This book investigates elementary processes in the Earth's atmosphere
involving photons, electrons, ions, radicals, and aerosols. It is based
on global atmospheric models such as the standard atmospheric model with
averaged atmospheric parameters across the globe and over time, the
Earth's energetic balance, and the global electric circuit that allows
to analyze fundamental atmospheric properties to be analyzed. Rate
constants of elementary processes in the Earth's atmosphere, together
with measured atmospheric parameters and existing concepts of
atmospheric phenomena, are used in the analysis of global and local
atmospheric processes. Atmospheric photoprocesses result from the
interaction of solar radiation with the atmosphere and processes
involving ions, oxygen atoms, excited atomic particles and ozone
molecules. Atmospheric electricity as a secondary phenomenon to
atmospheric water circulation results in a chain of processes that
begins with collisions of water aerosols in different aggregate states.
Cosmic rays are of importance for atmospheric electricity, as they
create positive and negative ions in the air. Air breakdown in an
electric field of clouds in the form of lightning may develop under the
influence of cosmic ray-created seed electrons, which are necessary for
electron multiplication in ionization wave-streamers. The upper
atmosphere (ionosphere) is formed under solar radiation in a vacuum
ultraviolet spectrum, and absorption of this radiation leads to air
photoionization. The greenhouse effect is determined by atmospheric
water, whereas transitions between a water vapor and aerosols may lead
to a change in atmospheric optical depth. Carbon dioxide contributes in
small portions to the atmospheric greenhouse effect. Cosmic rays are of
importance for atmospheric discharge, the origin of lightning and cloud
formation in the first stage of aerosol growth. This book provides a
qualitative description of atmospheric properties and phenomena based on
elementary processes and simple models.
