Environment vs. Atmosphere — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 30, 2023
Environment encompasses all living and non-living things in an area, while atmosphere specifically refers to the layers of gases surrounding a planet.
Difference Between Environment and Atmosphere
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
The environment is a broad term that includes all biotic and abiotic elements in an area. The atmosphere, however, specifically refers to the layers of gases surrounding the Earth.
The environment can be natural or built, encompassing forests, oceans, cities, and more. The atmosphere is a natural system, part of the Earth's environment, enveloping it with air.
Environmental concerns include pollution, habitat destruction, and climate change. Atmospheric issues focus on air quality, greenhouse gases, and ozone depletion.
In the environment, interactions occur among plants, animals, and physical features. The atmosphere interacts with the environment through weather and climate patterns.
The environment is central to life and ecosystems. The atmosphere is crucial for maintaining temperature and protecting life from solar radiation.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
All living and non-living things in an area
Layers of gases surrounding the Earth
Scope
Broad, includes biotic and abiotic elements
Specific to gaseous layer around the planet
Concerns
Pollution, habitat destruction, climate change
Air quality, greenhouse gases, ozone layer
Types
Natural and built environments
Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, etc.
Role
Supports life, ecosystems
Regulates climate, protects from radiation
Compare with Definitions
Environment
The setting or conditions in which a person, plant, or animal lives.
The panda thrives in a bamboo-rich environment.
Atmosphere
The air pressure at a specific place and time.
The atmosphere on Mount Everest is very thin.
Environment
The external factors affecting the growth of a plant.
These flowers need a warm environment to bloom.
Atmosphere
The mood or feeling in a particular place.
The restaurant had a cozy atmosphere.
Environment
The social and cultural conditions that influence the life of a person or community.
The school provides a nurturing environment for learning.
Atmosphere
The envelope of gases around a celestial body.
Mars has a thin carbon dioxide atmosphere.
Environment
The software and hardware in which a program runs.
The app was tested in a controlled environment.
Atmosphere
A unit of pressure used in various scientific contexts.
The experiment was conducted at one atmosphere of pressure.
Environment
The surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates
Survival in an often hostile environment
Atmosphere
An atmosphere (from the greek words ἀτμός (atmos), meaning 'vapour', and σφαῖρα (sphaira), meaning 'ball' or 'sphere') is a layer or a set of layers of gases surrounding a planet or other material body, that is held in place by the gravity of that body. An atmosphere is more likely to be retained if the gravity it is subject to is high and the temperature of the atmosphere is low.
Environment
The natural world, as a whole or in a particular geographical area, especially as affected by human activity
The impact of pesticides on the environment
A parliamentary environment committee
Atmosphere
The gaseous mass or envelope surrounding a celestial body, especially the one surrounding the earth, and retained by the celestial body's gravitational field.
Environment
The totality of the natural world, often excluding humans
"Technology, of course, lies at the heart of man's relationship with the environment" (Mark Hertsgaard).
Atmosphere
The air or climate in a specific place.
Environment
A subset of the natural world; an ecosystem
The coastal environment.
Atmosphere
Abbr. atm Physics A unit of pressure equal to the air pressure at sea level. It equals the amount of pressure that will support a column of mercury 760 millimeters high at 0 degrees Celsius under standard gravity, or 14.7 pounds per square inch (1.01325 × 105 pascals).
Environment
The combination of external physical conditions that affect and influence the growth, development, behavior, and survival of organisms
"Conditions in a lion's environment ... can drive it to hunt people" (Philip Caputo).
Atmosphere
A dominant intellectual or emotional environment or attitude
An atmosphere of distrust among the electorate.
Environment
The complex of social and cultural conditions affecting the nature of an individual person or community.
Atmosphere
The dominant tone or mood of a work of art.
Environment
The general set of conditions or circumstances
A terrible environment for doing business.
Atmosphere
An aesthetic quality or effect, especially a distinctive and pleasing one, associated with a particular place
A restaurant with an Old World atmosphere.
Environment
The entire set of conditions under which one operates a computer, as it relates to the hardware, operating platform, or operating system.
Atmosphere
The gases surrounding the Earth or any astronomical body.
Environment
An area of a computer's memory used by the operating system and some programs to store certain variables to which they need frequent access.
