2023~The Atmosphere

The

Atmosphere

What does “sphere” mean?

Definition

Earths atmosphere:
The layer of gases surrounding Earth;

composed mainly of nitrogen and
oxygen

Remember that planets and moons may

have an atmosphere as well.

Layers

http://www.fi.edu/wright/again/wings.avkids.com/wings.avkids.com/Book/Atmosphere/Images/atmos_layers.gif

Troposphere

• Lowest layer
• This is where all

plants and animals
live and breathe

• Where weather takes

place

gasses are mixed
• T° decreases as

altitude increases

http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/kingworc/departments/geography/nottingham/atmosphere/pages/gfx/troposphere.jpg

Stratosphere

• Located above the Troposphere
• T° increases as altitude increase
• Gasses are layered not mixed
• Ozone in this layer stops many of the

sun's harmful rays from reaching the earth

• People can not breathe in this layer.

Ozone Layer

http://ess.geology.ufl.edu/ess/Notes/090-Ozone_Depletion/depl2.jpg

•Pale blue gas with a strong odor.

•90% of all ozone is found in the
stratosphere

•10% is found in the troposphere

•Ozone is extremely important
because it is the only gas that
absorbs ultraviolet radiation
from the Sun and protects the
surface of the Earth and people
from the damaging effects of UV
rays

Mesosphere

• Located above the Stratosphere
• T° decreases as altitude increases
• Middle layer
• Coldest layer
• This is where we see "falling stars" –

meteors burning up as they fall to Earth

Thermosphere

• Located above the mesosphere
• T° increase as altitude increases.
• Layer of the atmosphere which is first

exposed to the Sun's radiation and so is
first heated by the Sun.

• The air is very thin
• The temperature dependent on solar

activity.

What is the difference between

temperature and heat?

Temperature is a measure of the movement
of particles
Heat is a measure of thermal energy
transfer.
The particles in the thermoshere are so
spread out that the heat is not transferred
easily.

Ionosphere

• An extension or a part of the

thermosphere. So technically, the
ionosphere is not another atmospheric
layer.

• High temperature conditions cause gas

particles to become electrically charged.

• These particles are called ions.
• The energy radiated from these ions can

create auroras. view of earth from ISS

Exosphere

• Highest layer of the atmosphere. The air is

very thin here

• Atoms and molecules escape into space

Let’s look at an animation:

http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthgu
ide/diagrams/atmosphere/index.ht

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