The Air You Breathe Is 78 Percent Nitrogen

We think of air as oxygen, because oxygen is the part we need. Most of it is something else. NASA states that near the surface, Earth has an atmosphere that consists of 78 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen and 1 percent other gases, such as argon, carbon dioxide and neon. That thin layer does a lot of work. According to NASA, the atmosphere affects Earth’s long-term climate and short-term local weather, and it shields us from much of the harmful radiation coming from the Sun. It is also a shield against rocks from space. NASA says the atmosphere protects us from meteoroids, most of which burn up in the atmosphere before they can strike the surface. We see them in the night sky as meteors. The ones that reach the ground are called meteorites.