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Earth's Atmosphere: Composition, Layers, and Protection Mechanisms

Learn about the composition, properties, and layers of Earth's atmosphere, including how it protects life through factors like air pressure, temperature variation, and the ozone layer. Explore how greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect contribute to Earth's climate system.

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Earth's Atmosphere: Composition, Layers, and Protection Mechanisms

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  1. The Atmosphere

  2. Learning Target: • I will learn the composition and structure of the Earth’s atmosphere • describe how the composition and structure of the atmosphere protects life and insulates the planet

  3. Properties of air: Mass- even though you can’t see it, air has mass Density- the density of air near Earth’s surface is greater than its density at high altitudes Pressure-air exerts a force called pressure (barometer - instrument which measures air pressure)

  4. atmosphere • the layer of gases that surrounds the Earth

  5. What gases are in our atmosphere? • nitrogen (N2) = 78% • oxygen (O2)= 21% • trace gases= 1% • argon • CO2 • neon • methane • krypton • hydrogen

  6. altitude • the distance above sea level • higher the altitude the lower the air pressure • higher the altitude, the less dense the air

  7. Atmospheric Pressure • Air pressure is greater near Earth's surface and decreases higher in the atmosphere. • People find it difficult to breathe in high mountains because fewer molecules of air exist there.

  8. Look Way Up What are the layers of the atmosphere? • The atmosphere is divided into four layers based on temperature and other properties. • The thermosphere feels cold because particles are so far apart.

  9. thermosphere mesosphere Earth’s Atmosphere stratosphere troposphere Layers of the Atmosphere

  10. Temperature in Atmospheric Layers • Virtual Lab- Layers of the Atmosphere

  11. How do pressure and temperature change in the atmosphere? • Gravity pulls gas molecules in the atmosphere toward Earth, causing pressure. • Air pressureis the measure of the force with which air molecules push on a surface.

  12. How do pressure and temperature change in the atmosphere? • As altitude, or distance from Earth’s surface, increases, air pressure decreases. • As altitude increases, temperatures change. • Some parts of the atmosphere are warmer because of gases that absorb solar energy.

  13. How do temperatures differ with altitude in the atmosphere?

  14. Temperature in Atmospheric Layers • Because some layers contain gases that easily absorb the Sun's energy while other layers do not, the various layers have different temperatures.

  15. Here Comes the Sun … How does the atmosphere protect life on Earth? • Earth’s atmosphere reflects or absorbs most of the radiation from the sun. • The ozone layer is in the stratosphere and contains a high concentration of ozone. It absorbs most of the solar radiation.

  16. Ozone Layer • An ozone molecule is made up of three oxygen atoms bound together. • The ozone layer contains a high concentration of ozone and shields you from the Sun's harmful energy.

  17. Ozone Layer • Ozone absorbs most of the ultraviolet radiation that enters the atmosphere. • Ultraviolet radiation is one of the many types of energy that come to Earth from the Sun. • Brain Pop- Ozone Layer

  18. CFCs • Evidence exists that some air pollutants are destroying the ozone layer. • Blame has fallen on chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), chemical compounds used in some refrigerators, air conditioners, and aerosol sprays, and in the production of some foam packaging

  19. CFCS • Chlorofluorocarbon molecules destroy ozone. • When a chlorine atom from a CFC molecule comes near a molecule of ozone, the ozone molecule breaks apart. • One of the oxygen atoms combines with the chlorine atom, and the rest form a regular, two-atom molecule.

  20. How does the atmosphere protect life on Earth? • Ozone-layer thickness changes by season and location. • Scientists have discovered a steady decrease in the overall volume of ozone over time. • Ozone can also be destroyed by certain chemicals in the air.

  21. Ozone Layer the layer of ozone in the atmosphere absorbs UV radiation from the sun and heats the Earth

  22. What else is in our atmosphere? • Water vapor- from evaporation and transpiration ( tree gives off water vapor) Solid particles (particulate matter)- dust, smoke, pollen, salt, NOX, VOX- from car exhaust, burning and volcanic eruptions

  23. Burning fossil fuels releases CO2 into the atmosphere Greenhouse Effect- CO2 and other gases act as a blanket to hold in heat close to Earth

  24. How does the atmosphere protect life on Earth? • How is the heat inside of a closed car in the summer similar to the greenhouse effect?

  25. Weather - the condition of Earth’s atmosphere at any given time or place

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