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The Atmosphere

The Atmosphere. THE ATMOSPHERE. Definition: Atmosphere. Air that surrounds the earth Composed of: Nitrogen 78% Oxygen 21% Misc. Gases (water vapor, argon, etc… 1%). How did it form?. THEORY ………. As earth cooled, released gases from the earth’s interior

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The Atmosphere

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  1. The Atmosphere THE ATMOSPHERE

  2. Definition: Atmosphere • Air that surrounds the earth • Composed of: • Nitrogen 78% • Oxygen 21% • Misc. Gases (water vapor, argon, etc… 1%)

  3. How did it form? • THEORY ………. • As earth cooled, released gases from the earth’s interior • Not the same composition as today’s atmosphere

  4. Benefits of Atmosphere • Provides gases necessary for life (oxygen, carbon dioxide) • Protects us from majority of suns harmful UV radiation • Allows light to reach surface for energy and photosynthesis • Radiates some heat back to Earth, therefore warming the planet

  5. Layers • Defined by changes in temperature • Troposphere • tropopause • Stratosphere • stratopause • Mesosphere • mesopause • Thermosphere

  6. Troposphere

  7. Troposphere • 0-12 km • Where we live • Weather occurs here • As height increases, temperature decreases • Temperature drops ~ 6.50 C/km above Earth’s surface • Greatest amount of air pressure (weight of air above)

  8. Tropopause • Top of troposphere • Temperature fairly constant • Separates troposphere from stratosphere • Where jet stream is • Very strong winds that blow eastward

  9. Stratosphere

  10. Stratosphere • 12 – 50 km • Lower part’s temperature is constant (~60oC) • Contains ozone layer • People can’t breathe in this layer • Lowest part of stratosphere there is less turbulence so where commercial airlines usually fly!

  11. Ozone Layer

  12. Ozone Layer • Earth’s shield • Protects Earth’s surface from the sun’s harmful UV radiation • It absorbs the sun’s UV radiation • Causes an increase in temperature in upper part of stratosphere

  13. Mesoshpere

  14. Mesosphere • 50 – 80 km • Temperature decrease to -100oC • Coldest region of atmosphere • This is due to the gases in this layer can’t absorb any of the suns energy (therefore, really cold) • Protects earth from ‘meteorites’ • Meteorites burn up in this area creating “shooting stars” effect

  15. Shooting stars

  16. Thermosphere

  17. Thermosphere • 80 km and up • Air very thin • Temperaturesvery high because of sun’s intense UV radiation • Temps can be >2000oC • Has 2 sub-layers • Ionoshpere • exosphere

  18. Ionosphere • 80 km – 550 km • Contains charged “ionic” particles • Where radio waves are bounced back from

  19. Exosphere • > 550 km. • Air extremely thin • Area where satellites orbit • Enter space once exit exosphere

  20. Magnetosphere • Earth’s magnetic field • Causes Northern Lights

  21. NORTHERN LIGHTS

  22. Assignment • Create a foldable of the layers of the atmosphere. • READ AND FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS !!!! DO THIS STEP BY STEP !

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