Air and Atmosphere By David, Ryan, and Joshua

Summary of LessonThis PPT (PowerPoint) is all about air pressure and the atmosphere.There are four layers in Earth’s atmosphere. They are the Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, and Thermosphere. Most of the atmosphere is made up of nitrogen and oxygen.

Air pressureAir pressure is a force exerted by air on a given area.Air pressure becomes thinner with altitude, and it also changes weather. Air pressure becomes thinner because as you gain altitude, there are fewer air molecules in the atmosphere. People who climb mountains bring oxygen tanks to breath since there isn’t much air.

Uneven HeatingThe Earth’s shape and the tilt of its axis, causes uneven heating. The Sun’s rays strike Earth’s surface at uneven angles, sometimes the Northern Hemisphere gets more sunlight than the Southern Hemisphere. Daytime and nighttime are examples of uneven heating, the daytime is warmer than the nighttime side of the planet

Predicting WeatherScientists gather data about temperature, humidity, wind, and air pressure. They use this information to develop weather forecasts. Each weather factor can be measured using a different weather instrument. Barometers measure air pressure and tells you whether it is rising or falling.

Air MassesAir masses are bodies of air that has about the same temperature and moisture throughout. When air masses meet, a front forms. A weather front is the boundary between two air masses with different properties. These air masses can cover hundreds of square miles.

Winds and Convection CurrentsWind is caused by differences in air pressure. These differences create both local winds and planetary winds. Wind is the movement of air across Earth’s surface. Example of local winds include mountain breezes and valley breezes. Winds blow faster at higher altitudes than near the surface. That’s because winds are slowed by, buildings, mountains, and other surface features.

Beyond the BookThe Exosphere is the fifth and outermost layer of the atmosphere. It has an altitude of 10,000 kilometers. The Exosphere is above the Thermosphere, the area in between is called the Thermopause. The Thermopause’s height depends on the amount of solar activity.

Ozone LayerThe Ozone Layer is a thing that surrounds the Earth and protects it from the Sun’s harmful rays. But, the Ozone Layer is getting holes in it because of pollution, and if it is depleted, the sun’s rays can cause skin cancer. Many problems are happening because of the Ozone depletion.

IonosphereThe Ionosphere is only 0.1% of Earth’s atmosphere. It is ionized by the sun’s radiation, meaning that it is so strong it breaks apart molecules. This does not really count as a layer of the atmosphere, mostly because it is only 1% of the atmosphere.

Vocabulary

Atmosphere: is a mixture gases that surround a planet

Air pressure: the force exerted by air on a given area

Troposphere: the first layer of earth’s atmosphere

Stratosphere: the second layer of earth’s atmosphere

Mesosphere: the third layer of Earth’s atmosphere

Thermosphere: the fourth layer of the atmosphere

Exosphere: the fifth and outermost layer of earth’s atmosphere

Conclusion

This presentation has been about how air pressure affects things on earth. It is also about the different layers of the atmosphere. All of these things are important to people who want to be meteorologists and scientists. It is important that you listened to this presentation.

Bibliography Encyclopedia Britannica USA today.com Universe today.com UCAR.com The Washington Post Windows to the Universe Google Images

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