Layers%20of%20the%20Atmosphere

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Layers of the Atmosphere
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First Layer

• Scientists divide the atmosphere into four main
  layers based on the changes in temperature.
• The Troposphere (tropo changing)
• Where Earths weather takes place, where we live.
  
• Lowest layer, extends from Earths surface to 12
  kilometers.
• Temperature decreases as altitude increases
• -60C at top.
• Contains almost all of the mass in the
  atmosphere.

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Stratosphere

• The Stratosphere (strato layer)
• second layer, above the troposphere
• ranges from 12 - 50 km above Earths surface
• It contains the ozone layer.
• The ozone layer is important because it protects
  us from dangerous UV radiation from the sun.
• lower stratosphere is 60C, but middle is warmer
  because of high amount of ozone, which absorbs
  heat from the sun.

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Mesosphere

• The Mesosphere (meso middle)
• above the stratosphere and it protects Earth from
  being hit by meteoroids.
• ranges from 50 - 80 km above Earth.
• Temperatures as cold as 90C.
• As altitude increases in the mesosphere,
  temperature decreases.

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Thermosphere

• The Thermosphere (thermo heat)
• it is the outermost layer and it extends from 80
  km to outer space. This layer is very hot since
  it is the first layer exposed to sunlight.
• air in this layer is very thin, 0.001 as dense
  as the air at sea level.
• air here is up to 1,800C because it absorbs heat
  from the sun first. As altitude increases,
  temperature increases.
• QUESTION Would you feel warm or cold if you were
  in the thermosphere?

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Two Layers of the Thermosphere

• 1. The ionosphere is the lower layer (80-400
  km) and it contains gas molecules that are
  electrically charged due to the suns energy.
  Radio waves bounce back from the ionosphere to
  Earths surface. These bright light displays are
  called auroras.
• 2. The exosphere is the outer layer and it
  extends from 400 km outward for thousands of
  kilometers.

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Ozone

• While ozone plays an important role in the
  stratosphere, it can be harmful in the
  troposphere. Why?
• Ozone is a pollutant that can form over cities
  from sun interacting with smoke and CO2, and can
  cause irritation to the lungs and eyes.

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• List the four main layers of Earths atmosphere,
  starting with the layer closest to Earths
  surface, AND give one important characteristic of
  each layer.
• 2. What property is used to distinguish between
  the different layers of the atmosphere?
• 3. In what layers of our atmosphere does
  temperature decrease with altitude? Where does
  temperature increase with altitude? Why does the
  temperature in the stratosphere increase with
  altitude?

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4. Which layer of the atmosphere is the outermost
layer? Why does this layer have no definite
depth? 5. Why would you not feel warm
in the thermosphere, even though temperatures can
be as high as 1,800 degrees Celsius?