by John W. » Wed Aug 22, 2012 5:03 pm
Does the Earth lose air and moisture as the atmosphere nears the edge of space?
There is no actual "edge of space". The atmosphere simply gets thinner and thinner. The force of gravity isn't much less in the near Earth space environment than it is on the ground, so atmospheric gases remain tightly bound to the planet. The Earth's magnetic field limits the impact of many high energy particles, which could eject some gas molecules, but that does happen very slowly (and certainly happened on planets like Mars without a strong magnetic field). On Earth, biological and geological processes readily replace whatever tiny losses to space occur.
Thanks for some great posts Chris. I do understand your reference to the Biological & Geological replacements for the small loss of air & moisture to space. However, I don't see how the equation balances?
Have their been any studies you know of that have been able to somehow measure this loss?
Thanks again:)
John W.
Henrico, VA
Does the Earth lose air and moisture as the atmosphere nears the edge of space? :?
There is no actual "edge of space". The atmosphere simply gets thinner and thinner. The force of gravity isn't much less in the near Earth space environment than it is on the ground, so atmospheric gases remain tightly bound to the planet. The Earth's magnetic field limits the impact of many high energy particles, which could eject some gas molecules, but that does happen very slowly (and certainly happened on planets like Mars without a strong magnetic field). On Earth, biological and geological processes readily replace whatever tiny losses to space occur.
Thanks for some great posts Chris. I do understand your reference to the Biological & Geological replacements for the small loss of air & moisture to space. However, I don't see how the equation balances?
Have their been any studies you know of that have been able to somehow measure this loss?
Thanks again:)
John W.
Henrico, VA