02 03-2012-atmosphere layers1

•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?