Download The Layers of the Atmosphere

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CONNECTION TO LANGUAGE ARTS
The Layers of the Atmosphere
Scientists often speak about the atmosphere in terms of several distinct layers. The names
for the layers came from adding a prefix onto the base “-sphere.” Sphere is derived from
sphaira, the Greek word for “ball.”
The Troposphere
The troposphere is the layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth’s surface. In this layer,
warm air and cold air mix constantly. Often, cold air gets trapped on top of warm air.
Because of the difference between the densities of warm and cold air, the air in the
troposphere frequently turns over from top to bottom. The word troposphere is derived
from the Greek word tropos, which means “turning.”
The Stratosphere
In the next major layer, the stratosphere, vertical movement is limited, so most air is
forced to spread horizontally. As a result, clouds that form in the stratosphere tend to look
as if they are composed of several flat layers. The name stratosphere is derived from the
Latin word stratus, which means “stretched out” or “layered.”
The Mesosphere
The mesosphere is the atmospheric layer above the stratosphere. Its name comes from the
Greek mesos, which means “middle.” In the mesosphere, the temperature becomes
colder as altitude increases.
The Thermosphere
The highest layer of the atmosphere is the thermosphere. In the thermosphere, heat from
the sun is absorbed, conducted down to the lower levels of the thermosphere, and then
radiated outward. Temperatures in the thermosphere can exceed 1,000°C (more than
2,000°F). The word thermosphere is derived from the Greek word therme, which means
“heat.”
Your Turn to Think
1. What is the highest layer of the atmosphere called?
2. From what two Greek words is the word stratosphere derived?
3. Why do you think the layers of the atmosphere have the Greek word for “ball” as
their base?
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