Atmosphere
The air in a particular place.
Environment
The surroundings of, and influences on, a particular item of interest.
Atmosphere
The conditions (such as music, illumination etc.) that can influence the mood felt in an environment.
Environment
The natural world or ecosystem.
Atmosphere
The apparent mood felt in an environment.
Environment
All the elements that affect a system or its inputs and outputs.
Atmosphere
A unit of measurement for pressure equal to 101325 Pa (symbol: atm)
Environment
A particular political or social setting, arena or condition.
Atmosphere
Extras in a scene who have no spoken lines.
Environment
(computing) The software and/or hardware existing on any particular computer system.
That program uses the Microsoft Windows environment.
Atmosphere
The whole mass of aëriform fluid surrounding the earth; - applied also to the gaseous envelope of any celestial orb, or other body; as, the atmosphere of Mars.
An atmosphere of cold oxygen.
Environment
(programming) The environment of a function at a point during the execution of a program is the set of identifiers in the function's scope and their bindings at that point.
Atmosphere
A supposed medium around various bodies; as, electrical atmosphere, a medium formerly supposed to surround electrical bodies.
Environment
(computing) The set of variables and their values in a namespace that an operating system associates with a process.
Atmosphere
The pressure or weight of the air at the sea level, on a unit of surface, or about 14.7 lbs. to the sq. inch.
Hydrogen was liquefied under a pressure of 650 atmospheres.
Environment
Act of environing; state of being environed.
Atmosphere
Any surrounding or pervading influence or condition.
The chillest of social atmospheres.
Environment
That which environs or surrounds; surrounding conditions, influences, or forces, by which living forms are influenced and modified in their growth and development.
It is no friendly environment, this of thine.
Atmosphere
The portion of air in any locality, or affected by a special physical or sanitary condition; as, the atmosphere of the room; a moist or noxious atmosphere.
Environment
The totality of surrounding conditions;
He longed for the comfortable environment of his livingroom
Atmosphere
A particular environment or surrounding influence;
There was an atmosphere of excitement
Environment
The area in which something exists or lives;
The country--the flat agricultural surround
Atmosphere
A unit of pressure: the pressure that will support a column of mercury 760 mm high at sea level and 0 degrees centigrade
Environment
The natural world, as a whole or in a particular geographical area.
The Amazon rainforest is a diverse environment.
Atmosphere
The mass of air surrounding the Earth;
There was great heat as the comet entered the atmosphere
It was exposed to the air
Atmosphere
The weather or climate at some place;
The atmosphere was thick with fog
Atmosphere
The envelope of gases surrounding any celestial body
Atmosphere
A distinctive but intangible quality surrounding a person or thing;
An air of mystery
The house had a neglected air
An atmosphere of defeat pervaded the candidate's headquarters
The place had an aura of romance
Atmosphere
The layer of gases surrounding Earth.
The Earth's atmosphere is essential for life.
Common Curiosities
Can the environment affect human health?
Yes, environmental factors can significantly impact human health.
What is an example of a built environment?
Cities, buildings, and infrastructure are examples.
What causes changes in the atmosphere's composition?
Natural processes and human activities like pollution.
How does altitude affect the atmosphere?
Higher altitudes have thinner atmosphere and lower air pressure.
What gases are primarily found in the Earth's atmosphere?
Nitrogen, oxygen, and trace amounts of other gases.
Can environmental factors influence plant growth?
Yes, factors like soil, climate, and water availability are crucial.
What encompasses an environment?
An environment includes all living and non-living things in an area.
How does the atmosphere protect the Earth?
It shields the Earth from harmful solar radiation and regulates temperature.
What is the importance of the ozone layer in the atmosphere?
The ozone layer protects life from harmful ultraviolet radiation.
How do humans impact the environment?
Through activities like pollution, deforestation, and urbanization.
What is atmospheric pressure?
The force exerted by the weight of air in the atmosphere.
Is environmental science multidisciplinary?
Yes, it integrates physical, biological, and information sciences.
Can the atmosphere affect weather patterns?
Yes, atmospheric conditions are fundamental in shaping weather.
What role does the environment play in ecosystems?
It provides habitats and resources for organisms.
How are environment and atmosphere connected?
The atmosphere is a critical component of the Earth's environment.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
