:24:41

Dear Peeps Of Happy Weekend Being Here Luff & Joy,



See this planet and stuff around it ?

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Nice eh ?..being delivered Tuesday !


I've labeled it for the confused !


What I'd like to know is how much atmosphere do we lose to Space in any given time ?

Is it an amount that is on-goingly replaced at a constant rate ?

I'd like to know !!...and for those who don't know...I think ewe'd like to know too !!

Thanking ewe



Neil
Breather Of Air

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Title: How Much Atmosphere Is Leaking Into Space ?
Post by: blakestyger on 19/07/2008 20:02:14

Yes, it really shouldn't be there what with the weather, the government and everything.

However, Earth's gravitational force is enough to overcome the kinetic energy of the atmospheric gases - so they don't escape.

Also, as Earth's core is molten it generates a magnetic field that surrounds the planet and protects it from solar winds which might otherwise strip the atmosphere. I believe that is what happened to Mars once its molten core had cooled.  [xx(]

It's hard to imagine any leakage because there is no way to replace any lost elements/compounds so far as I can see - the only recruitment of material is meteoritic. Some one will put me right here perhaps.

Title: How Much Atmosphere Is Leaking Into Space ?
Post by: neilep on 19/07/2008 20:31:45

Thank ewe very much Mr blakestyger sir

I am surprised...I would have thought that maybe even a soupcon of atmosphere would be lost....but...your data on gravity and magnetosphere joy is compelling and rational.......something which I am not !! [;)]

Thanks again.

Title: How Much Atmosphere Is Leaking Into Space ?
Post by: blakestyger on 19/07/2008 20:34:10

Somewhere, someone will have some figures - I hope so.

Title: How Much Atmosphere Is Leaking Into Space ?
Post by: ukmicky on 20/07/2008 00:30:53

Quote

Somewhere, someone will have some figures - I hope so.

It all depends on the sun and how active it is, The more solar wind there is the more the atmosphere swells up .

Title: How Much Atmosphere Is Leaking Into Space ?
Post by: Soul Surfer on 20/07/2008 23:17:04

Nice picture nailep but the scale is all wrong.  The earths atmosphere is incredibly shallow compared with the diameter of the earth.  Most of it is below 5 miles  ie 1/1600 of the diameter of the earth and spacecraft can orbit below 100 miles or  1/80 of the diameter of the earth  that's around one millimetere on your picture.