Water and Weather

2. Water and Weather

3. Chapter Five: Earth’s Atmosphere • 5.1 The Atmosphere • 5.2 Layers of the Atmosphere • 5.3 Earth is Just Right

4. 5.2 Layers of the Atmosphere • The atmosphere has four layers: • Thermosphere • Mesosphere • Stratosphere • Troposphere

5. Layers of the Atmosphere The four layers of the atmosphere include: • the troposphere, where we live; • the stratosphere, which contains the ozone layer; • the mesosphere, where meteors burn; and • the thermosphere,where satellites orbit Earth.

6. 5.2 Layers of the Atmosphere • The atmosphere is divided into layers based on temperature changes.

7. 5.2 Layers of the Atmosphere • The exospherebegins at about 500 kilometers above Earth and does not have a specific outer limit. • Satellites orbit Earth in the exosphere.

8. 5.2 The exosphere and ionosphere • Communication on Earth depends on satellites. • Satellites transmit information used for television shows, radio broadcasts, data and photos used in weather reports, and long distance telephone calls.

10. 5.2 The ozone layer • In the 1970s, scientists noticed that the ozone layer in the stratosphere above Antarctica was thinning.

11. 5.2 Chlorofluorocarbons and the ozone layer • A group of chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (or CFCs) were once commonly used in air conditioners, in aerosol spray cans, and for cleaning machine parts. • In the London Agreement of 1991, more than 90 countries banned the production and use of CFCs except for limited medical uses.

12. 5.2 Chlorofluorocarbons and the ozone layer • The ozone layer absorbs the Sun’s high-energy ultraviolet (UV) radiation and protects the Earth.

13. 5.2 Chlorofluorocarbons and the ozone layer • In the stratosphere, the CFCs break down and release chlorine. • The chlorine reacts with ozone molecules, which normally block incoming ultraviolet radiation.