Today’s Agenda…11-14 Bellringer: What causes winds? Wrap up Air Movement Notes and Discussion Notes on Earth’s Atmosphere Test on Wednesday
Earth’s Atmosphere Study Pack #11
Today’s Goals… I can describe the layers of the Earth’s atmosphere.
Atmosphere Thin layer of air that forms a protective covering around the planet What would happen if Earth did not have an atmosphere? Maintains a balance of heat on Earth Protects life forms from the sun’s harmful rays
Atmosphere Mixture of gases, solids, liquids Nitrogen is the most abundant gas Oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide Page 91
Atmosphere Layers: Troposphere Stratosphere Mesosphere Thermosphere Exosphere
Troposphere Lowest of Earth’s atmospheric layers The layer you live in Extends up 10 km Rain, snow, and clouds occur here
Stratosphere 10 – 50 km up Contains the ozone layer Shields your from harmful UV rays
Mesosphere 50 – 85 km You may see shooting stars in the mesosphere
Thermosphere 85 – 500 km Very high temperatures In the mesosphere and thermosphere is the ionosphere A layer of electrically charged particles Allows AM radio waves to travel across the country
Exosphere Space shuttles orbit in the exosphere
Atmospheric Pressure Atmospheric gases extend hundreds of kilometers above Earth’s surface The force of gravity pulls these gases downward which causes them to press down on the gases below Air pressure is greater near Earth’s surfaces and decreases higher in the atmosphere
Atmospheric Pressure Why is it difficult to breath as you go higher into the atmosphere? The air is less dense (less pressure) There are fewer molecules of air (page 94) Applying Science
Temperature in the Atmosphere Figure 8, page 95 The layers of the atmosphere are based mainly on differences in temperature
Temperature in the Atmosphere