Download TROPOSPHERE

ATMOSPHERIC LAYERS
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TROPOSPHERE
• We live here!
– (nearest Earth’s surface)
• Weather occurs here!
• Contains 80% of atmosphere’s mass
– Airplanes require density to promote lift
• As altitude increases, temperature & air pressure decreases
– Ex 1: top of mountain vs. sea level
• Temp. Variation creates air mass movement
- (humidity, formations, etc…)
• Convection turns air over
STRATOSPHERE
• Above Troposphere
• Clear dry layer
• Contains Ozone layer (absorbs energy
from the sun & turns it into heat)
– ….WARMS air above it
– …PROTECTS us from harmful UV rays
as gas molecules absorb solar
radiation
MESOSPHERE
• Coldest Layer
– “sandwiched” between the …
1. Stratosphere : filters UV light (sun’s heat) &
2. Thermosphere: absorbs UV rays (sun’s heat)
• Meteors burn up here
– Objects moving thru gas (air) encounters resistance as it
pushes molecules out of the way
1. causing FRICTION
2. creating HEAT
3. Temp. rises, meteor GLOWS as it burns
THERMOSPHERE
• Above the Mesosphere
• Air is very thin
– Atoms are sparse & molecules are broken
down- allows radio comm.
• Very hot! – Sunlight strikes this layer first –
very sensitive to solar activity
• Can feel cold! Molecules are far apart but
very DENSE so they ABSORB a significant
part of the sun’s radiation.