Download Layers of the Atmosphere

The Atmosphere
Chapter 5 Green Book
Science Starter
• What is the most common gas in the
atmosphere?
Composition of the
Atmosphere
Nitrogen,
78%
Oxygen,
21%
Other, 1%
Layers of the Atmosphere
• The atmosphere is the layer of gases that
surrounds the planet and makes
conditions on Earth suitable for living
things.
Characteristics of the Atmosphere
• Atmosphere
– A mixture of
gases that
surrounds a
planet or moon
• Air pressure
– The measure of
the force with
which air
molecules push
on a surface
Someone read page 136 “The composition of the Atmosphere”
• Does air contain anything other than
gases?
Describe the three physical states of water in the atmosphere.
• Water- can be liquid (rain)
• Solid- (snow or ice, even dust)
• Gas- water vapor
Layers of the Atmosphere
• Earth’s atmosphere is divided into several
different layers extending from Earth’s
surface outward.
• Sphere-ball ( each layer surrounds the earth like a hollow ball)
• Tropo-turning or change ( layer were gases turn and mix)
• Strato- layer (gases are layered and do not mix very much)
• Meso-middle ( middle layer)
• Thermo- heat (temperatures are the highest)
Earth
Layers of the Atmosphere
• The troposphere is where all the
weather occurs.
• It is the closest layer to Earth’s
surface.
• It is the layer we live in.
• Lowest layer
Troposphere
• “turning, changing” layer
• Almost all Earth’s H2O vapor, clouds,
air pollution, weather, life-forms
• As altitude ↑ the temperature ↓
Layers of the Atmosphere
• The stratosphere is located directly above the
troposphere.
• This is where the ozone layer is.
• The air is very thin and contain little moisture
• Protects life on earth by absorbing harmful ultraviolet
radiation.
Stratosphere
• “layer”
• Home of the ozone layer
• As altitude ↑ temperature ↑ b/c
ozone absorbs heat energy from
sun, (therefore heating up the
surrounding area)
• Ozone layer protects life on Earth
by absorbing UV light
Layers of the Atmosphere
• The next layer up is the mesosphere
• Known as the middle layer.
• The coldest layer
• Temperature decreases as altitude increases (same as
troposphere)
Mesosphere
• “middle”
• Coldest layer
• As altitude ↑ temperature ↓
Layers of the Atmosphere
• Next, Thermosphere uppermost layer in which
temperature increases as altitude increases.
• Uppermost atmospheric layer
• Look at figure 6
Thermosphere
• “heat”
• As altitude ↑ temperature ↑
• Ionosphere is here (Read pg
141)
• International Space Station
orbits in this layer
Layers of the Atmosphere
Space
Ionosphere
Thermosphere
Mesosphere
Stratosphere (Ozone Layer)
Troposphere (Weather, Life)
Earth’s Surface
stop here
Atmospheric Gases
Nitrogen & Oxygen
• These are the two most common gases
found in the atmosphere.
• They can be found throughout all the
layers.
• Why do you think we need nitrogen and
oxygen?
• Figure 1
Atmospheric Gases
Ozone
• Ozone is a form of oxygen
• It is only found in the stratosphere
Atmospheric Gases
Water Vapor & Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
• These are important gases for weather
conditions.
• They are found in the troposphere where
weather occurs.
Atmospheric Gases
Trace Gases
• These gases are unimportant and found
in small amounts throughout the layers of
the atmosphere.
Atmospheric Temperatures
Differences in temperature are what
separate each layer in the atmosphere
from the one above and/or below it.
Atmospheric Temperatures
In the troposphere:
•
As altitude increases,
temperature decreases
Altitude
Temperature
Atmospheric Temperatures
In the stratosphere:
•
The stratosphere is cold
except in its upper
region where ozone is
located.
Altitude
Temperature
Ozone
Layer
Atmospheric Temperatures
In the Mesosphere:
•
This is the COLDEST
layer in the atmosphere.
Altitude
Temperature
Atmospheric Temperatures
In the thermosphere:
•
Even though the air is thin
in the thermosphere, it is
very HOT.
Altitude
Temperature
Atmospheric Temperatures
Beyond the thermosphere is
the ionosphere which
leads into outer space
where it is very cold,
because there is little to
no atmosphere to
absorb the Sun’s heat
energy.
Altitude
Temperature
Atmospheric Temperatures
Temperature
Outer Space
Ionosphere
Thermosphere
Mesosphere
Stratosphere
Troposphere
Earth’s Surface
Altitude
Atmospheric Pressure
•
Air pressure is the
force exerted by the
gases pushing on an
object.
•
Air pressure is greatest
near the surface of the
Earth in the troposphere.
Altitude
Air Pressure
Solar Energy
• Energy from the Sun is known as Solar
Energy.
• Solar energy is the energy source for
heating Earth, and circulation in Earth’s
atmosphere.
Solar Energy
• Some of the Sun’s energy coming through
Earth’s atmosphere is reflected by gases
and/or clouds in the atmosphere.
Solar Energy
• The land heats up and releases its heat
fairly quickly.
• Water needs to absorb lots of solar energy
to warm up.
• It is the water on Earth that helps to
regulate the temperature range of Earth’s
atmosphere.
Solar Energy
• Solar energy that is absorbed by Earth’s
land and water surfaces is changed to
heat that moves/radiates back into the
atmosphere (troposphere) where the heat
cannot be transmitted through the
atmosphere so it is trapped, a process
known as the greenhouse effect.