Atmosphere

1
Atmosphere

• AtmosphereThe mixture of gases that makes up the
  air we breathe.

2
All Gases

• Nitrogen
• Oxygen
• Argon
• Carbon Dioxide
• Methane
• Water Vapor

3
Atmospheric Dust

• Salt
• Ash from Fires
• Volcanic Ash
• Particulate Matter from Combustion
• Skin/Hair/Bits of Clothing
• Pollen
• Bacteria/Viruses
• Aerosols (tiny, liquid droplets)

4
Four Layers

• Troposphere
• Stratosphere
• Mesosphere
• Thermosphere

5
Troposphere

• Nearest to the Earths surface
• 18km from surface
• Almost all of our weather occurs here
• Most dense layer
• Temperature decreases as altitude increases

6
Stratosphere

• Above the troposphere
• 18-50 km
• Temperature goes up with altitude
• Ozone absorbs UV rays
• Ozone is 3 oxygen atoms

7
Mesosphere

• Above the stratosphere
• 50-80km
• Coldest layer
• Down to -93 degrees Celcius

8
Thermosphere

• Farthest from the Earths surface
• Nitrogen and Oxygen absorb radiation from the sun
• Temperatures above 2000 degrees Celcius
• Thin air/particles rarely collide/little heat
  transferred

9
Ionosphere

• Lower part of the thermosphere
• Absorbs harmful X rays/gamma rays
• Atoms become electrically charged, called ions.
• Ions can radiate energy in the form of light
• Bright colors at night near the Earths North and
  South Poles (Northern Lights)

10
Nitrogen.

• 78 of atmosphere
• Decomposition
• Volcanic Erruption
• Nitrogen Cycle

11
Energy

• The suns energy reaches us through the Earths
  atmosphere in 3 ways.
• RadiationEnergy across space (ex. Standing in
  front of a fireplace)
• ConductionHeat flow from warmer object to colder
  object when in direct physical contact
• ConvectionTransfer of heat by air currents (hot
  air rises/cold air sinks)

12
What happens to solar energy?

• Here is the process.Sun electromagnetic
  radiation (visible light/infrared
  radiation/ultraviolet light) half of this solar
  energy passes through the atmosphere and half is
  reflected back by clouds, gases, dust, or by the
  Earths surface (oceans and land).

13
The Creation of Weather

• Air causes weather by moving up, down and
  sideways
• Less dense, surface-warmed air rises, is cooled,
  becoming more dense, and sinks.
• This happens over and over again in a circular
  motion, called a convection current.
• Air moves due to gravity and pressure changes.
• Wind is caused by a difference in air pressure.

14
Greenhouse Effect

• Sunlight heats the Earths surface
• Heat radiates off the surface, back into the
  atmosphere
• Some heat escapes into space, while the rest of
  the heat is absorbed by greenhouse gases, and
  radiates back to the Earths surface.
• Water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane nitrous
  oxide greenhouse gases

15
Your Assignment

• Find an illustration of the nitrogen cycle and
  make a sketch. Be sure and write down the
  URL/resource information where you found it.
  Make sure it is labeled.
• Study for a quiz on the Blue Planet Imax Video
  and Geosphere lesson.
• If you havent shared a current event yet, have
  one ready to go.