the layers of the atmosphere pontius
TRANSCRIPT
Hannah Pontius
8th Grade Science
Where we live
Where weather happens
“Air” is composed of about 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, and !% of other gases like Argon and Carbon Dioxide
Size is from the surface of the Earth 4-12 miles up
“Air” gets thinner with height
Temperature gets colder with height
Photo Courtesy of Paul Downey via Flickr
Extends from top of Troposphere to 31 miles above Earth’s surface
Holds 19% of atmospheric gases
Holds very little water vapor
OZONE is here!
Temperature INCREASES with
height
Warm stratosphere over cool troposphere equals anvil clouds
Photo Courtesy of LadyDragonfly CC <3 via Flickr
Gases thinner with height
Temperature decreases with height
Extends from top of stratosphere to 56 miles above the Earth surface
The gases are just thick enough to burn up meteors as they pass into the atmosphere
Photo courtesy of Ed Sweeney via Flickr
HOT! Not to humans…we need particles to feel temperature
This layer has little to no air particles, so we cannot feel the temperature
Can reach up to 3600 degrees Farenheit
Extends from mesosphere to 375 miles above the Earth
X-rays and high energy ultraviolet rays are absorbed here
In the thermosphere…
From 37 miles above the Earth to 190 miles above the Earth
Contains electrically charged particles (ions)
Where radio signals bounce to and back to us!
Photo courtesy of AlphaGeek via Flickr: Also…
Outermost layer
Extends from thermosphere to 6200 miles above the Earth
Where satellites orbit
Atoms and air particles escape here
Photo courtesy of NASA Goddard Space and Flight Center via Flickr
Our atmosphere makes Earth unique
Protects us from the sun
Allows enough energy from the sun in to sustain life
Venus: dense, hot, sulfuric acid clouds, carbon dioxide and nitrogen make it up
Mars: Thin, mostly carbon dioxide
Saturn: helium and hydrogen, with ammonia crystal clouds
Venus provided by NASA
Saturn by NASA
Mars by NASA
If other planets developed atmospheres like Earth, we could inhabit them
If our atmosphere is not taken care of, the energy from the sun will ruin the planet
All information taken from the years I have been teaching this material…
All images have been credited next to the picture