Layers of the Atmosphere
Stratosphere
- 2nd layer of atmosphere; extends from 10 to 30 miles up; location of ozone layer; absorbs 95% of Ultraviolet radiation; temperature increases with altitude increase. - the layer of the atmosphere just above the troposphere and below the mesosphere. - Temperatures increase with altitude because of increasing amounts of ozone. - The ozone layer within the stratosphere absorbs harmful ultraviolet rays of sunlight.
Mesosphere
- The layer of Earth's atmosphere immediately above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere. - It is the coldest part of the atmosphere and meteors burn up in this layer. - Has the coldest parts of our atmosphere are located in this layer and can reach -90◦C.
Thermosphere
- The uppermost layer of the atmosphere, in which temperature increases as altitude increases - the layer furthest away from Earth's surface - where satellites orbit, has the hottest temperatures and where the northern lights (aurora borealis) is located - The air is thin, meaning that there are far fewer air molecules. - Very sensitive to solar activity and can heat up to 1,500◦Cor higher when the Sun is an active making an aurora that lights up the night sky. Astronauts orbiting Earth in the space station or space shuttle spent their time in this layer.
Troposphere
- the layer of the atmosphere that is nearest to the Earth's surface. - It is where most weather occurs, it is the layer that interacts the most with living things (biotic factors), has the highest air pressure, where most greenhouse gases are - The base of this layer is warmer than its top because the air is heated by the surface of the Earth which absorbs the Sun's energy.
Exosphere
- upper layer or outer most layer of the atmosphere - where atoms and molecules escape into space
Oxygen
Second most abundant gas in our atmosphere (21%). Plants and animals take it directly from the air and use it to release energy from food
Ionosphere
The lower part of the thermosphere, where electrically charged particles called ions are found
Atmosphere
a thin layer of gases surrounding the earth
Nitrogen
the gas that takes up 78% of Earth's atmosphere; the most abundant gas in our atmosphere
4 main layers of the atmosphere
troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere