Download Atmosphere - Mrs. GM Earth Science 300

Study Guide
®
CyberEd Earth & Space Science Course
The Weather and Atmospheric Processes Unit
The Atmosphere
Student Version
Name: _____________________
The Atmosphere
Lesson
Take a deep breath and load the Lesson for The Atmosphere!
Answer the following questions as you continue breathing a layer of the
atmosphere you will soon learn all about!
Scene 1a: Introduction
1. Where do you think the atmosphere ends and space begins? Write your ideas down before
moving on to scene 2.
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Scene 2a, b: Air
2. Explain what the atmosphere is: ________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3. What is the atmosphere made of?
a. mostly oxygen, which all living things need to survive
b. only air, which includes oxygen and other gases
c. the land, the air, and clouds
d. gases, liquids, and tiny solids
4. Label the pie chart to show the gases in air.
Gases in Earth’s Atmosphere
5. List other substances present in air that are not shown in the pie chart.
___________________________________________________________________________
Page 1 of 20
2008 CyberEd® PLATO Science
Study Guide
®
CyberEd Earth & Space Science Course
The Weather and Atmospheric Processes Unit
The Atmosphere
Student Version
Scene 3a: The Atmosphere Changes Over Time
6. Fill in the missing words along the timeline to show how the atmosphere has changed.
_________ started to
collect in a protective
layer in the atmosphere.
Early organisms
released more
______________.
Plants produced even
more oxygen.
Earth’s Formation
Present
Energy from the sun
caused
_____________,
______________,
____________ and
____________ to
form in the
atmosphere.
The
atmosphere
was mostly
____________
and
____________.
We need to breathe
______________ in
the air today to
survive.
Today, the
atmosphere
is mostly
__________.
Options: oxygen, ammonia, methane, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen
Scene 3b, c: Properties of the Atmosphere: Altitude, Gravity, and Air Pressure
7. Three properties that distinguish layers of the atmosphere are: altitude, gravity, and air
pressure. List important information about each property as you learn about it.
Altitude

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________
Gravity

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________
Air Pressure

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________
8. Now that you know about altitude, gravity, and air pressure, fill in the missing words below.
Page 2 of 20

As altitude increases, gravity ________________.

As altitude increases, air pressure _______________.
2008 CyberEd® PLATO Science
Study Guide
®
CyberEd Earth & Space Science Course
The Weather and Atmospheric Processes Unit
The Atmosphere
Student Version
Scene 4a: Solar Energy
9. Explain why solar energy is an important part of studying the atmosphere.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Scene 4b: Solar Energy and Temperature
10. Define temperature:
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
11. During the day, air particles have _______ motion and a
_______ temperature, but at night, air particles have
_________ motion and a _________ temperature.
a. more, higher, less, lower
b. less, higher, more, lower
c. less, lower, more, higher
d. the same, higher, the same, lower
Scene 4c: Solar Energy and Heat
12. Explain the difference between temperature and heat in your own words.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
13. Fill in the
distinguish
Page 3 of 20
blanks to
the three
2008 CyberEd® PLATO Science
Study Guide
®
CyberEd Earth & Space Science Course
The Weather and Atmospheric Processes Unit
The Atmosphere
Student Version
types of heat transfer:
Radiation is the transfer of heat energy through
_____________________________________.
Conduction is the transfer of heat energy through
______________________________________.
Convection is the transfer of heat energy through
_______________________________________.
Scene 5a: The Troposphere
14. List important information about the troposphere that you learn in this scene. Be sure to
include information about altitude, air pressure, and the temperature of this layer.

Altitude: ________________________________________________________________

Pressure: ________________________________________________________________

Temperature: _____________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________
Scene 5b: Weather in the Troposphere
15. What makes weather in the troposphere?
a. conduction of heat between touching air particles
b. radiation of solar energy through the atmosphere
c. convection currents in the troposphere
d. the atmosphere pushing down on the troposphere
Page 4 of 20
2008 CyberEd® PLATO Science
Study Guide
®
CyberEd Earth & Space Science Course
The Weather and Atmospheric Processes Unit
The Atmosphere
Student Version
Scene 6a: The Stratosphere
16. List important information about the stratosphere that you learn in this scene.

