Atmosphere

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Atmosphere

• A layer of air that forms a protective covering
• around the planet.

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Our atmosphere serves two purposes

• Protects life on Earth from the Suns harmful
  rays.
• Maintains a balance between amounts of heat
  absorbed from the sun and the amount of heat that
  escapes back into space.

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Composition of the atmosphere
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The atmosphere is composed of

• Solids- dust, pollen, salt
• Liquids- water etc.
• Gases-
• Nitrogen (78) produced from
• volcanic eruptions,
• dead and decaying plants.
• Oxygen (21)
• produced by plants (photosynthesis)

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Atmosphere is composed of 5 layers. These
layers are based on pressure and temperature,
which are affected by altitude.
Atmosphere

Air Pressure Temperature -as altitude
increases, - as altitude increases air
pressure decreases temperature changes
Which are effected by

Altitude
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As altitude increases, air pressure decreases.
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As altitude changes, so does the temperature.
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Both air pressure and temperature are affected by
the altitude

• As altitude increases, pressure decreases. The
  molecules at the bottom layer (Troposphere) have
  more pressure on them to force them together than
  those at the top layer (Thermosphere).
• Temperature differences result from the way solar
  energy is absorbed as it moves down through the
  layers of the atmosphere.

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• Troposphere 0 16 km
• Tropoturning or changing
• Weather takes place here
• 90 of the atmospheres total mass
• -60c at the top of the troposphere
• As altitude increases, temperature decreases

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• Stratosphere 16 50 km
• Strato layer or spreading out
• Jet stream contains broad, fast flowing rivers
  of air called jet streams. These jet streams
  can change weather patterns in the troposphere.
• Upper layer is warmer than lower due to ozone
  layer.
• Ozone layer O3 (Ozone) absorbs suns ultraviolet
  rays, so temperature increases. IT is very thin,
  only 2.5-3.5 mm thick. O2 (Oxygen) vs O3
  (Ozone).
• -60c to 0c

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• Mesosphere 50 80 km
• Meso middle
• Temperature decreases as altitude increases.
• Outer mesosphere is the coldest part of the
  atmosphere. -93c at the top.
• Protects Earths surface. This is where
  meteoroids burn up upon entry into the
  atmosphere shooting stars.
• Scientists have recently discovered large
  windstorms with winds speeds up to 320 km/h in
  this layer.

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• Thermosphere 80 550 km
• Thermo heat
• Largest layer, .001 percent as dense as the air
  at sea level.
• Temperature increases as altitude increases.
  Temperatures reach 1700c.
• Very hot because energy coming from the sun
  strikes this layer first.
• Energy heat

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• Ionosphere
• Lower layer of the thermosphere composed
  primarily of oxygen.
• Absorbs x-rays and gamma rays, which contribute
  to the high temperature and cause the gas
  molecules to become electronically charged
  (ions).
• Aurora Borealis/Australis The northern and
  southern lights. Particles from the sun enter
  and strike oxygen and nitrogen particles, causing
  them to glow.
• The ionosphere can reflect many types of radio
  waves, allowing them to bounce around the world.

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• Exosphere Above 550 km
• No true end of atmosphere. Gas molecules simply
  break free of Earths gravity and disperse.
• Space shuttles, ISS (International Space Station)
  and satellites orbit the earth in this layer.
  This is how long distance calls, satellite TV,
  internet, cell phones, etc., reach you.

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5 Layers Revisited