Earth's Atmosphere

What is the mesosphere?

It is the middle layer of Earth's atmosphere (about 25 miles to 55 miles up). Meteors start to burn in the Mesosphere.

What is the composition of the Earth's atmosphere?

The current composition of Earth's atmosphere is 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen and 1% other (Argon, Carbon Dioxide Water Vapor). Earth's atmosphere started off drastically different from present. Billions of years ago Earth's atmosphere was created by out gassing from volcanoes.

What is conduction?

Conduction is energy transfer by way of touch.

What is convection?

Convection is the movement of heat in a circular pattern.

What are pauses?

Defined as 'boundaries' where the greatest changes in layers are identified. Created by a pause in temperature, chemical, and density changes.

What did Earth's early atmosphere lack?

Earth's early atmosphere lacked Oxygen We know that there was almost no atmospheric oxygen because there was no rust in the iron before about 2.3 billion years ago.

What is the stratosphere?

It is above the troposphere (about 7.5 miles to 25 miles up). This is where the Jet Stream is locatedThe jet streams are high speed wind belts that circle the Earth. Depending on the season there are 1 to 2 jet streams that influence the lower 48 states. They move from West to East. This is where the ozone layer is located. The ozone layer is made of ozone which is 3 oxygen bound together. The ozone layer protects life below it from harmful UV Radiation from the sun. CFCs (Chloroflorocarbons) which can be found in some refrigerants, and aerosol cans break down the Ozone layer. Mot CFCs have been banned.

What is the thermosphere?

It is near the uppermost layer of Earth's atmosphere (about 55 miles to over 300 miles up). This layer is very hot due to the sun's radiation colliding with the gasses making up Earth's atmosphere creating this very hot region. Within the Thermosphere is the Ionosphere, which is a layer of charged particles (created by the interaction of the sun's radiation and Earth's atmosphere). This layer is where Aurora Borealis are located which are caused by the interactions between Earth's upper atmosphere, magnetic field, and the Sun's radiation.

What is the exosphere?

It is the upper limits of Earth's atmosphere where it goes to outer space.

What is radiation?

Radiation is the movement of particles/energy in wave motion.

What was the first oxygen producing bacteria?

The first oxygen producing bacteria was Cyanobacteria fossils date back a few hundred million years prior to the appearance of the red beds. Thus it took millions of years from the first life till abundance to produce enough atmospheric oxygen to create redbeds.

What is the troposphere?

The lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere ( from the ground to about 7.5 miles up) This is where most (75-80) of the gasses that make up Earth's atmosphere are located. Most of Earth's weather is contained to this layer (the Jet stream most of the time is not in this layer). As you move from sea level to higher up in elevation the atmospheric pressure decreases (goes down) because there is less air pushing down on you. At sea level there is about 14 pounds of air pressing down on you.

What layers is Earth's atmosphere made of?

The troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and the exosphere.

What are the atmospheric layers divided by?

Thermal characteristics (temperature changes), Chemical composition, Movement, and Density.

What are Global Winds?

Wind belts are massive convection currents in the Troposphere that move heat/weather globally in different directions. The wind pattern that influences most of the lower 48 states (Virginia included) is the Prevailing Westerlies, which is an easterly flowing convection current. (see diagram below).