OUR AMAZING ATMOSPHERE
". . . . Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God. Do you know when God dispatches them, and causes the light of His cloud to shine? Do you know the balance of clouds, those wondrous works of Him Who is perfect in knowledge?" (Job 37:14-16)
Have you ever wondered why astronauts wear space suits when they go to the Moon whereas we who live on Earth do not need them? It is because of the amazing atmosphere that surrounds the earth. No other planet in our solar system has it. Not even the moon.
Our atmosphere contains the right proportions of gases that are absolutely essential for life. Some of those gases, by themselves, are deadly. But because air contains safe proportions of these gases, we can breathe them without harm.
Oxygen makes up 21 percent of the air we breathe. Without it, humans and animals would die within minutes. But too much oxygen would also endanger our existence because pure oxygen becomes toxic if breathed too long. If there were too much oxygen in the atmosphere, combustible materials would become highly flammable. Fires would easily burst forth and would be difficult to control.
Nitrogen makes up 78 percent of the our atmosphere. It not only helps to dilute the oxygen but is highly essential as fertilizer for our plants. Carbon dioxide makes up less than one percent of our atmosphere. That small amount is what plants need to take in, giving off oxygen in return. Humans and animals breathe in the oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. What a marvelous, precise, self sustaining cycle has been arranged by our Creator for plant, animal and human life!
The atmosphere does more than sustain life. It serves as a protective shell too. About 15 miles above the ground, a thin layer of ozone gas filters out harmful radiation from the sun. Without this ozone layer, such radiation could destroy life on earth. Also, the atmosphere shields the earth from bombardment of meteors. Most meteors never reach the ground because they burn up in their descent through the atmosphere, appearing to us as falling stars. Otherwise, millions of meteors would strike all parts of the earth, resulting in extensive damage to life and property.
In addition to being a protective shell, the atmosphere keeps the warmth of the earth from being lost to the coldness of space. It is very similar to the greenhouse effect. And the atmosphere is itself kept from escaping by the earth's gravitational pull. That gravity is just strong enough to accomplish this, but not so strong that our freedom of movement is hampered.
Not only is the atmosphere vital for life, but one of the more beautiful sights is the changing sky. The earth is enveloped with the sky's endlessly majestic and colorful panoramas. Its scope and grandeur simply staggers the imagination and defies description. How great is our God!
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