The The AtmosphereAtmosphere

Definition The layer of gases surrounding Earth;

composed mainly of nitrogen and oxygen

Layers

http://www.fi.edu/wright/again/wings.avkids.com/wings.avkids.com/Book/Atmosphere/Images/atmos_layers.gif

Troposphere• This is where all

plants and animals live and breathe

• Where weather takes place

• Air is mixes• T decreases with

altitude

http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/kingworc/departments/geography/nottingham/atmosphere/pages/gfx/troposphere.jpg

Ozone Layer

http://ess.geology.ufl.edu/ess/Notes/090-Ozone_Depletion/depl2.jpg

•Pale blue gas with a strong odor.

•90% of all ozone is found in the stratosphere

•10% is found in the troposphere

•Ozone is extremely important because it is the only gas that absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the Sun and protects the surface of the Earth and people from the damaging effects of UV rays

Stratosphere• Ozone in this layer stops many of the

sun's harmful rays from reaching the earth

• People can not breathe in this layer.

Mesosphere• T decreases with altitude

• This is where we see "falling stars" – meteors burning up as they fall to Earth

Thermosphere• Layer of the atmosphere which is first

exposed to the Sun's radiation and so is first heated by the Sun.

• The air is very thin

• The temperature dependent on solar activity.

Ionosphere• An extension or a part of the

thermosphere. So technically, the ionosphere is not another atmospheric layer.

• Free electrons and ions tend to recombine

http://science-education.pppl.gov/SummerInst/aurora%20borealis.jpg

Exosphere• Highest layer of the atmosphere. The air is

very thin here

• Atoms and molecules escape into space

Let’s look at an animation:

http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthguide/diagrams/atmosphere/

index.html