02 03-2012-atmosphere layers1
TRANSCRIPT
•Copy today’s date and EQ.•List three reasons why the atmosphere is important.
Atmosphere Foldable
Color the graph line to represent the temperature changes. Blue for decreasing temperatures (getting
colder) Red for increasing temperatures (getting
warmer) Fold the diagram in half, and cut on the half
line. Glue each half on to the front of your
shutter foldable. Cut flaps on the left hand side using the
horizontal lines. Wait for directions on cutting flaps on the
right hand side.
Atmosphere
The atmosphere protects us from the harmful wavelengths of light.
Notice which wavelengths are blocked!
Image from https://www.e-education.psu.edu/astro801/files/astro801/image/atmos_windows_KL.jpg
Troposphere
Where weather occurs Convection currents Most dense layer
Stratosphere
Contains most of atmosphere’s ozone
Where jets fly
Mesosphere
Where meteors burn up Coldest part of the atmosphere
Thermosphere
Air molecules can be 1km apart! Up to 2,000 degrees C International Space Station orbits at
300 km
Ozone Layer
O3
Protects us from most of the sun’s UV radiation
Ionosphere
Helps bounce radiowaves back to Earth
Auroras happen here
Exosphere
Satellites orbit No definite “end”
Magnetosphere
Earth’s magnetic field Protects us from the solar wind Without it, our atmosphere would
“blow” away. Scientists think that is what happened to Mars.
Reflection Questions – Page 1231. List the four main atmospheric layers.2. Which layer is the most important to you and
why?3. What does the stratosphere protect you from?4. What does the mesosphere protect you from?5. Which layer acts as a giant magnet? What does
it attract?6. What would happen to Earth’s atmosphere if
the magnetosphere did not exist?7. In which layer does weather occur?8. What do we determine where one atmosphere
layer ends and the next one starts?