layers of atmosphere

why scientists decided where one layer of atmosphere ended and the next one began

.Layers are divided by the behavior of the temperature. The point where temperature switches from warming to cooling (or cooling to warming) iswhere the boundary of the layers is located.

Stratosphere

1.Jet aircraft fly here because it is very stable. 2.Ozone layer is here (remember it protects living things from ultraviolet radiation from Sun) 3.There is a temperature inversion due to the ozone layer. Second layer of the atmosphere Reaches from troposphere to about 50 km above surface of Earth Strato means layer or spread out As altitude increases, temperature increases (because ozone layer absorbs heat)

how do you think our lives would be different if the "good" ozone were destroyed?

If "good" ozone were destroyed, most of the incoming ultraviolet radiation would strike Earth, causing intense sunburns and an increase in skin cancer

earth's average temperature without greenhouse gases

negative 18 degrees celsius

where is ozone layer found

statusphere (good) and troposhere (bad); in stratosphere it absorbs most biologically damaging UV light; in troposhere reacts strongly with other molecules - higher levels of ozone are toxic.

what causes the northern and southern lights

when electrically charged particles from these solar winds enter the earth's atmosphere and interact with gases in the atmosphere; best time to view is night during winter

why temperature changes in the layers

Troposphere: The air is warmed by heat given off by Earth. The farther away from the surface, the less heat. Stratosphere: Warmed up from the ozone layer absorbing UV rays. Mesosphere: Little ozone to help keep the temperature warm. Thermosphere: High oxygen molecules absorbs light from the sun.

Greenhouse Effect

When the atmosphere keeps the planet warm.

solar winds

continuous stream of highly energized particles that flow out from the sun through space at very high speeds/termpaatures

Mesosphere

1.Meteors burn up in this layer. 2.The mesopauseis the coldest part of the atmosphere.Thermosphere1.Aurora's occur in this layer. 2.The temperature here is largely dependent on solar activity. Third layer Meso means middle Reaches from 50 km to 80 km above Earth's surface Protects Earth's surface from being hit by meteoroids (chunks of stone and metal from space - but some still get through) A shooting star is a trail of hot, glowing gases a meteoroid leaves behind in the mesosphere Coldest layer - Temperatures reach - 90 ̊C at the top of the mesosphere As altitude increases, temperature decreases

Troposphere

1.Weather occurs here. 2.This layer contains half of Earth's atmosphere. The lowest and thinnest layer of the atmosphere (closest to Earth) You live here Tropo means turning or changing (there is more change in this layer than any other) Shallowest layer (thinnest) Contains almost all the mass of the atmosphere It is 16 km thick at equator and less than 9 km thick at poles As altitude increases, temperature decreases At the top, temp is about -60 ̊C. Water here forms clouds of ice

Does air pressure increase or decrease with altitude?

Air pressure decreases as altitude increases.

How does the atmosphere keep the earth warm?

Atmosphere acts as a blanket to keep heat in and keep the earth warm.

Exosphere

Exo means outer Is the outer portion of the thermosphere Reaches from about 400 km outward for thousands of kilometers Space shuttles and satellites orbit Earth here 1.This layer represents less than 0.1% of the mass of the atmosphere.2.Different regions of this layer make long distance communication possible.

.What important layer exists within the thermosphere?

Ionosphere

temperature at altitude

It is colder at the top of a mountain because the molecules are not bumping into each other as much. Cold air sinks and warm airrises. When warm air rises, the molecules spread out & then the air becomes colder. This cooled air sinks.

thermosphere

Outermost layer of our atmosphere Reaches from 80 km above Earth's surface into outer space. There is no definite upper limit Thermo means heat Thickest layer Hottest layer, temperatures reach up to 1,800 ̊C, but you would not feel warm here (Find out Why?) As altitude increases, temperature increases Has two other layers- exosphere and ionosphere

What important layer exists within the stratosphere?

Ozone

What does the Ozone Layer block out?

Ozone layer blocks out Ultra Violet light.

Photochemical smog

Smog that occurs when sunlight and chemicals react.

Does temperature decrease as altitude increases?

Temperature decreases as altitude increases in the Troposphere.

statosphere- what happens to the temperature as altitude increases.

Temperature increases. The ozone layer absorbs ultraviolet radiation, heating the layer

Atmosphere

The blanket of gases surrounding a planet or other material.

Weather

The condition of Earth's atmosphere at a particular time and place. Example- raining and cold today in Cary

What is the importance of this layer within the thermosphere?

The ionosphere makes long distance radio communication possible by reflecting radio waves back towardsEarth.

What is the importance of the ozone layer within the stratosphere?

The ozone layer absorbs 97-‐99% of the incoming ultraviolet radiation.

Lapse Rate

The rate of cooling as you increase in elevation.

Is it easier to boil water in the mountains?

Yes it is easier to boil water in the mountains.

cause of greenhouse effect

caused by presence of gases

Layers of Earth's Atmosphere

Exosphere, Thermosphere, Mesosphere, Stratosphere, Troposphere Earth's atmosphere is divided into four main layers based upon changes in temperature

Atmosphere layers from top to bottom:

Exosphere, Thermosphere, Mesosphere, Stratosphere, Troposphere.

Ionosphere

Lower layer of the Thermosphere Reaches from about 80 km to 400 km above Earth's surface Energy from the sun causes gas molecules here to become electrically charged particles Radio waves bounce off ions back to Earth (makes signals travel much farther at night) Auroras happen near the poles because of the ionosphere - these are brilliant streaks of light in night skies 1.Region where atoms and molecules escape into space.2.Upper limit of the atmosphere

Compare the composition, properties and structure of Earth's atmosphere to include mixtures of gases and differences in temperature and pressure within layers

The earth has a variety of climates, defined by average temperature, precipitation, humidity, air pressure, and wind, over time in a particular place. The atmosphere is a mixture of gases, such as nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), argon (0.93%), carbon dioxide (0.04%), trace gases and water vapor. The amount of each gas in the mixture is usually very constant from the surface of the planet up to the top of the troposphere. These gases are constantly being used and renewed by the processes of respiration, photosynthesis, evaporation and condensation, the weathering of rock, and the decay of organic matter. The atmosphere has different properties at different elevations and different locations around the Earth. Air pressure, also known as atmospheric pressure, refers to the weight of the Earth's atmosphere pressing down on everything at the surface. Air pressure varies slightly over the Earth's surface, and variations in pressure are responsible for the weather.. The air pressure is less on the top of mountains (higher elevation) than in valleys. At the equator the atmosphere is warmer; at the poles it is cooler. The uneven heating of land and water causes a rising and sinking of warm and cool air masses creating convection currents and causes winds. Five layers make up the atmosphere: the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere. Each of these layers has very unique properties. Weather occurs in the troposphere and is the physical condition of the atmosphere at a specific place at a specific time. Air has weight. Air molecules are in constant motion and are affected by gravity.

exosphere - what happens to the temperature as altitude increases.

emperature increases due to solar radiation. The ionizationprocess releases energy which heats up the upper atmosphere

auroras

northern and southern lights - northern is aurora borealis; southern is aurora australis.

mesophere- what happens to the temperature as altitude increases.

temperature decreases.

troposphere- what happens to the temperature as altitude increases.

temperature decreases. Earth absorbs electromagnetic radiation, re-‐radiates it as infrared radiation (heat), which rises, expands, and cool

thermosphere- what happens to the temperature as altitude increases.

temperature increases due to solar radiation

ionoshphere- what happens to the temperature as altitude increases.

temperature increases due to solar radiation.