Atmosphere Trivia

You could live nearly a month without food and a few days without water but only a few minutes without air.

True! The world record for True! The world record for staying underwater is less than staying underwater is less than 10 minutes.10 minutes.

The atmosphere is slowly leaking out into space, and eventually it will disappear from the Earth.

False! Earth’s gravity is strong False! Earth’s gravity is strong enough to keep the enough to keep the atmosphere in orbit with it.atmosphere in orbit with it.

The gases in the atmosphere are not well mixed so some regions of Earth get more oxygen than others.

False! The gases in the False! The gases in the atmosphere are well mixed. atmosphere are well mixed. The only difference in The only difference in elevation produce different elevation produce different oxygen levels.oxygen levels.

The atmosphere filters out harmful radiation from the sun.

True! It filters specifically True! It filters specifically ultraviolet radiation. ultraviolet radiation.

The atmosphere exerts no weight on you

False! Atmospheric pressure at False! Atmospheric pressure at sea level exerts 15 pounds of sea level exerts 15 pounds of pressure on every square inch pressure on every square inch of your body.of your body.

Up to 4% of the air in a region can be water.

True! Normal water vapor True! Normal water vapor levels range between 1% and levels range between 1% and 4%4%

Humans have travelled far up into the atmosphere since ancient times.

False! The first occupied False! The first occupied balloon flight was in 1783.balloon flight was in 1783.

Small creatures such a bacteria, spiders and microorganisms can float in the atmosphere for moths or even years at a time before landing.

True! Aeollian plankton is a True! Aeollian plankton is a significant part of the lower significant part of the lower atmosphere!atmosphere!