ATMOSPHERE DEFINITION A LAYER OF GASES THAT SURROUNDS

ATMOSPHERE DEFINITION • A LAYER OF GASES THAT SURROUNDS A PLANET

ATMOSPHERE IMPORTANCE… • 1. PROTECTS US • 2. CONTROLS OUR TEMPERATURES(MAKES THEM JUST RIGHT)

ATMOSPHERE COMPOSITION • 78% NITROGEN • 21% OXYGEN • LESS THAN 1%=OTHER GASES

MOST ABUNDANT GAS IN OUR ATMOSPHERE • 78% NITROGEN

2 ND MOST ABUNDANT GAS IN OUR ATMOSPHERE… • 21% OXYGEN

AS ALTITUDE INCREASES, AIR PRESSURE DECREASES… • 1. AIR PRESSURE IS STRONGEST AT THE EARTH’S SURFACE BECAUSE MORE AIR IS ABOVE YOU. • 2. AS YOU MOVE FARTHER AWAY FROM EARTH’S SURFACE, FEWER GAS MOLECULES ARE ABOVE YOU • ****GRAVITY PULLS GAS MOLECULES IN THE ATMOSPHERE TOWARDS THE EARTH’S SURFACE, CAUSING AIR PRESSURE

TROPOSPHERE • 1. LOWEST LAYER • 2. WE LIVE HERE

TROPOSPHERE • 1. DENSEST LAYER • 2. WEATHER HAPPENS HERE

STRATOSPHERE • 1. HOME OF THE “OZONE” LAYER=PROTECTS US BY ABSORBING AND REFLECTING MUCH OF THE ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION FROM SPACE AWAY FROM EARTH’S SURFACE • 2. AIRPLANES FLY ABOVE THE CLOUDS HERE(SMOOTHER FLIGHT)

STRATOSPHERE • 1. ABOVE THE TROPOSPHERE(LESS DENSE THAN TROPOSPHERE) • 2. UPPER PART HERE WARMER THAN BOTTOM(DUE TO OZONE LAYER)

MESOSPHERE • 1. COLDEST LAYER • 2. ABOVE THE STRATOSPHERE(EVEN LESS DENSE THAN STRATOSPHERE)

MESOSPHERE • 1. METEORS BURN UP HERE • 2. MIDDLE LAYER

THERMOSPHERE • 1. UPPERMOST LAYER(ABOVE MESOSPHERE) • 2. VERY HIGH TEMPERATURES HERE

THERMOSPHERE • 1. HIGHEST TEMPERATURES, BUT IT DOES NOT FEEL “HOT” • 2. PARTICLES HERE MOVE VERY FAST BUT THEY ARE SPACED FAR APART SO THEY DON’T TRANSFER MUCH ENERGY.

THERMOSPHERE • 1. LOWEST DENSITY OF ANY LAYER • 2. MADE UP OF 2 PARTS

IONOSPHERE • 1. BOTTOM PART OF THERMOSPHERE • 2. AURORA BOREALLIS(NORTHERN LIGHTS) • 3. INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION • 4. RADIO WAVES

EXOSPHERE • 1. TOP PART OF THERMOSPHERE • 2. CELL PHONES/TV/SATELLITES