A. Carbon dioxide
B. Argon
C. Helium
D. Neon
E. Methane
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Atmospheric Gas Abundance Ranking Explained
This solution explains the order of several gases based on their percentage abundance in the Earth's atmosphere on a dry basis. Understanding the composition of our atmosphere is key to many scientific concepts.
Understanding Atmospheric Composition
The Earth's atmosphere is a mixture of gases. When we talk about the composition on a 'dry basis', we are excluding water vapor, which can vary significantly depending on location and weather conditions. The major gases in the dry atmosphere are Nitrogen (around 78%) and Oxygen (around 21%). This question focuses on less abundant gases: Carbon dioxide, Argon, Helium, Neon, and Methane.
Gas Abundances on a Dry Basis
Let's look at the approximate percentages or parts per million (ppm) of the specified gases in the Earth's dry atmosphere:
| Gas | Symbol | Approximate Percentage (Dry Basis) |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon dioxide | CO2 | ~0.04% (approx. 400 ppm) |
| Argon | Ar | ~0.93% (approx. 9300 ppm) |
| Helium | He | ~0.0005% (approx. 5 ppm) |
| Neon | Ne | ~0.0018% (approx. 18 ppm) |
| Methane | CH4 | ~0.00017% (approx. 1.7 ppm) |
Ordering Gases by Decreasing Abundance
Now, we arrange these gases from the most abundant to the least abundant based on the percentages listed above:
- Argon (B): ~0.93%
- Carbon dioxide (A): ~0.04%
- Neon (D): ~0.0018%
- Helium (C): ~0.0005%
- Methane (E): ~0.00017%
Therefore, the correct decreasing order of abundance is B, A, D, C, E.
Important Questions from Atmosphere
Which of the following statements with reference to Surface inversion of temperature is/are correct? 1. It causes instability in the lower layers of the atmosphere. 2. This inversion commonly lasts for a few hours until the Sun comes up.
Identify the cloud on the basis of the following characteristics: I. They look like cotton wool. II. They exist in patches and have flat base. III. They are generally formed at a height of 4 to 7 km.
Which of the following statements with reference to Surface inversion of temperature is/are correct?
1. It causes instability in the lower layers of the atmosphere.
2. This inversion commonly lasts for a few hours until the Sun comes up.Identify the cloud on the basis of the following characteristics:
I. They look like cotton wool.
II. They exist in patches and have flat base.
III. They are generally formed at a height of 4 to 7 km.In which layer of the atmosphere, rainfall, storm, thundering and lightening are occur?