Altitude: _______________________________________________

Pressure: _______________________________________________

Temp: _________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________
Scene 6b: Ozone in the Stratosphere
17. Why does the temperature in the stratosphere go up with altitude, instead of down like in the
troposphere? In the stratosphere __________________.
a. less air mixing means that UV light can warm the gas molecules better
b. there are many more gas molecules at the top of this layer that can absorb solar energy
c. a layer of ozone molecules absorbs radiation from the sun and move more rapidly
d. molecules move more rapidly so they can catch ultraviolet rays from the sun
Scene 7a: The Mesosphere
18. List important information about the mesosphere as you learn about it.

Altitude: _______________________________________________

Pressure: _______________________________________________

Temp: _________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________
Page 5 of 20
2008 CyberEd® PLATO Science
Study Guide
®
CyberEd Earth & Space Science Course
The Weather and Atmospheric Processes Unit
The Atmosphere
Student Version
Scene 7b: Temperature Changes in the Mesosphere
19. Label the layers of the atmosphere and then shade in the ozone layer on this drawing. On the
lines, describe why the temperature goes down with altitude in the mesosphere.
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
Earth
________________________________________
________________________________
Scene 7c: The Mesosphere Protects Earth
20. Most objects from space burn up in the mesosphere. Write the numbers 1-5 in the spaces
below in the correct order to show how this happens.
_____ The meteoroid burns up completely and disappears.
_____ Gravity pulls objects in space toward Earth.
_____ Friction causes the meteoroid to heat up.
_____ People on Earth see the light of “shooting stars.”
_____ Gas molecules start to cause friction as the object enters the atmosphere.
Scene 8a: The Thermosphere
21. List important information about the thermosphere as you learn about
it.

Altitude: _________________________________________

Pressure: __________________________________________

Temp: ____________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________
Page 6 of 20
2008 CyberEd® PLATO Science
Study Guide
®
CyberEd Earth & Space Science Course
The Weather and Atmospheric Processes Unit
The Atmosphere
Student Version
Scene 8b: Temperature Changes in the Thermosphere
22. Explain in your own words why the thermosphere can have such a high temperature, but not
feel hot or be measured with a regular thermometer.
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Scene 8c: The Ionosphere in the Thermosphere
23. What makes up the ionosphere?
a. gas particles that have absorbed energy
b. electrically charged gas particles
c. molecules that give off light as they become ions
d. all of the above
24. The ionosphere allows ______________.
a. AM radio waves to travel long distances during
the day
b. the ozone layer to heat the atmosphere
c. people to see the Aurora Borealis, or northern
lights
d. few meteorites to reach Earth’s surface
Page 7 of 20
2008 CyberEd® PLATO Science
Study Guide
®
CyberEd Earth & Space Science Course
The Weather and Atmospheric Processes Unit
The Atmosphere
Student Version
Scene 9a: The Exosphere
25. List important information about the exosphere as you learn about it.

Altitude: _________________________________________

Pressure: __________________________________________

Temp: ____________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________
Scene 9b: High Temperatures and Low Gravity in the Exosphere
26. What should you remember most about the exosphere? ______________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Scene 10a: Review of Atmospheric Layers
27. Using your notes and the review, fill in the spaces in the following table:
Layer
Altitude
Air Pressure
Temperature range
Sea level to 10 km
Decreases with altitude
Decreases with altitude
(20oC to -50oC)
__________ with altitude
(____________)
Mesosphere
__________ with altitude
(____________)
550 to about1000
km
(fades into space)
Page 8 of 20
Very little or none
1500oC+
2008 CyberEd® PLATO Science
Study Guide
®
CyberEd Earth & Space Science Course
The Weather and Atmospheric Processes Unit
Interactive
The Atmosphere
Student Version
You’ve learned about each layer of the atmosphere. Now shoot for the stars as
you review your knowledge in the interactive in scene 10b!
Scene 11a: Solar Energy and the Atmosphere
28. Solar energy can be absorbed, reflected or scattered. Give examples of each from your own
life and experience:
Solar energy is absorbed when _________________________________________.
Solar energy is reflected when _________________________________________.
Solar energy is scattered when _________________________________________.
29. If you have a garden or solar panels on your house, about what percentage of solar energy
should you estimate will reach your plants or produce electricity for you?
a. between 15 and 20%
b. about 50%
c. about 25%
d. no more than 40 to 45%
Scene 12a: The Greenhouse Effect
30. There is a mistake in this scene. What is it? _______________________________________
31. Complete the following:
The glass of a greenhouse traps gases like ___________________, ________________, and
________________ just like the ___________ layer traps heat in the atmosphere.
Scene 13a: Solar Energy and the Water Cycle
32. Order the following steps in the water cycle.
_____ larger water droplets form in clouds
_____ solar energy heats surface water on Earth
_____ warm air rises carrying water vapor
_____ heat causes water vapor to form (evaporation)
_____ water vapor cools and forms clouds (condensation)
_____ droplets fall to Earth’s surface (precipitation)
Page 9 of 20
2008 CyberEd® PLATO Science
Study Guide
®
CyberEd Earth & Space Science Course
The Weather and Atmospheric Processes Unit
The Atmosphere
Student Version
Scene 14a, b: Sunlight, Air Pressure, and Wind
33. Match the specific causes of wind with the best choice of their immediate effects.
Causes
Effects

