õhkkond

Õhkkond is Estonian for atmosphere. In everyday language it refers to the air surrounding a place or object as well as to the general mood or climate of a setting, event, or community. In scientific contexts the term is commonly used to describe the gaseous envelope around a celestial body, though the more formal technical term in many texts is atmosfäär.

In the physical sense, an atmosphere consists of a mixture of gases held by gravity. On Earth, the atmosphere is about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and the remaining roughly 1% consists of argon, carbon dioxide, neon, helium and other trace gases. Water vapour concentration varies with location and weather. The atmosphere retains heat and supports weather and life, and it is structured into layers such as the troposphere, where weather occurs, and further layers like the stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere. Its pressure at sea level is about 1013 hectopascals (1 atmosphere). The atmosphere interacts with oceans, land and living organisms in a complex climate system and is a key factor in sustaining life and enabling radio, weather forecasting and aviation.

Metaphorically, õhkkond describes the feel or ambience of a place or situation. For example, the “õhkkond” of a room, a school, a city, or a political climate refers to its overall mood, tone or social atmosphere, including attitudes, expectations and interpersonal dynamics. The term thus bridges scientific description and everyday expressive use.

Note: while õhkkond can be used interchangeably with the more technical atmosfäär in some contexts, the former commonly emphasizes ambiance and environment rather than purely scientific measurement.