THE ATMOSPHERE

Elizabeth Makgakga (201203550)

COMPOSITION OF THE ATMOSPHERE

Layers of the Atmosphere

Layers of the Atmosphere

The atmosphere is the layer of gases that surrounds the planet and makes conditions on Earth suitable for living things.

Layers of the Atmosphere

SpaceExosphereThermosphereMesosphereStratosphere (Ozone Layer)Troposphere (Weather, Life)

Earth’s Surface

Layers of the Atmosphere The troposphere is where all the weather

occurs.

It is the closest layer to Earth’s surface.

It is the layer we live in.

Layers of the Atmosphere

The stratosphere is located directly above the troposphere.

This is where the ozone layer is.

Layers of the atmosphereIn the Mesosphere:

This is the COLDEST layer in the atmosphere.

Altitude Temperature

Layers of the atmosphereIn the thermosphere:

Even though the air is thin in the thermosphere, it is very HOT.

Altitude Temperature

Layers of the atmosphere

Ionosphere or Termosphere Aurora borealis and aurora australis (Northern and

Southern lights) are produced here Exosphere

The last layer Very very few air molecules in

this layer No clear boundary between

this layer and space

Atmospheric pressure The pressure air exerts on a surface. Where is it higher, at sea level or at the top of a mountain?

Low and high pressure areas

Air moves from high pressures areas to low pressure areas

Climate:  is the average weather in a place over many years. While the weather can change in just a few hours, climate takes

hundreds, thousands, even millions of years to change.

Factors affecting climate are: Latitude. How far North or South a place is from the equator.

Longitude. The East or west position of a point on the Earth´s surface.

Distance from the sea. Coastal areas have milder weather than inland areas.

Ocean currents.

Meteorological instruments Thermometer:

measures the air temperature.

A BAROMETER: measures air pressure. It tells you whether or not the pressure is rising

or falling. A rising barometer means sunny and dry

conditions, while a falling barometer means stormy and wet conditions.

An Italian scientist named Torricelli built the first barometer in 1643. 

Anemometer measures wind speed.

Weather vane/ Wind vane: determines the direction from

which the wind is blowing. 

Hygrometer measures the water vapor content

of air. The humidity.

Pluviometer the amount of rain that has fallen

over a specific time period.

Atmospheric Gases

Nitrogen 78.1% & Oxygen 12.9% These are the two most common gases found in

the atmosphere. They can be found throughout all the layers.

Atmospheric Gases

Ozone Ozone is a form of oxygen It is only found in the stratosphere

Atmospheric GasesWater Vapor & Carbon Dioxide (CO2) These are important gases for weather conditions. They are found in the troposphere where weather occurs. Trace Gases These gases are unimportant and found in small amounts

throughout the layers of the atmosphere. Example: argon

Solar Energy

Energy from the Sun is known as Solar Energy.

Solar energy is the driving energy source for heating Earth, and circulation in Earth’s atmosphere.

Solar Energy

Some of the Sun’s energy coming through Earth’s atmosphere is reflected by gases and/or clouds in the atmosphere.

Solar Energy

The land heats up and releases its heat fairly quickly.

Water needs to absorb lots of solar energy to warm up.

It is the water on Earth that helps to regulate the temperature range of Earth’s atmosphere.

Solar Energy

Solar energy that is absorbed by Earth’s land and water surfaces is changed to heat that moves/radiates back into the atmosphere (troposphere) where the heat cannot be transmitted through the atmosphere so it is trapped, a process known as the greenhouse effect.

references

This presentation is a mashup of three different sources: Jones ,m .(2013).Layers of the atmosphere.

http://www.slideshare.net/CPGroupMike/layers-of-the-atmosphere-14376795?qid=5d4c50a2-01bc-4e14-ac40-58bfd6cf6b1f&v=default&b=&from_search=4 assessed on 07/03/2014

Mihayedo , S. p.(2013).The atmosphere.

http://www.slideshare.net/mihayedo/the-atmosphere-1-eso?qid=56e20225-b63c-419b-a47c-43c2461d51ba&v=qf1&b=&from_search=3 assessed on 07/03/2014

Mixhlela, G.O.(2013).Layer of the atmosphere.http://www.slideshare.net/mixhiela/layer-of-the-atmosphere?

qid=56e20225-b63c-419b-a47c-43c2461d51ba&v=qf1&b=&from_search=31 assessed on 07/03/2014