The Weight of Earth's Atmosphere: Is It Being Lost?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on whether the Earth is losing mass, particularly in relation to its atmosphere, and the implications of human activities such as burning fossil fuels. Participants explore various aspects of mass loss, energy conversion, and atmospheric dynamics, touching on both theoretical and observational elements.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that the Earth is decreasing in mass due to human activities that convert mass into energy, such as the burning of fossil fuels.
  • Others argue that in chemical reactions, including combustion, the mass of products equals the mass of reactants, with negligible mass loss attributed to energy conversion (m=E/c^2).
  • A participant mentions that the Earth gains significant mass from meteors and comet fragments, suggesting that human energy use is insignificant compared to this influx.
  • It is noted that the total mass of the Earth does not decrease unless energy leaves the system, and there is a discussion about common misunderstandings regarding mass-energy conversion.
  • One participant highlights that the atmosphere loses small amounts of hydrogen and helium but gains much more mass from meteors, suggesting a net increase.
  • Another participant discusses the role of gravity in atmospheric retention, comparing Earth to the Moon and Mars, and speculating on how different bodies lose their atmospheres.
  • There are references to the potential for Earth to lose its atmosphere over billions of years without volcanic replenishment, and contrasting views on how other planets manage their atmospheres.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the net mass change of Earth and the mechanisms involved in atmospheric retention and loss. There is no consensus on whether the Earth is losing mass overall, as various factors and models are presented without resolution.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the complexity of mass-energy relationships and the influence of external factors such as meteoric influx and solar wind. The discussion reflects uncertainties regarding the long-term stability of Earth's atmosphere and the effects of human activity.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those studying atmospheric science, planetary science, and the impacts of human activities on Earth's mass and energy dynamics.

doc.madani
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i was curious wether the Earth is decreasing in mass, as we humans are converting much off this mass into energy i.e. burning of fossil fuels etc..., in which we are using up natural resources quicker than they can be replenished.
 
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In any chemical reaction, including combustion of fossil fuels, the mass of the products is almost exactly equal to the mass of the reactants. The only mass lost--and this mass is utterly negligible--is due to the energy produced, which carries away m=E/c^2 of mass.
 
The Earth receives more energy out of space in one day, than we use in one year (moderate exageration). Our use does not send the energy out into space either so you cannot say it is lost.

Plus look on the internet of the average mass of dust and meteorites that land on our planet, and you will find that the mere kilograms of energy we use (and don't loose) are really insignificant to the tonnes ( many zeroes) that we gain. The Earth is getting heavier, fat, chuncky.
 
Even so the mass (total mass of system) does not shrink unless that energy leaves the system, which in our case is the earth. The concept that mass transforms into energy and stops attracting other things through gravity is so common, that I wonder where so much misunderstanding comes from.
 
Last edited:
Um.. I guess I didn't delete that post fast enough. Oh my.

I'm not so sure that what you say isn't what ideasrule has said.
 
Phrak said:
Um.. I guess I didn't delete that post fast enough. Oh my.

I edited mine ... And expecting a beer :P
 
Lok said:
I edited mine ... And expecting a beer :P

I think, somehow, you only added a new one. I'll buy you a rootbeer.
 
Phrak said:
I think, somehow, you only added a new one. I'll buy you a rootbeer.

The info is still valid, we'll just never know what was said :P.

Cheers!
 
The atmosphere loses about 3kg of Hydrogen and 0.05kg of Helium per second - from just thermal motion.
It gains about 1500kg/s of meteors/comet fragments etc (100,000 tons/day)

Solar wind stripping isn't significant because of our magnetosphere - it probably deposits more protons (into H) than it removes.
 
  • #10
TESLACOILZAP said:
gravity of the body must play a big role...moons a vacuum almost and Mars is 1/100th of an atmosphere
The moon probably lost any atmosphere just from lack of gravity, it doesn't take much for a molecule to achieve escape velocity on the moon.
Estimates are that the even Earth would lose it's atmosphere in 3Bn years if it wasn't replenished by volcanoes.

Mars probably lost it's atmosphere to solar wind stripping. It's just small enough that it doesn't have a molten core so no magnetic field so no protection.
Venus should have lost it's atmosphere to solar wind but probably produces so much from volcanics activity that it makes up for it.
 

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