LAYERS OF THE ATMOSPHERE

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LAYERS OF THE ATMOSPHERE

• NC Essential Standard Compare the composition,
  properties, and structure of Earths atmosphere
  to include mixtures of gases and differences in
  temperatures and pressure within layers.

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There are 5 layers of the atmosphere.
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SUN

• Source of all of the energy on Earth.
• Energy from the sun must pass through the
  atmosphere before it hits the surface.

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Different Temperatures

• Different layers of the atmosphere have
  different temperatures, because some layers
  contain gases that absorb energy and others do
  not.
• Which layer contains 90 of all the gases?

The bottom layer, the TROPOSPHERE
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TROPOSPHERE

• All weather and the air you breathe!
• The lowest and most important layer.

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TROPOSPHERE

• Temperature is highest at the surface of the
  earth and decreases with altitude.

High altitude, colder temperatures
Low altitude, warmer temperatures
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TROPOSPHERE

• Earths surface is the source of heat.
• Rock, soil, and water absorbs the Suns light and
  radiates it back as heat.
• The greater density of gases due to gravity
  causes the temperature to rise.

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TROPOSPHERE

• Usually, warm air sits below cooler air.
• Sometimes there is an INVERSION
  and cold air sits below warm air.

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STRATOSPHERE

• Layer above the troposphere
• Temperature increases with altitude (Sun)
• Thinking Question!!!
• How is this different from the altitude-temperatur
  e relationship in the troposphere?
• The pressure is so low that liquids would
  boil at normal body temperature.

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STRATOSPHERE

• Air is stable because warmer, less dense air sits
  over cooler, denser air.
• Stop to Draw!

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STRATOSPHERE

• The pilot says, We are no at our cruising
  altitude of 30,000 feet. Why do planes fly so
  high in the air?

Out of the troposphere and into the
stratosphere. Fuel costs are lower because there
is less friction due to the lower air
densitytheres also less turbulence.
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The Ozone (O3) Layer

• Inside the Stratosphere.
• Ozone gas absorbs harmful UV radiation!

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Ozone Layer Depletion

• Man-made chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were used a
  lot in the past to keep things cold and to make
  foam and soaps
• But CFCs break apart (destroy) ozone molecules.
  

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MESOSPHERE

• Third
• Temperature decreases with altitude (heat is
  from the stratosphere)
• Extremely low density of molecules

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MESOSPHERE

• The pressure is so low that liquids would
  boil at normal body temperature.
• Your blood would boil without a space suit!

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MESOSPHERE

• Thinking Question!
• If pressure decreases with altitudeand your
  blood would boil in the mesosphere.
• Does water boil faster in
• the mountains or at sea level?

Answer The Mountains
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THERMOSPHERE

• Fourth layer of atmosphere from the surface of
  the earth.
• Very low density of molecules
• Mysteries of the Sun Ionosphere, Thermosphere,
  and Mesosphere

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EXOSPHERE

• (500 km to outer space)
• Last layer of the atmosphere.