地球上の生物が生命を維持するのに必要不可欠な大気は、地球の表面を層状に覆う脆弱な気体です。大気圏の層構造とそれぞれの層の性質や組成について、また地表面や、海、氷と摩擦を起こすことでどのような影響を受けるのかを解説します。赤道近くで最も多く、緯度が高くなるほど少ない太陽から熱の供給によって発生する大気の循環にも目を向けるほか、大気中の成分測定の概要と、大気科学の課題についても言及します。
 

• Describes the physical and chemical characteristics of different layers of the atmosphere, and discusses their importance for life on earth
• Introduces the science associated with the atmosphere and indicates how it is connected to issues of climate change
• Considers the future for our atmosphere, and discusses the biggest remaining uncertainties for scientists

The atmosphere is the thin, diffuse fluid that envelops the Earth's surface. Despite its apparent fragility, the existence of this fluid is vital for human and other life on Earth.

In this Very Short Introduction Paul Palmer describes the physical and chemical characteristics of different layers in the atmosphere, and shows how the interactions where the atmosphere is in contact with land, ocean, and ice affect its observed physical and chemical properties. He also looks at how movement in the atmosphere, driven by heat from the sun, transports heat from lower latitudes to higher latitudes, and is a fundamental feature of the general circulation in the atmosphere. Finally, Palmer presents an overview of the types of measurements used to understand different parts of the atmosphere, and identifies the future challenges for atmospheric scientists.