Atmospheric Layers

ThoughtWhat happens when you put something heavy on top of something soft?

(Provide example)

You sitting on a bed

Examples:

Pushing down trash in a plastic bag

A jar of mayonnaise on top of a slice of bread

Would you agree that everything has weight?

Defining Atmosphere

The atmosphere is a thin _________ of _______ that forms a protective ______ around the Earth.

Vocabulary Words

• Stratosphere

• Mesosphere

• Troposphere

• Density

• Thermosphere

• Exosphere

• Molecules

Defining DensityDensity is a comparison of how

much matter (molecules) there is in a certain amount of space.

What affect does this have on the atmosphere?

MoleculesThe smallest particle of a substance

that retains the chemical andphysical properties of the substance and is composed of two or moreatoms; a group of like or different atoms held together by chemical

forces.

Bun

Hamburger

Tomato

Lettuce

Bun

Understanding Layers

Layers

Earth

Troposphere• Starts at earth’s surface and extends 8 to 14.5 kilometers (5-9 miles)

• Contains almost all weather

• Most dense

• Contains nitrogen, oxygen, and other gases

• As you get higher, the temperature drops from about 17 to 52 degrees Celsius

Stratosphere• Starts just above the troposphere and extends to 50 kilometers (31 miles) high

•Dry and less dense than troposphere

• Contains nitrogen, oxygen, and other gases

• Contains the ozone layer

• Temperature decreases to -3 degrees Celsius, due to absorption of ultraviolet radiation

Mesosphere• Starts above stratosphere and extends to 85 kilometers (53 miles)

• Temperatures fall as low as -93 degrees Celsius

• Contains nitrogen and oxygen

Thermosphere• Starts just above the mesosphere and extends to 600 kilometers (372 miles)

• Temperatures increases up to 1, 727 degrees Celsius• Contains nitrogen and oxygen

Beyond the Atmosphere

• Starts at the thermosphere and continues until merging with interplanetary gases, or space

• Hydrogen and Helium are prime components and are only present at extremely low densities

EARTH SURFACE

Troposphere

Stratosphere

Mesosphere

Thermosphere

EXOSPHERE – Outer Space

AtmosphereKey:Nitrogen – OxygenOther Gases