The AtmosphereThe Atmosphere

AtmosphereAtmosphere Made up of mostly nitrogen and oxygenMade up of mostly nitrogen and oxygen

Protects us from the SunProtects us from the Sun

““atmo” means air/vaporatmo” means air/vapor

Also contains dust, volcanic ash, sea salt, dirt, Also contains dust, volcanic ash, sea salt, dirt, smoke, and other pollutantssmoke, and other pollutants

Air PressureAir Pressure Force of all the air pushing Force of all the air pushing down down

Decreases with altitude Decreases with altitude (height)(height)

TemperatureTemperature Composition of the Composition of the atmosphere effects atmosphere effects temperaturetemperature

Temperatures drop, Temperatures drop, raise, drop, and raise raise, drop, and raise again the higher up again the higher up you go (each layer you go (each layer acts differently)acts differently)

TroposphereTroposphere

• most dense and most pressuremost dense and most pressure

• Closest to Earth’s surfaceClosest to Earth’s surface

• Is where the weather happensIs where the weather happens

• Has clouds, water vapor, pollutionHas clouds, water vapor, pollution

• Gases mix due to varying temp’sGases mix due to varying temp’s

• ““tropo” means turn/changetropo” means turn/change

StratosphereStratosphere

• Gases here are layered and do not mixGases here are layered and do not mix

• Air is thin with little moistureAir is thin with little moisture

• Ozone layer is here - absorbs the ultraviolet Ozone layer is here - absorbs the ultraviolet radiation from the sun (making life on earth radiation from the sun (making life on earth possible)possible)

• ““strato” means layeredstrato” means layered

MesosphereMesosphere ““Meso” means Meso” means middlemiddle

Coldest layerColdest layer

Uppermost layerUppermost layer

High temp’s but High temp’s but feels coldfeels cold

Mostly made of OMostly made of O++, , NN++, and He, and He++ ions ions

ThermospherThermospheree

ConductionConduction the transfer of heat through direct the transfer of heat through direct contactcontact

occurs when hot air molecules occurs when hot air molecules contacts Earth’s surfacecontacts Earth’s surface

Example: touching hot itemExample: touching hot item

ConvectionConvection transfer of heat in currents of a liquid or transfer of heat in currents of a liquid or a gas a gas

hot liquids and gases move up, cool hot liquids and gases move up, cool move downmove down

Examples: heat rising off hot street, Examples: heat rising off hot street, boiling waterboiling water

RadiationRadiation

transfer of heat through invisible wavestransfer of heat through invisible waves

Comes from the Sun or something hotComes from the Sun or something hot

Responsible for the weather cycleResponsible for the weather cycle

Example: face is warmed with sunlight on Example: face is warmed with sunlight on itit

1

2

3

GreenhouseGreenhouse

EffectEffect

The warming of Earth The warming of Earth because the because the atmosphere holds heat atmosphere holds heat like a blanket; (carbon like a blanket; (carbon dioxide and water dioxide and water vapor hold heat)vapor hold heat)

GlobalGlobal

WarmingWarming

increase in global increase in global temperature due to temperature due to an increase in an increase in greenhouse gases greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide)(carbon dioxide)