The Composition of
the Atmosphere
Reid Pierce
Fulbright Jr. High
Bentonville, AR
The Atmosphere
• Weather – the condition of Earth’s
atmosphere at a particular time
and place
• Atmosphere – the thin layer of gases that
surround the Earth
Composition of the Atmosphere
Composition
of the
Atmosphere
Why is Earth’s atmosphere important?
1. It contains oxygen and other gases living
things need to survive
2. Traps enough heat and energy from the sun
for water to exist as a liquid
3. Protects living things from harmful radiation
from the sun
4. Prevents Earth’s surface from being hit by
most meteoroids
Stand Up Hand Up Pair Up
The Layers of the
Atmosphere
Reid Pierce
Fulbright Jr. High
Bentonville, AR
Layers of the Atmosphere Graph
QUESTIONS:
1. What is the basis for dividing the atmosphere into four layers?
2. Does the temperature increase or decrease with altitude in the:
troposphere? _____________ stratosphere? ________________
mesosphere? _____________ thermosphere? _______________
3. What is the approximate height and temperature of the:
tropopause: _______________ _____________
stratopause: _______________ _____________
mesopause: _______________ _____________
4. What causes the temperature to increase with height through the
stratosphere but decrease with height through the mesosphere?
5. What causes the temperature to decrease with height in the
troposphere?
Layers of the Atmosphere
1. Troposphere
– where weather occurs
2. Stratosphere
– contains ozone layer
3. Mesosphere
– protects earth from meteoroids
4. Thermosphere
– Ionosphere
• contains aurora borealis
– Exosphere
• outermost layer
You need to make
sure you know the
layers in order and
a piece of
information about
each layer!