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Name Date Weather and Climate Topic Class/Subject Chapter 1, Section 3 (pg 16-21) Layers of the Atmosphere What are the 4 main layers of the atmosphere and how are they classified? The layers of the atmosphere: 1. troposphere 2. stratosphere 3. mesosphere 4. thermosphere They are classified according to changes is temperature. Describe the characteristics of the troposphere. The troposphere is the layer of Earth’s atmosphere where: 1. the weather occurs. 2. we live. 3. almost all mass of the atmosphere occurs. The troposphere is 9-16 km in depth and as altitude increases, temperature decreases. Describe the characteristics of the stratosphere. Characteristics of the stratosphere: 1. the second layer of the atmosphere 2. contains the ozone layer 3. extends from the troposphere up to approx. 50 km 4. upper stratosphere is warmer than lower because of presence of ozone layer in the middle In the stratosphere, as altitude increases, temperature increases. Describe the characteristics of the mesosphere. Characteristics of the mesosphere: 1. extends from approx. 50 km to approx. 80 km 2. protects Earth’s surface from being hit by most meteoroids In the mesosphere, as altitude increases, temperature decreases. Describe the characteristics of the thermosphere. Characteristics of the thermosphere: 1. the outermost layer of the atmosphere 2. extends from 80 km out into space 3. air is very thin 4. extremely high temperature, but you wouldn’t feel it 5. divided into the ionosphere and the exosphere In the thermosphere, as altitude increases, temperature increases. What is the ionosphere? The ionosphere is located in the lower layer of the thermosphere. Energy from the sun causes gas molecules to become electrically charged particles called ions. Radio waves bounce of the ions back to Earth’s surface. Brilliant light displays, called auroras, occur in the ionosphere. Summary Scientists divide Earth’s atmosphere into 4 main layers classified according to changes in temperature. These layers are the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, and the thermosphere. The troposphere is the layer of the atmosphere in which Earth’s weather occurs. The stratosphere is the 2nd layer of the atmosphere and contains the ozone layer. The mesosphere is the layer of the atmosphere that protects Earth’s surface from being hit by most meteoroids. The outermost layer of Earth’s atmosphere is the thermosphere.