1. EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE
Chapter 14.1
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2. ATMOSPHERIC GASES 78% Nitrogen 21% Oxygen
1% Trace gases - argon, carbon dioxide, water vapor, etc.

3. LAYERS OF THE ATMOSPHERE (LOWER)
Troposphere – lowest layer (0-10 km)
Where life exists
75% of the atmospheric gases
Weather occurs here
Stratosphere – (10-50 km)
99% of gases are here and below
Pressurized aircraft (jets) above weather
Ozone layer

4. LAYERS OF THE ATMOSPHERE (UPPER)
Mesosphere (50-80 km)
Temperature reaches the lowest point
-90o C = -130o F
Thermosphere –2 parts
Ionosphere ( km)
Contains ions which are electrically charged particles
Ions reflect radio waves back to earth
Ions interact with air to cause auroras

5. Exosphere (550 – km)
Hottest layer in the atmosphere ( o C)

6. ATMOSHPERIC TEMPERATURE
Changes as you move through the atmosphere
Heated by absorbing energy from the sun
Different gases absorb different amounts of energy

7. ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE Sea level has the greatest amount of pressure.
Density is greater at the bottom of the atmosphere
Density decreases as you rise through the atmosphere
The greater the density, the greater the pressure