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Atmosphere and the Big Four Systems of Our Earth

See your Atmosphere Guided Notes.

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Composition of Earth Earth has 4 interactive systems:

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The Atmosphere– layer of gas that surrounds Earth, more commonly known as air.

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Atmosphere. How do you know it’s there? Is this air that surrounds us considered to be matter?

Does it weigh anything? How do you know? Think about it and decide on answers. Talk in groups if assigned by teacher. Be ready to tell the class what you decided and why. Don’t start cooperative group work unless you know

and follow group rules. Any questions?

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Weight of the atmosphere Gases are in the

atmosphere. Their elements are

listed in the periodic table: Nitrogen, Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, Hydrogen

Air is matter! Sound can travel

through it. It has volume and mass.

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Even though you can’t see them, atoms make up gases.

Are some atoms bigger than others? Are their atomic weights all the same?

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Helium vs. Carbon Dioxide

Do you think of helium as light and floating or heavy and falling?

Do you think about Carbon Dioxide as light and floating or heavy and falling? Think about the gas released from dry ice--does it go up or down?

http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=F239cINIADs

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Composition of Earth’s Atmosphere

atmosphere Mostly Nitrogen and Oxygen Has layers Protects us from meteors and

comets, x-rays, gamma rays, ultra violet light

Water vapor is responsible for clouds and precipitation

Composition is almost constant EXCEPT for water (from 0 to 5% --not shown in the pie chart above)

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Atmosphere

(Exosphere)--

Thermosphere--

Mesosphere--

Stratosphere--

Troposphere

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Composition of Earth’s atmosphereThe Atmosphere

layers Exosphere

Thermosphere Ionosphere

Mesosphere Stratosphere Troposphere

What is below thetroposphere?geosphere (solid Earth)

Exosphere

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Where does the troposphere fit in? Earth’s 4 main systems:

The Atmosphere Troposphere

Contains most clouds and weather. Temperature cools as you go higher;

~50% of sun’s energy enters, 50% is reflected back.

Most of the troposphere’s heat has bounced back from Earth (convection)

Stratosphere Mesosphere Thermosphere

The Hydrosphere The Biosphere The Geosphere

Exosphere

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Atmosphere

(Exosphere)

Thermosphere--

Mesosphere--

Stratosphere--

Troposphere--Contains most clouds and weather.Temperature cools as you go higher; 50% of sun’s energy passes through, 50% is reflected back.Most of the troposphere’s heat is from Earth (convection)

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Troposphere, Water, and Clouds Among other gases, there is water vapor in the

troposphere. The amount varies. You cannot see water vapor. Clouds form when air rises, cools to its dew point,

and becomes saturated with water vapor. Water changes state. Bits of liquid and solid

water can remain suspended in air.

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Precipitation-falling water in the form of rain, freezing rain, sleet, snow, or hail

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So water changes state. Why does that matter so much?Changing state: Redistributes fresh water all over Earthhttp://earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthguide/diagrams/watercycle/

Causes much wind!

Models of these phenomena will be demonstrated now, if possible. Try to figure out how they represent Earth.

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Water Cycle Demonstration

(involves redistribution of water)

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Water Vapor Demonstration(involves huge change in volume)

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Earth’s Weatherin the Troposphere

Weather—the atmosphere’s condition in terms of temperature, cloud cover, wind speed and direction, humidity, and air pressure.

What are different types of weather? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Temperature—a measure of how fast air molecules are moving.

When molecules are moving rapidly, temperature is high.

Celsius and Fahrenheit thermometers measure air temperature.

Earth’s Weatherin the Troposphere

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What is the temperature like today? Hot/ Cold ______________________ Degrees Fahrenheit_______________ Degrees Celsius _________________

Energy is transferred between fast-moving molecules and slower-moving molecules.

Earth’s Weatherin the Troposphere

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Energy is transferred by: Conduction—transfer of energy when molecules

collide. Give an example of something heating up due to conduction.

Convection, which occurs when warm air rises and cool air sinks.

Give an example of something heating up due to convection. Radiation—transfer of energy by waves or rays

Examples are light, microwaves, or heat. Infrared radiation is heat.

Earth’s Weatherin the Troposphere

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Air pressure— the weight of air. Since air is a fluid, the weight pushes in all directions, not just down.

Air pressure varies from one place to another Warmer air is less dense and exerts less pressure. Cooler air is more dense and exerts more pressure. Works just like other fluids, such as water.

Earth’s Weatherin the Troposphere

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Air Pressure Demonstration or Discussion —Write about what you learned.

