Download A Model of Earth`s Atmosphere

A Model of Earth’s Atmosphere
The purpose of this activity is to draw a model that includes four of the five
layers of Earth’s atmosphere. You will label and describe each layer and identify
characteristics of each.
Procedure: Check off each task as you do it! All underlined words should be drawn!
1. Draw the Earth.
a. Use a pencil to trace a round object in the middle of your paper.
b. Color Earth dark blue and green to represent oceans and land.
2. Draw the Troposphere. This first layer extends 12 km above the Earth.
a. Using a scale of 1 mm for 1 km, place a series of dots around Earth, 12 mm
from the planet’s surface.
b. Connect the dots to form a circle around Earth.
c. Label the inside of the circle ‘Troposphere.’
d. Color this area green.
e. Draw and label pictures to indicate that this is where Mt. Everest is
located (9km tall), weather occurs, hot air balloons fly, and clouds are
found. Fluffy cumulous clouds are found lower (1-2km) and wispy stratus
clouds are found higher (6-12km).
3. Draw the Stratosphere. This second layer extends 48 km above the Earth.
a. Measure and draw a circle 48 mm from the Earth’s surface.
b. Label the inside of this layer ‘Stratosphere.’
c. Color this area purple.
d. The jet streams occur between the troposphere and the stratosphere, so
draw arrows to show this fast moving current of air on the borderline
between the two layers. Include airplanes, which often fly at this layer.
e. Higher up towards the center of the stratosphere, Air force jets and
weather balloons fly. Include these in your diagram.
f. Draw and label the ozone layer. The ozone layer plays a very important
role in the atmosphere and is mainly found in the upper regions of the
stratosphere. Ozone is made of three atoms of oxygen (O3), so draw
molecules of ozone (3 connected red dots) surrounding the entire circle.
Draw UV waves (wavy lines) coming in towards this layer.
4. Draw the Mesosphere. This third layer extends 80 km above the Earth.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Measure and draw a circle 80 mm from the Earth’s surface.
Label the inside of this layer ‘Mesosphere’.
Color this area blue.
This is the coldest layer, so draw a thermometer to show the very cold
temperature.
e. Draw and label meteors entering and burning up in this layer. These are
often called shooting stars, even though they are not stars at all!
5. Draw the Thermosphere. This fourth layer extends 480 km above the Earth.
a. Label the next layer ‘Thermosphere.’ You do not need to label the outer
boundary of the thermosphere because it extends beyond your paper!
b. Color the remaining part of your paper red.
c. This is the warmest layer, so draw a thermometer to show the very warm
temperature.
d. Draw and label the Northern Lights (also known as the Aurora Borealis),
which is found in the lower thermosphere.
e. In the upper portions of the atmosphere, space shuttles and some
communication satellites are found. Draw and label these.
f. Throughout the thermosphere, is a layer called the ionosphere. It
contains charged atoms and free electrons that reflect radio waves. Draw
+ and – signs to show these charged atoms and label this the ionosphere.