Our Atmosphere. Important to Earth . Provides Protection, Has life giving gasses, Keeps it possible for us to have water in the liquid state. Allows for a stable environment.

Composition of atmosphere Gasses Air and Water. Mixture. Oxygen, Nitrogen make up 99%of dry air volume. 1% argon carbon dioxide. Others … He, H, neon, ozone and krypton. This air thins out quickly as you increase altitude. Air always contains some water vapor. Humidity.

Ozone Importance Result?? Cause Is a form of oxygen gas. A molecule of ozone contains three oxygen atoms. A molecule of oxygen contains only two oxygen atoms. Ozone forms when ultraviolet light rays from the sun act on the oxygen in the upper most part of the atmosphere about 10 to 50 km up. It absorbs 99% of the harmful ultraviolet rays. If the atmosphere has less ozone, more ultraviolet rays reach Earth’s surface, causing more sunburns, skin cancer and plant damage. Chlorofluorocarbons or (cfc) Combo of chlorine, fluorine, and carbon. Used in coolants and foam products CFCs break down ozone.

Ozone http://www.youtube.com /watch?NR=1&feature=e ndscreen&v=AU0eNa4Gr gU Ozone measurements since 1970 show a hole in this protective layer of gas centered over Antarctica.

Structure of the Earths Atmosphere. Temperature cools with elevation all earths clouds and weather occurs here. 0-18 km Greatest concentration of gasses. Troposphere

Stratosphere Temp rises with elevation. Contains ozone layer that protects us from harmful UV light. Little or no weather here. 18-50km Jet stream is located hear. Jet stream is an area of high winds generally blowing from west to east. These winds circle the globe.

Mesosphere Temp cools with elevation. Air molecules become ionized. 50-80km. The gases in the mesosphere are now thick enough to slow down meteors hurtling into the atmosphere, where they burn up, leaving fiery trails in the night sky.

Thermosphere Temp rises with elevation meteors and northern lights happen here. 80-500km As such, incoming high energy ultraviolet and x-ray radiation from the sun begins to be absorbed by the molecules in this layer and causes a large temperature increase. Because of this absorption, the temperature increases with height. From as low as -184°F (-120°C) at the bottom of this layer, temperatures can reach as high as 3,600°F (2,000°C) near the top.

Ionosphere Northern lights. Occurs in both the top half of the mesosphere and extends threw the thermosphere. Ions are formed when uv light from the sun knock electrons off of oxygen atoms. These layers reflect radio waves back to earth Each layer can reflect a different frequency. Are caused by solar events . The eruptions of solar energy interact with Earth’s magnetic fields at the poles. Together with the air particles thy form auroras.

Northern Lights.

Layers of the atmosphere activity/Project.