7-3: Layers of the Atmosphere · 7-3: Layers of the Atmosphere Summary •The Earth’s atmosphere...
Transcript of 7-3: Layers of the Atmosphere · 7-3: Layers of the Atmosphere Summary •The Earth’s atmosphere...
7-3: Layers of the Atmosphere
6th Grade Earth Science
7-3: Layers of the Atmosphere
7-3: Layers of the Atmosphere
• The Earth’s atmosphere has 4 main layers:
1. Troposphere
2. Stratosphere
3. Mesosphere
4. Thermosphere
Layers of the Atmosphere
7-3: Layers of the Atmosphere
• The troposphere is the lowest layer: 9 km to 16 km thick.
• Most of Earth’s weather occurs in this layer.
• Also, most of the Earth’s mass is found here.
1st - Troposphere
7-3: Layers of the Atmosphere
• The stratosphere is the 2nd layer, just above the troposphere – the top is about 50 km above the Earth.
• It contains the Ozone Layer – which blocks harmful radiation.
2nd - Stratosphere
7-3: Layers of the Atmosphere
• It is about -60˚C at the bottom, and actually warms toward the middle due to the ozone layer.
7-3: Layers of the Atmosphere
• The mesosphere is the 3rd layer, just above the stratosphere – the top is about 80 km above the Earth.
• It is where most meteoroids burn up as shooting stars.
• Very cold, about -90˚C
3rd - Mesosphere
7-3: Layers of the Atmosphere
• The thermosphere is the 4th layer, just above the mesosphere – its top blends into space.
• It is very hot, 1600˚C, because the sun’s radiation hits this layer first – heating up the Oxygen and Nitrogen.
4th - Thermosphere
7-3: Layers of the Atmosphere
• Just above the ionosphere, at about 400 km, is the exosphere, which has no top!!! It just slowly blends into space over 1000’s of kilometers.
7-3: Layers of the Atmosphere
7-3: Layers of the Atmosphere
7-3: Layers of the Atmosphere
7-3: Layers of the Atmosphere
7-3: Layers of the Atmosphere
Clouds hitting the stratosphere.
7-3: Layers of the Atmosphere
Review
7-3: Layers of the Atmosphere Summary
• The Earth’s atmosphere has 4 main layers; troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere.
• The thermosphere has two parts, lower part is the ionosphere and the upper part is the exosphere.