Weblesson: Atmosphere
Name: _______________________ Date: _____________ Class period: ________
Student Worksheet
Directions: Type in www.windows2unvierse.org in the address bar of your internet search engine.
Lesson: Temperature and the Earth's Atmosphere
Directions: Go to the following website and complete the data table below.
http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/Atmosphere/layers.html
Data Table #1
Atmospheric
Layer
Based on the background information, list important characteristics of each
layer. Click on the blue hyperlink to find the characteristics of each layer.
Troposphere





First layer
Contains half of the atmosphere
Weather occurs here
All water vapor and dust particles
Low altitude, but high pressure
Stratosphere





Very stable
Contains the ozone layer
Where commercial airplanes fly
Very dry, little water vapor
High temperature because of ozone
Mesosphere




Middle layer
Meteors burn up in this layer
Temperature decreases as you increase altitude
Contain sprites - lightning
Thermosphere




Contains the auroras
High temperatures
Very low air density
Beginnings of space, space orbits Earth in this layer
Exosphere


Very thin
Where atmosphere merges into space
Directions: Refer to the graph, “The Average Temperature Profile of the Earth’s Atmosphere”
found on Windows to the Universe, and complete the data tables.
Data Table #2
Exists
between
which
altitudes
(km)
Thickness
(km)
(Hint:
subtract)
Troposphere
0 - 10
10
Stratosphere
10 - 50
40
Atmospheric
Layer
Mesosphere
Thermosphere
50 - 87
87 - 500
Thickness
(miles)
(Formula:
divide by
1.61)
Maximum
Temperature (°C)
°C x 9/5 + 32 = °F
25 - -50
-
50 - 0
0 - -100
37
413
-
100 - 1500
Ionosphere
Exosphere
500 - Space
Maximum
Temperature (°F)
Formula:
500 - 1500
Directions: Study and analyze the graph, “The Average Temperature Profile of the Earth’s
Atmosphere” as you complete Table 3:
Data Table #3
Atmospheric
Layer
Describe what happens to the temperature as altitude increases. Be sure to
note specific altitudes where abrupt changes occur and how each layer is
heated.
Troposphere

The temperature decreases with altitude
Stratosphere

Temperature increases abruptly at 20 km and levels off at around 47 km
Mesosphere

Temperature gradually decreases starting at 50 km and ending at 80 km
Thermosphere


Temperature increases sharply from 90 km to 100 km
It increases slightly from 100 km – 110 km but increases dramatically
from 110 km and up
Exosphere

Temperature increases dramatically starting at 500 km
Analysis Questions:
1. Study the graph, "The Average Temperature Profile of the Earth's Atmosphere". Does
information there help you to explain why scientists decided where one layer of atmosphere
ended and the next one began? Explain your answer.
The information in the graph definitely helps explain why or how scientists decided
where the different layers of the atmosphere begin. The changes in temperature of
the atmosphere as the altitude increases is a good indication of the different layers,
and is probably what scientists used to determine where the different layers begin
and end.
2. What important layer exists within the stratosphere? The ozone layer
3. What is the importance of this layer within the stratosphere?
The ozone layer is important because is filters harmful ultraviolet rays (uv rays) from the
Sun.
Click on the blue hyperlink, stratosphere, then click on ozone and answer the questions below.
4. After reviewing the effects of both “good” and “bad” ozone, how do you think our lives would
be different if the “good” ozone were destroyed? (at least three sentences).
In the troposphere, you find "bad" ozone is an air pollutant that damages human health,
vegetation, and many common materials. In the stratosphere, we find the "good" ozone that
protects life on Earth from the harmful effects of the Sun's ultraviolet rays. If the good
ozone was destroyed, there would most likely be an increase health issues for many
people.
Click on Does the ionosphere count as another layer? and answer the questions below.
5. What important layer exists within the thermosphere? ionosphere
6. What is the importance of this layer within the thermosphere?
The ionosphere contains electrons and molecules that have gained or lost electrons that
are floating around to help reflect radio waves. Different regions of the ionosphere make
long distance radio communication possible by reflecting the radio waves back to Earth.
7. After reading the section, “Regions of the Ionosphere”, summarize the differences between
the D, E, and F layers. Be sure to pay close attention to which wavelengths of sunlight are
absorbed and which wavelengths are reflected.
Does the ionosphere count as a layer different regions of the ionosphere
Ionospheric Layer
Characteristics
F
It is the highest of all of the regions. Extreme ultra-violet
radiation (EUV) is absorbed there.
E
absorbs soft x-rays.
D
lowest in altitude, though it absorbs the most energetic
radiation, hard x-rays
8. If the ionosphere did not exist, what do you think might be some possible consequences to
humans? Think about which wavelengths the ionosphere blocks and what would happen if
these wavelengths were allowed through the atmosphere to the Earth’s surface.
If the ionosphere didn’t exist, satellite communication would be next to impossible. Also,
many things such human health and the health of animals would be in danger because
of the lack of ultra-violet radiation being absorbed.
Extension Questions:
1. Give a possible explanation as to why the density of the ionosphere is greater at low
latitudes (30°S to 30°N) than at high latitudes (polar regions). (HINT: Think about the effect
of the Sun on the ionosphere and where on the Earth the most direct rays of sunlight are
received.)
2. The density of the atmosphere decreases as altitude increases. Give a possible explanation
for this relationship.
3. Give a possible explanation as to why the density of the ionosphere increases during the
day or during higher solar activity. (HINT: Think about when the Sun’s effect reaches a
maximum during the day and what happens during solar flares.)