sunlight reaches Earth

air moves from high to low
pressure areas, causing wind

the Earth is a round sphere

solar energy becomes heat
energy

the sun shines on the
equator directly

an area of high pressure

the air near the equator is
warmer than air farther
away

warm, rising air

cool, sinking air

the curved surface of Earth
heats unevenly

differences in air pressure

an area of low pressure
Scene 14c: The Coriolis Effect
34. Looking at the picture below and thinking about what you know about warmer and cooler air,
draw arrows in the ovals showing air rising and moving from areas of high to low pressures:
Page 10 of 20
2008 CyberEd® PLATO Science
Study Guide
®
CyberEd Earth & Space Science Course
The Weather and Atmospheric Processes Unit
The Atmosphere
Student Version
35. Winds curve because the Earth turns, or rotates. If the globe below rotates, which of the
choices shown will be visible from space first?
North America
South America
a.
b.
Africa
Australia
36. Winds curve because of Earth’s rotation, which is called the Coriolis effect. Imagine
throwing a ball in a straight line from Florida to Panama (between the two dots). Choose the
arrow that shows how the Coriolis effect will change the path of the ball.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Page 11 of 20
2008 CyberEd® PLATO Science
Study Guide
®
CyberEd Earth & Space Science Course
The Weather and Atmospheric Processes Unit
The Atmosphere
Student Version
37. If only the Coriolis effect acts on it, is the ball more likely to land in Central or South
America?
a. Central America
b. South America
c. It will not land in either place.
d. There is no way to tell where it will land.
38. Now imagine throwing a ball in a straight line from Australia to New Guinea. Choose the
arrow that shows how the Coriolis effect will change the path of the ball.
a.
b.
c.
d.
39. Use a map to predict a likely place that the ball might land: __________________________
Scene 15a: Global Winds
40. Draw arrows showing the directions of the global winds in the northern and southern
hemispheres.
Page 12 of 20
2008 CyberEd® PLATO Science
Study Guide
®
CyberEd Earth & Space Science Course
The Weather and Atmospheric Processes Unit
The Atmosphere
Student Version
41. Now fill in what you can in the following table comparing global and local winds.
Type of Wind
Caused by:
Distances covered:
Direction traveled:
Global Winds
Local Winds
42. Review what you know about the causes of wind by matching the terms on the left with the
appropriate description on the right.
TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCES
PRESSURE DIFFERENCES
THE CORIOLIS EFFECT

