The Earth’s
Atmosphere
Objective: identify the main &
minor layers of the atmosphere
It all Begins…
Solar Energy as Radiation
Figure 1.1
Nearly 150 million kilometers separate the sun and earth, yet solar
radiation drives earth's weather.
Question
Describe two purposes for Earth’s
Atmosphere. How does our
atmosphere help us?
Earth’s Atmosphere
Our atmosphere provides two major purposes.
1. Provides an environment suitable for life,
providing protection against the Sun’s harmful
radiation.
2. Maintains a balance between amounts of heat
absorbed from the sun and the amount of heat
that escapes back into space.
As altitude increases,
air pressure decreases.
As altitude changes, so
does the temperature.
Layers of the Atmosphere
• These layers are based on pressure and
temperature, which are affected by altitude.
Atmospheric Layers
•4 layers are defined by
trends in average air
temperature
1.Troposphere
2.Stratosphere
3.Mesosphere
4.Thermosphere
Atmospheric Layers
3 Minor layers
• Ozone layer
• Ionosphere
• Exosphere
Troposphere
• Temperature
decreases w/ height to
-60 ° C
• Most of our weather
occurs in this layer
• Varies in height
around the globe,
• Averages about 11 km
in height.
• Commercial airplanes
fly here
Troposphere
Figure 1.7
Stratosphere
•Increasing temperature
with height
•Temps up to -20 degrees
Celsius
• Military jet crafts and
weather balloons can fly
in this layer, it is very
stable
•The ozone layer is upper
layer of the stratosphere
Figure 1.7
Atmospheric Layers - Mesosphere
• Middle atmosphere
• Air thin, pressure
low
Mesosphere
• Temp -90°C (-130°F)
near the top of
mesosphere
• Meteors and rock
fragments will burn
up in this layer
Figure 1.7
Atmospheric Layers
Thermosphere
• “Hot layer” up to
2000 ° C
• Oxygen molecules
absorb energy from
solar rays
• Very few atoms and
molecules in this
region. (1 km apart)
• Space shuttles will
also orbit in this
layer.
Figure 1.7
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
• Do Now:
• Take out Energy Proposal and Task Sheet/Rubric.
• Attach the Rubric side up to the front of your
Energy Proposal.
• Objective: identify and describe the main &
minor layers of the atmosphere
The Ozone Layer.
• The thin layer of ozone is in the stratosphere
•This layer is primarily responsible for absorbing the
ultraviolet radiation from the Sun.
•Ozone is made of 3 oxygen molecules
The Ionosphere
• Part of the Mesosphere
• The ionosphere is where auroras take place
• Charged atom interact with photons from the Sun
• Also reflects radio waves, making long-distance radio
communication possible.
Exosphere
• Extremely thin upper layer of our
atmosphere.
• This is the upper limit of our
atmosphere
As altitude increases,
air pressure decreases.
As altitude changes, so
does the temperature.
Thursday, October 8, 2015
• Do Now:
1. Record HW.
• Complete Foldable Questions
2. Update ToC
• P. 16 – Foldable questions
• Obj: To describe the characteristics of Earth’s
atmospheric layers (temperature, pressure, and
composition.)
Thursday, October 8, 2015
• Do Now:
• Without using your notes…
• List the four main layers of the
atmosphere.
• Choose one and describe it in detail.
• Obj: To describe the characteristics of Earth’s
atmospheric layers (temperature, pressure, and
composition.)
Atmosphere Foldable
• Today you will use your class notes to help you
create a Foldable.
• Read your directions carefully.
• Consider what happens when you don’t.
• Make sure your foldable is NEAT and THOROUGH.
• You will use this resource on a future
assignment.
• Tonight, use your foldable to answer the 10
questions on the back of the directions.
Weather & Climate
Weather is comprised of the
elements of:
a) air temperature
b) air pressure
c) humidity
d) clouds
e) precipitation
f) visibility
g) wind
Climate represents long-term
(e.g. 30 yr) averages of weather.