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Humidity— the amount of water vapor in the air

Temperature affects humidity

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Dewpoint—when the air is holding as much water vapor as it can

Relative humidity— a measure of the amount of water vapor present compared to the amount that could be held at a specific temperature.

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THAT WAS ALL ABOUT THE TROPOSPHERE!!!

Let’s cover the other layers briefly.

Go back up to the graphic organizer at the top of your guided notes and fill in information about each layer as we come to it.

Atmosphere

(Exosphere)

Thermosphere--

Mesosphere--

Stratosphere--

Troposphere

Altitude and temperature

What does this mean?

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Composition of Earth’s atmosphere Earth Has 4 main systems

that interact: The Atmosphere

Troposphere Stratosphere

10 km to 50 km contains ozone (the ozone layer)

that absorbs much of the Sun’s ultraviolet radiation.

Gets warmer as you go up! Mesosphere Thermosphere

The Hydrosphere The Biosphere The Geosphere

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Atmosphere

(Exosphere)

Thermosphere--

Mesosphere-

Stratosphere--10 km to 50 km Contains ozone, which absorbs much of Sun’s ultraviolet radiation. Gets warmer as you go up.

Troposphere--Contains most clouds and weather. Most of the troposphere’s heat is from Earth. Temperature cools about 6.5 degrees Celsius per kilometer of altitude.

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Composition of Earth’s atmosphere Earth Has 4 main systems

that interact: The Atmosphere

Troposphere Stratosphere Mesosphere

50-85 km The coldest part of the

atmosphere (to -90°C) Gets colder as you go up. Thermosphere

The Hydrosphere The Biosphere The Geosphere

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Atmosphere

(Exosphere)

Thermosphere--

Mesosphere- 50-85 km, The coldest part of the atmosphere (to -90°C)Gets colder as altitude gets higher.

Stratosphere--10 km to 50 km , contains ozone that absorbs much of the Sun’s ultraviolet radiation.Gets warmer as you go up.

Troposphere--Contains most clouds and weather. Most of the troposphere’s heat is from Earth Temperature cools about 6.5 degrees Celsius per kilometer of altitude.

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Composition of Earth’s atmosphere Earth has 4 main interactive systems:

1. The Atmosphere Troposphere Stratosphere Mesosphere Thermosphere

80-500 km Temperatures increase up to 1,700°C Filters out x-rays and gamma rays from

the sun. This is an image of the space shuttle as it

is orbiting around the Earth. The space shuttle orbits in the thermosphere of the Earth.

2. The Hydrosphere3. The Biosphere4. The Geosphere

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Atmosphere

(Exosphere)

Thermosphere-- 80-500 km, Temperatures increase up to 1,700°C. Filters out x-rays and gamma rays from the sun. The space shuttle orbits in the thermosphere.

Mesosphere--The temperature drops when you go higher, like it does in the troposphere. Coldest part of the atmosphere

Stratosphere--from 10 km to 50 km above Earth’s surface, this layer contains ozone that absorbs much of

Sun’s ultraviolet radiation.

Troposphere--Contains most clouds and weather., Most of the troposphere’s heat is from Earth, Temperature cools about 6.5 degrees Celsius per kilometer of altitude.

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Thermosphere: Ionosphere Ionosphere is the inner part of the thermosphere a layer of electrically charged particles This layer allows radio waves to travel across the

country to another city. www.blo ust.com/henley http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthguide/diagrams

/atmosphere/index.html

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Thermosphere: Exosphere The outer part of the thermosphere The last layer of the atmosphere Difficult to tell where it stops and space begins Very few atoms in this layer of the atmosphere Temperature gets higher with higher altitude (e.g.

17,000 degrees C) But if we could visit, it would not feel hot. Why

is that?

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Atmosphere

(Exosphere)-The outer part of the thermosphere. Difficult to tell where it stops and space begins, Very few atoms in this layer of the atmosphere. Higher altitude~higher temperature.

Thermosphere-- The air is really thin that high up. The temperature changes with the solar activity. If the sun is active,

temperatures in the thermosphere can get up to 1,500°C or higher! High temperature, but would not feel hot if we could visit. (Why?)

Mesosphere--The temperature drops when you go higher, like it does in the troposphere. Coldest part of the atmosphere

Stratosphere--from 10 km to 50 km above Earth’s surface, this layer contains ozone that absorbs much of the

Sun’s ultraviolet radiation.

Troposphere--Contains most clouds and weather., Most of the troposphere’s heat is from Earth, Temperature cools about 6.5 degrees Celsius per kilometer of altitude.

Ionosphere: the inner part of the thermosphere a layer of electrically charged particles

within the mesosphere and thermosphere This layer allows radio waves to travel.

Any questions?

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