8U4L4a Layers of the Atmosphere

8U4L4a Layers of the Atmosphere

Writing notes in your notebook will help you with these questions!!

Earlier this week we learned about:

• What the atmosphere is made of (Atmospheric Composition)

• How the density of the air (matter) in the atmosphere is less as you move higher up.

• How the pressure of the atmosphere is less as you move higher up.

Multiple Select

Which two gases make up most of the atmosphere?

• Nitrogen

• Neon

• Argon

• Carbon Dioxide

• Oxygen

Multiple Choice

Is air matter?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

Does air have mass?

• Yes

• No

Of course it has mass!

That is why we have air pressure pushing down on your head!

Open Ended

Why do you think your ears pop when you go up in an airplane?

There are 5 layers to the atmosphere

Troposphere

• This is the lowest layer of the atmosphere

• Most atmospheric air is found here

• From 0 to 14 km (9mi) above the earth

• Air temperature decreases the higher up you go

• Almost all of weather occurs here

Weather exists in the troposphere!

Due to uneven heating of the earth, the troposphere is where winds and most weather occurs!

Multiple Choice

As you go higher in the troposphere, what happens to the temperature?

• It goes up

• It goes down

• It stays the same

Stratosphere

• Air temperature INCREASES as you go higher in the troposphere

• This is because the ozone (O₃) absorbs sunlight

• This layer is 14km to 50km above the earth

• The layer is very calm and makes for nice smooth flights

• The OZONE LAYER is found at the bottom of the stratosphere.

Multiple Choice

As you go higher in the stratosphere, what happens to the temperature?

• It goes up

• It goes down

• It stays the same

Mesosphere

• 50km to 80km above the earth

• Air temperature DECREASES with height above the earth

• This is the coldest layer of the atmosphere!

• This layer protects the earth - meteoroids usually burn up in this layer!

Multiple Choice

As you go higher in the mesosphere, what happens to the temperature?

• It goes up

• It goes down

• It stays the same

Thermosphere

• the "heat sphere" goes from 80km to outer space (it's the warmest!)

• Temperature increases with height above the earth

• The aurora borealis (northern lights) are here

• The space shuttle orbits here!

• The lower part includes the ionosphere and the upper part starts the exosphere

Multiple Choice

As you go higher in the thermosphere, what happens to the temperature?

• It goes up

• It goes down

• It stays the same

Exosphere

• 550km to outer space

• Air is very thin here

• GPS Satellites orbit the earth here

Let's see what you remember!

Multiple Choice

Where do meteors and shooting stars burn up?

• thermosphere

• troposphere

• exosphere

• mesosphere

Multiple Choice

As altitude increases in the Troposphere, what happens to the air temperature?

• air temperature increases
• temperature decreases
• temperature fluctuates
• temperature rises

Multiple Choice

Which two gases are found throughout ALL layers of the atmosphere?

• nitrogen and oxygen
• carbon dioxide and water vapor
• argon and nitrogen
• argon and glucose

Multiple Choice

Which layer of the atmosphere has the greatest amount of air pressure?

• troposphere
• stratosphere
• mesosphere
• exosphere

Multiple Choice

What gas is the Ozone Layer made from? 

• water vapor
• carbon dioxide
• oxygen
• argon

Multiple Choice

Layer of the atmosphere that is the warmest:

• troposphere
• stratosphere
• mesosphere
• thermosphere

Multiple Choice

Layer of the atmosphere that is the coldest:

• troposphere
• stratosphere
• mesosphere
• thermosphere

Multiple Choice

Layer of the atmosphere furthest from Earth's surface:

• troposphere
• exosphere
• mesosphere
• stratosphere

Multiple Choice

Layer of the atmosphere most important to a meteorologist:

• troposphere

• stratosphere

• mesosphere

• thermosphere