The Atmosphere

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The Atmosphere
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Definition

• The layer of gases surrounding Earth composed
  mainly of nitrogen and oxygen

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Layers
http//www.fi.edu/wright/again/wings.avkids.com/wi
ngs.avkids.com/Book/Atmosphere/Images/atmos_layers
.gif
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Troposphere

• This is where all plants and animals live and
  breathe
• Where weather takes place
• Air is mixes
• T decreases with altitude

http//atschool.eduweb.co.uk/kingworc/departments/
geography/nottingham/atmosphere/pages/gfx/troposph
ere.jpg
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Ozone Layer

• 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

http//ess.geology.ufl.edu/ess/Notes/090-Ozone_Dep
letion/depl2.jpg
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Stratosphere

• Ozone in this layer stops many of the sun's
  harmful rays from reaching the earth
• People can not breathe in this layer.

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Mesosphere

• T decreases with altitude
• This is where we see "falling stars" meteors
  burning up as they fall to Earth

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Thermosphere

• 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.

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Ionosphere

• An extension or a part of the thermosphere. So
  technically, the ionosphere is not another
  atmospheric layer.
• Free electrons and ions tend to recombine

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http//science-education.pppl.gov/SummerInst/auror
a20borealis.jpg
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Exosphere

• Highest layer of the atmosphere. The air is very
  thin here
• Atoms and molecules escape into space

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Lets look at an animation

• http//earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthguide/diagrams/atm
  osphere/index.html