Layers of the Atmosphere

Fill in your notes as we move through…..prepare to answer questions.

Aim and HW AIM: Describe the layers of

the Earth’s atmosphere

HW:1) Quiz on Monday2) Test corrections due Friday3) Complete worksheet

DO NOWIn your EcoLog, explain how humans interact

daily with the atmosphere

Pass up Layers of Atmosphere Lab (per 1/2)

Gases in the Atmosphere

Nitrogen =78%Oxygen = 21%Argon = 0.9%Trace = 0.1%

Greenhouse Gases

Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Water Vapor (H2O).

Heat trying to escape

the Earth through

the atmosphere

is blocked.

Think, Pair, ShareAre greenhouse gases a good thing

or a bad thing? Why?

The Troposphere(0-12Km)The layer that HUGS the surface of the Earth.

Warmest at the surface and gets colder as you move up….Have you ever been to the top of the Empire State Building in the summer?

WEATHER & CLOUDS

About 12 KM in height.

Tropopause – Highest Boundary where temps stay at ~-450 C

The Stratosphere(14-50 Km)

OZONE (O3) Layer is found here.

Earth’s SUNBLOCK, it absorbs harmful UV light before it reaches the surface.

Temperatures rise as you move higher in the stratosphere………weird…..why?

Statopause – Uppermost boundary

The Mesosphere(~53 – 85Km)

Meteors burn in the Mesosphere…..

Again, temperatures decrease……why?

Mesopause – Uppermost boundary

Thermosphere (~87 - ???Km)

THERMOS = HEAT

Temperatures in the upper Thermosphere can exceed 20000 C……….why are we not on fire????

Aurora’s……..

Northern Lights…..what

causes them?

Wrap it upThe Earth’s atmosphere works like a quilt, it

keeps the Earth warm by trapping heat. Greenhouse gasses are responsible for the trapping of the heat.

The Earth warms itself from the GROUND UP, not from the top down. This is, again, the same way a quilt works.......YOU warm the air under the quilt and the quilt traps that heat.

There are 4 major layers of the atmosphere. Each layer has distinct properties. Each layer is separated from the next layer by a PAUSE……temperatures stay stable in the PAUSES.

Animationhttp://earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthguide/diagrams/

atmosphere/index.html

CLOSUREWe’ve learned that we interact

with the atmosphere on a daily basis. What do you think – do our interactions have a

positive or negative effect on the atmosphere? Explain your

answer.