Download thermosphere

THE EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE:
Atmospheric Layers
SOL 6.6
Onions have layers. Ogres have
layers.
• The Earth’s
atmosphere has
LAYERS!
• Earth’s
atmosphere is
made up of
layers that have
distinct
characteristics.
These layers are the…
•
•
•
•
troposphere,
the stratosphere,
the mesosphere,
and the thermosphere.
Let’s find out where these layers
are located in relation to the
Earth’s surface and how they
are affected by temperature.
Troposphere
• The
troposphere is
the lowest layer
of the
atmosphere that
lies next to the
Earth’s surface.
Troposphere
• Most of the
air that
makes up
the
atmosphere
is found in
the
troposphere.
Troposphere
• It extends to about
14 kilometers
(around 9 miles)
above the Earth
• and is where
virtually all weather
takes place.
Troposphere
• As you move up
into the
troposphere the
temperature
decreases.
• At the top of this
layer the air
temperature is
about - 60°C
(-76° F).
Stratosphere
• The
stratosphere
begins at the
top of the
troposphere
(14 km/
9 miles) and
extends to
about 50
kilometers (31
miles) above
the surface of
the Earth.
Stratosphere
• As you move up
into the
stratosphere the
air temperature
actually
increases.
Stratosphere
• This occurs because
of ozone.
• Ozone is a gas that
absorbs solar
radiation and releases
it as heat.
• The stratospheric or
"good" ozone protects
life on Earth from the
sun's harmful
ultraviolet (UV) rays.
Stratosphere
• The ozone
layer/
ozonosphere
is located at
the bottom of
the
stratosphere.
Mesosphere
• The mesosphere
begins at about 50
kilometers (31 miles)
above the Earth’s
surface and extends
to 80 kilometers (50
miles).
Mesosphere
• As you move up into
the mesosphere, the
air temperature
decreases.
• Temperatures at the
top of this layer can
drop to -90°C
(- 130°F ).
Mesosphere
• Interestingly, this
layer also protects the
Earth.
• Meteoroids entering
Earth’s atmosphere
usually burn up in the
mesosphere.
Thermosphere
• The
thermosphere
is the
outermost layer
of the Earth’s
atmosphere.
Thermosphere
• It begins at 80
km (50 miles)
above the Earth
and extends
outward into
space.
• Sometimes the
thermosphere
and exosphere
are listed as
separate
layers.
Thermosphere
• The higher you move
in this layer, the
higher the
temperature.
• Temperatures in the
thermosphere can
reach 1,800°C
(3,300°F)!
Thermosphere
• The beautiful colors of
the aurora borealis or
northern lights occur
in this atmospheric
layer.
Thermosphere
• This is
also
where the
space
shuttle
orbits the
Earth!
Thermosphere
Thermosphere
• The ionosphere is found at the bottom of
the thermosphere (close to the
mesosphere).
• The exosphere is located at the top of the
thermosphere.
Onions have layers. Ogres have
layers.
• The Earth’s
atmosphere has
LAYERS!
• Earth’s atmosphere is
made up of layers
that have distinct
characteristics.