Warm air rises and cool, dense air
moves in to take its place

The path of wind curves because of
Earth’s rotation

The curved surface of Earth is heated
unevenly by sunlight
Scene 15b: Types of Global Winds
43. As you learn about each type of global wind, go back to question #40, label each of the winds
that you drew, and then list important information about each type of global wind below.
Trade winds: ___________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Westerlies: ___________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Polar easterlies: ________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Doldrums: ____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Horse latitudes: ________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Page 13 of 20
2008 CyberEd® PLATO Science
Study Guide
®
CyberEd Earth & Space Science Course
The Weather and Atmospheric Processes Unit
The Atmosphere
Student Version
Scene 15c: High Altitude Global Winds
44. The jet stream is similar to other global winds but also different. Write down at least two
similarities and differences between the jet stream and other global winds.
Similarities: ___________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Differences: ___________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Scene 16a: Local Winds
45. Return to the table in question #41 and fill in the cause of local winds.
46. You may have had experiences that show you how surfaces absorb heat differently. On hot
summer days, does the concrete sidewalk or the water in a swimming pool heat up faster?
a. the water in the pool
b. the concrete sidewalk
47. Remind yourself how air moves by numbering the events below in the order that they occur:
_____ An area of low pressure forms
_____ Warm air rises
_____ As warmer air moves up, it cools and begins to sink
_____ Cool air moves in to replace warm air
_____ Sunlight heats Earth’s surface and the air
48. Fill in the blanks with high or low.
_______
pressure
cooler
air
warmer
air
_______
pressure
Wind
(moves from areas of ________ to ________ pressure)
Page 14 of 20
2008 CyberEd® PLATO Science
Study Guide
®
CyberEd Earth & Space Science Course
The Weather and Atmospheric Processes Unit
The Atmosphere
Student Version
Scene 16b: Types of Local Winds
49. Draw in the arrows to show the direction of movement for: 1) the high or low pressure air,
and 2) the resulting wind. Then label each of the pictures below to show when you should
expect a land breeze or a sea breeze.
During the day, there are __________ breezes.
(also called __________ breezes)
air
pressure
over land
air
pressure
over water
direction of wind
During the night, there are __________ breezes.
(also called __________ breezes)
air
pressure
over water
air
pressure
over land
direction of wind
50. If a friend of yours said that the smell of lunch was being carried on a local “cafeteria
breeze,” which direction would the wind be traveling?
a. to the cafeteria
b. from the cafeteria
c. through the cafeteria
d. high above the cafeteria
Page 15 of 20
2008 CyberEd® PLATO Science
Study Guide
®
CyberEd Earth & Space Science Course
The Weather and Atmospheric Processes Unit
The Atmosphere
Student Version
Scene 17a: Wind Interactive
51. Review your labels and drawings for questions #40 and 49 as you review your knowledge of
global and local winds.
Interactive
Get blown away by how much you’ve learned
as you apply your knowledge in the interactive in scene 11a!
Scene 18a: Air Pollution
52. Define pollutant: ____________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Scene 19a: Effects of Air Pollution
53. Fill in the table with information about the effects of air pollution:
Effect
Pollutants
Source of
Why we should worry
Pollutants
Global warming
Ozone holes
Acid rain
Smog
Scene 20a: Reducing Air Pollution
54. List ways that air pollution can be reduced.
Page 16 of 20
2008 CyberEd® PLATO Science
Study Guide
®
CyberEd Earth & Space Science Course
The Weather and Atmospheric Processes Unit
The Atmosphere
Student Version
Scene 21a: Conclusion
55. Fill in the blanks in the concept map with the options given.
other gases
properties
gravity
solar energy
Earth’s
Atmosphere
Coriolis effect
conduction
temperature
Wind
global winds
Options:
Page 17 of 20
gases
radiation
oxygen
heat
altitude
convection
nitrogen
air pressure
local winds
2008 CyberEd® PLATO Science
Study Guide
®
CyberEd Earth & Space Science Course
The Weather and Atmospheric Processes Unit
The Atmosphere
Student Version
56. Using what you learned in this lesson, fill in characteristics of each layer. Use the ideas in the box if you need help.
Exosphere

_________________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________________
Thermosphere

_________________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________________
Mesosphere

_________________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________________
Stratosphere

_________________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________________
Troposphere

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________________
Page 18 of 20
2008 CyberEd® PLATO Science
Study Guide
®
CyberEd Earth & Space Science Course
The Weather and Atmospheric Processes Unit
The Atmosphere
Student Version
57. Finally, review wind and pollution by writing the number for the word on the left that match the statements on the right.
MATCHING
1. carbon dioxide
_____solar energy hits the equator directly, while the poles get less intense
sunlight
2. jet stream
_____ warm air rises and causes this to form
3. onshore breeze
_____ major pollutant that causes global warming
4. high pressure
_____ air pollutant that breaks apart ozone molecules causing ozone holes
5. uneven heating
_____ a high altitude global wind that moves from west to east in the stratosphere
6. westerlies
_____ another name for a sea breeze, which blows during the day
7. surfur dioxide
_____ a pollutant that causes acid rain
8. low pressure
_____ global winds that blow from 30 degrees towards the equator
9. horse latitudes
_____ cool air sinks and causes this to form
10. nitrogen gas compounds
_____ areas of little or no wind at 30 degrees north and south of the equator
11. offshore breeze
12. polar easterlies
13. doldrums
14. CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons)
15. trade winds
Page 19 of 20
_____ global winds that blow from the east from the poles
_____ global winds that blow from the west toward the poles
_____ pollutant that contributes to smog
_____ area of little no wind near the equator
_____ another name for a land breeze, which blows during the night
2008 CyberEd® PLATO Science
Study Guide
CyberEd® Earth & Space Science Course
The Weather and Atmospheric Processes Unit
Application
Load the Application for this program and apply what you now know about the
air you breathe everyday!
Test
Finally, take the Test provided by your teacher to show how much you’ve learned!
Page 20 of 20
2008 CyberEd® PLATO Science