1. Lesson 1.1 & 1.2 of the Science Project
Hamad al Mubaraki
Tameem al Khezzi
Basil Qabandi & Ibrahim al Melhem

2. Lesson 1.1: Earth’s atmosphere supports life

3. Introduction Atmosphere: A whole layer of air that surrounds Earth
Supports life and protects it
Important, but thin
Without the atmosphere, the oceans would not exist & life would not survive

4. The Atmospheres Characteristics
Altitude: The distance above sea level
The air becomes thinner as altitude increases
The thickness or thinness of air is measured by its density
Quick Review; Density: The amount of mass in a given volume of a substance

5. The Atmospheres Materials
Most of the materials in the atmosphere are gases
78% of the gas is nitrogen, 21% of the gas is oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide and other gases make up 1% of the gas
It also contains tiny particles of solid or liquid such as dust.

6. Quick review of cycles
Cycles: A physical and/or chemical process in which one material continually changes locations and/or forms
Three of the most important cycles that affect the atmosphere are the carbon,nitrogen, & water cycle

7. Sudden Changes in the Atmosphere
Dramatic events may cause changes in the atmosphere
It takes time before the atmosphere is able to restore balance
Three of these dramatic events are:
Volcanic Eruptions
Forest Fires
Dust Storms

8. Volcanic Eruptions
Volcanoes shoot gases and huge amounts of ash into the atmosphere which produces haze that affects the air and lower temperatures

9. Forest Fires
When forests burn, the carbon inside the trees combines with oxygen and enters the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Wood ash also enters the atmosphere.

10. Dust Storms
Water,wind, or drought can separate soil, powerful windstorms raise clouds of this seperated soil, these storms add huge amounts of particles in the air for a time.

11. Lesson 1.2: The Sun supplies the atmosphere’s energy

12. Introduction Almost all the energy around you comes from the Sun
Most of this energy reaches the Earth in a form you can see-visible light
Two things happen to the sunlight that reaches Earth, some is reflected and others are absorbed

13. Reflected Sunlight The reflected sunlight is sent to a new direction
You see most of the objects around you by reflected light
Sand is an example of this; the Sun hits it and makes it have bright colors

14. Absorbed Sunlight
The energy from this light heats the substance that absorbs it
Sand that absorbs the sunlight that hits it can become warm or even hot

15. Solar Energy
Radiation: energy that travels across distances in the form of certain types of waves
About 30% of the solar radiation that reaches Earh is reflected, the other 70% is absorbed

16. Solar Radiation
About 5% of solar energy is reflected by Earth’s surface
About 25% of solar energy is reflected by clouds and Earth’s atmosphere
About 20% of solar energy is absorbed by clouds and the atmosphere
About 50% of solar energy is absorbed by Earth’s surface

17. The atmosphere moves energy
The air absorbs solar energy and moves it around and spreads it out unlike the sand which absorbs solar energy and stores it in one place.
Three processes that move energy from place to place are:
Radiation
Conduction
Convection

18. Radiation
Earth’s surface gives off a type of invisible radiation, called infrared radiation that can be absorbed by certain gases
Sunlight warms the ground
The energy from the radiation arms the air and the air has infrared radiation

19. Conduction
Conduction: the transfer of heat energy from one substance to another by direct contact
Earth’s surface transfers energy to the atmosphere by conduction, such as when hot beach sand warms the air above it
The warm ground heats the air

20. Convection
Convection: the transfer of energy from place to place by motion of gas or liquid
Cool, dense air sinks downward and pushes air out of the way,warm air carries energy upward

21. It’s a cycle of radiation !
First,radiation from the Sun warms the sand
Second, the hot sand conducts energy to the air
Third, the warm air carries energy up in convection

22. Temperature layers of the atmosphere
Different parts of the atmosphere absorb and move energy other than density
Four layers of the atmosphere are:
Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere

23. Troposphere The layer of the atmosphere nearest Earth’s surface
Contains about 80% of the total mass of the atmosphere
The troposphere is warmed from below by the ground
Its from 0-6 miles upward & its temperature is from 15C - -60C

24. Stratosphere
The layer of the atmosphere second nearest to the Earth’s surface
Within the stratosphere are molecules of a gas called ozone which absorb a type of solar radiation that is harmful to life
Its from 6-31 miles upward & its temperature is -60C - 0C

25. Mesosphere
The third layer of the atmosphere that is nearest to the Earth’s surface
Extremely thin, holds up 0.1% of the atmospheres mass
Most meteors burn up within the mesosphere
Heated from below, like the troposphere
Its from miles upward & its temperature is 0C - -85C

26. Thermosphere The layer of the atmosphere farthest from Earth's surface
It becomes less and less dense upward until it is outer space
The air high in this layer is very hot because the molecules absorb a certain type of solar radiation
It is from 56 miles and up and its temperature is -85C and it increases