1. Aim: How is our atmosphere structured?
Do Now:
Which gasses make up the largest concentration within the atmosphere?
Where does the greatest concentration of water vapor exist?

2. I. Atmospheric Pressure
- The weight of the air molecules above you.
measured with a barometer
(units = millibars or in. Hg (inches of Mercury))

3. ESRT Page 13 1016.0 29.47 28.58 Convert the following pressures:
1) inches Hg = ________ mb
2) mb = ________ inches Hg
3) mb= __________ inches Hg
1016.0
29.47
28.58

4. (all the gas molecules are above your head weighing down on you)
- The atmosphere thins as you travel up. (less molecules)
Where would you expect to find the most pressure?
Where would you expect to find the least pressure?
At sea level (1 atm)
On a mountain peak
WHY?
WHY?
At sea level, there is 1 atm of pressure creating the greatest pressure felt on Earth.
(all the gas molecules are above your head weighing down on you)

5. - A decrease in gas molecules
As altitude increases air pressure decreases.
At the top of the Stratosphere the pressure comes close to 0 atm.
Why does the pressure approach zero as altitude increases?
- A decrease in gas molecules
Sea level
ESRT page 14

6. II. Changes in Temperature:
ESRT p. 13
a measure of the average kinetic energy in a substance. (particle movement)
- Units include;
Celsius
Fahrenheit
Kelvin
Convert the following temperatures:
500F = ______ 0C or _______ K
600C = ______ 0F or _______ K 10
283
140
333

7. III. Layers of the Atmosphere

8. ESRT page 14
- Changes in temperatures mark the different layers of the atmosphere (occurs at the “pause”).

9. What is the lowest temperature in the Troposphere?
Troposphere: (where we live!)
90% of all gases
all clouds and weather (water vapor)
Temp. decreases as altitude increases
What is the lowest temperature in the Troposphere?
-550C
Describe the relationship between temperature and altitude in the Troposphere.

10. What is the highest temperature in the stratosphere?
Contains the Ozone Layer.
Temperature
increases as altitude increases.
What is the highest temperature in the stratosphere?
- 00C
Describe the relationship between temperature and altitude in the Stratosphere.

11. Contains Jet Streams; which are high speed winds that influence our daily weather.

12. At what altitude does the Mesosphere begin?
“Shooting Stars” are seen is this layer as rocks enter our atmosphere.
Temp. decreases as altitude increases.
Describe the relationship between temperature and altitude in the Mespsphere.
At what altitude does the Mesosphere begin?
- 30mi or 50km

13. 4. Thermosphere Temperature increases as altitude increases.
Describe the relationship between temperature and altitude in the Thermosphere.
Temperature increases as altitude increases.
Contains the ionosphere (charged particles) creating the “Aurora’s” or The Northern & Southern Lights

14. Contains Earth’s
Satellites
Last layer before
space

15. ESRT page 14

16. Closure 1:
Review Book
Worksheet
Watch the video

17. There are colored pencils in the back for you to use as well.
Closure 2:
Complete the “Layers of the Atmosphere” worksheet by first filling in the names of each layer on the diagram. To help you, between Earth and the first line should be labeled the Troposphere.
After filling in each layers name, write/draw all the information about each layer that we discussed in class for each layer.
You may use your IPad to find further information about each layer and what might exists there.
There are colored pencils in the back for you to use as well.

18. Aurora (Northern Lights)