Download Name: Date:______ Period:____ THE ATMOSPHERE Unit 1B

Name:_______________________
Date:____________
Period:____
THE ATMOSPHERE
Unit 1B Guided Notes KEY
1. What is the Atmosphere?
-All of the gases_ that surrounds Earth
-Mixture of mostly nitrogen and oxygen.
-Other gases that are present in trace amounts include: argon, carbon dioxide,
Methane and water vapor.
2. Composition of the Atmosphere:

Nitrogen (78%)

Oxygen
(21%)

Other
(1%) : Argon, Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Water vapor
3. The composition of gases in the Atmosphere is constantly changing!
4. What else is in the Atmosphere?
-In addition to gasses, the atmosphere also contains some particulates.
We call these particles atmospheric dust.
5. What else is in the Atmosphere?

Volcanic ash ; Aerosols; bacteria; Soil particles; pollen Fire ash;
Combustion ash.
6. Gravity : The force that pulls everything to the Earth.
-Gravity causes the Earth’s atmosphere to be more dense near the Earth’s surface!
So at higher elevation, the air becomes less dense.
7. Layers of the Atmosphere?
 TROPOSPHERE
-
Nearest Earth’s surface
-
Densest layer.
Name:_______________________
 STRATOSPHERE
-Above Troposphere
-Contains ozone layer
 MESOSPHERE
-Above the Stratosphere
-coldest layer
 THERMOSPHERE
-Farthest from Earth’s surface.
- Also called the ionization layer
- Aurora borealis- Solar lights
Date:____________
Period:____