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_________________________
_________________________
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Reading Guide: The Atmosphere – Chapter 15-1 (pages 448-453)
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ATMOSPHERE
1.A mixture of gases surrounding a planet is the __________________________.
THE COMPOSITION OF THE ATMOSPHERE (PAGE 448)
2.Use the pie chart below to answer the following questions.
a. The most abundant gas in the atmosphere is ___________________which
makes up _____ % of the atmosphere.
b. The second most abundant gas in the atmosphere is __________________
which makes up _______ % of the atmosphere.
c. The remaining 1% of the atmosphere is made up of __________________
___________________________________________________________.
3. Most water in the atmosphere exists in an invisible gas called ______________
____________________. As conditions in the atmosphere change, the state of
the water can change to _____________________ or ____________________.
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE AND TEMPERATURE (PAGE 449)
4. The measure of the force with which air molecules push on a surface is called
______________________.
5.Use the picture of the molecules in the air below to label the following:
- L = Where the lowest air pressure exists on Earth
- H = Where the high air pressure exists on Earth
6. Air temperature in the atmosphere also changes based on ______________,
or the gasses that make up the air.
7. Some parts of the atmosphere are warmer because they contain a high
percentage of gasses that ________________________ solar energy.
LAYERS OF THE ATMOSPHERE (PAGE 450 – 453)
8. Based on ________________________ changes, the Earth’s atmosphere is
divided into layers.
9. The names of each layer of the atmosphere give clues about its features.
For example: all layers end in “sphere”, which means “ball”. All of the layers
surround Earth like a hollow ball.
Write the meaning or clue for each of the following prefixes of the layers:
a. Tropo = _________________________________________________
b. Strato = _________________________________________________
c. Meso = _________________________________________________
d. Thermo = ________________________________________________
Match the correct definition with the correct term. Write the letter in the space
provided.
_____10. middle and coldest layer of the atmosphere
_____ 11. atmosphere layer including the ozone layer
_____ 12. densest layer of atmosphere closest to Earth
_____ 13. uppermost layer or edge of the atmosphere
a. troposphere
b. mesosphere
c. stratosphere
d. thermosphere
14. For the following layers of the atmosphere use the
diagram below to determine if the temperature is increasing or decreasing as
the altitude (height from Earth) increases:
a. troposphere _________________
b. stratosphere __________________
c. mesosphere _________________
d. thermosphere _________________
15. The ionosphere is located in the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere.
Here gas particles become electronically charged. These particles are called
_______. These ions radiate energy as shimmering lights called __________.