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Layers of the Atmosphere
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Layers of the Atmosphere
• The atmosphere is the layer of gases that
surrounds the planet and makes
conditions on Earth suitable for living
things.
Layers of the Atmosphere
• Earth’s atmosphere is divided into several
different atmospheric layers extending
from Earth’s surface outward.
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.
Layers of the Atmosphere
• The stratosphere is located directly above
the troposphere.
• This is where the ozone layer is.
Layers of the Atmosphere
• The next layer up is the mesosphere,
followed by the thermosphere, and then
the exosphere.
Layers of the Atmosphere
Space
Exosphere
Thermosphere
Mesosphere
Stratosphere (Ozone Layer)
Troposphere (Weather, Life)
Earth’s Surface
Atmospheric Gases
Nitrogen & Oxygen
• These are the two most common gases
found in the atmosphere.
• They can be found throughout all the
layers.
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.
• Example: argon
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 exosphere 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
Exosphere
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 driving 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.
Atmospheric Heating Notes
• Radiation - the transfer of energy as
electromagnetic waves
• Earth receives energy from the sun by radiation
• Earth receives about two-billionths of the sun’s
energy
• 70% of the sun’s energy that reaches it is
absorbed by the Earth’s surface, atmospheric
gases and clouds
• Example: light bulb warming a lampshade
Thermal Conduction
•
•
•
•
Thermal conduction is transfer of energy as
heat through material.
Thermal energy always transferred from warm to
cold areas
For conduction to take place contact/touch must
take place
Example: hot end of spoon sticking out of a pot
of soup
Convection
• Convection - the transfer of thermal energy by
the circulation or movement of a liquid or gas
• Most thermal energy in our atmosphere is
transferred by convection
• Convection is the result of differences in density
• Example: boiling a pot of water or turning on
the heat in the car
Greenhouse Effect
• The warming of the surface and the lower
atmosphere of Earth that occurs when water
vapor, carbon dioxide, and other gases absorb
and reradiate thermal energy.
• Atmospheric gases function like the glass walls
and roof of a greenhouse, which allow solar
energy to enter but prevent thermal energy from
escaping
Global Warming • Gradual increase in average global
temperature
• Many scientists have hypothesized that an
increase of greenhouse gases (especially
carbon dioxide) may be the cause of the
Earth’s warming trend
Questions:
1. How do differences in air density
cause convection currents?
2. Name three ways energy is
transferred in atmosphere.
3. How does process of convection
rely on radiation?