Stratification of the atmosphere Earth Science II Session








- Slides: 8
Stratification of the atmosphere Earth Science II (Session 4) Ciencias de la Tierra II
Introduction • The layer that surrounds the Earth is called atmosphere. • It has an extension of over 1000 km. • It is divided in 5 layers. Ciencias de la Tierra II
Di. Spezio, Michael , et al. (1999) Layers of the atmosphere Name Description Importance Troposphere It is the closest layer to the Earth’s surface. Life Climatic phenom Stratosphere Similar composition to troposphere. It contains the ozone layer. Protects from ulttraviolet rays. Mesosphere Cold temperature. Does not abosorb solar energy. Meteors burn up here Thermosphere The temperature increases up to 1, 650 degrees. Composed by nitrogen and oxygen. Low density Aurora´s occur here Exosphere External layer of the atmosphere. Ciencias de la Tierra II Satellites travel here It extends kilometers up to space.
Monge García-Moreno, Carmen. (2003) Atmosphere layers Ciencias de la Tierra II
Ionosphere • It is a sub layer that is found between the mesosphere and thermosphere. • Solar radiation that passes through the ionosphere, strips atoms of its electron forming ions. • The ionosphere allows the travel of radio signals. Ciencias de la Tierra II
Magnetosphere • It is the most external region of the atmosphere, it begins at a height of 200 km from the Earth. It is created due to magentic field that exists between the Sun and the Earth. • The magnetosphere forms a belt of particules charged electrically, that surround the Earth and that is known as the Van Allen Belt. Ciencias de la Tierra II
Class reading • Textbook… – Science and Technology: Loud and clear? – Page 405 Ciencias de la Tierra II
Bibliography • Di. Spezio, M. et al. (1999). Science Insights: Exploring Earth and Space. first ed. USA: Prentice Hall. • Monge García-Moreno, C. (2003). La atmósfera terrestre [Imagen]. Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte. Extracted on march 23 from the World Wide Web: http: //iris. cnice. mecd. es/biosfera/alumno/1 ESO/atmosfera/index. htm Ciencias de la Tierra II