THE EARTHS ATMOSPHERE Atmospheric Layers Onions have layers

THE EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE: Atmospheric Layers

Onions have layers. Ogres have layers. • The Earth’s atmosphere has LAYERS! • Earth’s atmosphere is made up of layers that have distinct characteristics.

These layers are the… • • troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, and thermosphere.

Let’s find out where these layers are located in relation to the Earth’s surface and how they are affected by temperature.

Troposphere • The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere that lies next to the Earth’s surface.

Troposphere • Most of the air that makes up the atmosphere is found in the troposphere.

Troposphere • It extends to about 14 kilometers (around 9 miles) above the Earth • and is where virtually all weather takes place.

Troposphere • As you move up into the troposphere the temperature decreases. • At the top of this layer the air temperature is about - 60°C ( -76° F).

Stratosphere • The stratosphere begins at the top of the troposphere (14 km/ 9 miles) and extends to about 50 kilometers (31 miles) above the surface of the Earth.

Stratosphere • As you move up into the stratosphere the air temperature actually increases.

Stratosphere • This occurs because of ozone. • Ozone is a gas that absorbs solar radiation and releases it as heat. • The stratospheric or "good" ozone protects life on Earth from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Stratosphere • The ozone layer/ ozonosphere is located at the bottom of the stratosphere.

Mesosphere • The mesosphere begins at about 50 kilometers (31 miles) above the Earth’s surface and extends to 80 kilometers (50 miles).

Mesosphere • As you move up into the mesosphere, the air temperature decreases. • Temperatures at the top of this layer can drop to -90°C ( - 130°F ).

Mesosphere • Interestingly, this layer also protects the Earth. • Meteoroids entering Earth’s atmosphere usually burn up in the mesosphere.

Thermosphere • The thermosphere is the outermost layer of the Earth’s atmosphere. • It is divided into 2 layers: the exosphere and the ionosphere

Thermosphere • It begins at 80 km (50 miles) above the Earth and extends outward into space. • Sometimes thermosphere and exosphere are listed as separate layers.

Thermosphere • The higher you move in this layer, the higher the temperature. • Temperatures in thermosphere can reach 1, 800°C (3, 300°F)!

Thermosphere- ionosphere • The beautiful colors of the aurora borealis or northern lights occur in the ionosphere.

Thermosphere- exosphere • This is also where the space shuttle orbits the Earth!

Thermosphere

Thermosphere • The ionosphere is found at the bottom of thermosphere (close to the mesosphere). • The exosphere is located at the top of thermosphere.

Mr. Lee’s Layers of the Atmosphere Song • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Aka. Y 1 d v. Zer 4