2. Atmospheric Basics Section 11.1
Essential Questions:
What are characteristics of the atmosphere?
How are atmospheric properties measured?
How do clouds and precipitation form?
Objectives:
Define Earth’s spheres
Identify characteristics of each layer of the atmosphere

3. Spheres of Earth Biosphere All connected and powered by the Sun
Atmosphere
“Air”
Biosphere
Asthenosphere
Hydrosphere
“Inside”
“Life”
“Water”
All connected and powered by the Sun
Lithosphere
“Rock”

4. Layers of the Atmosphere: Foldable
Page 284
For each layer:
Characteristics
Temperature/altitude relationship (Fig 11.4)
“As altitude increases, temperature ________”
“-Pauses” aka barriers (if any)
Items found there (Fig 11.4 & 11.5)

5. Closure Felix Baumgartner jumped from ~24 mi
What layer did he jump from?
What layer did he land in?
Did he jump from the “edge of space”?

6. Atmospheric Layers Exosphere Thermosphere Mesosphere Stratosphere
Objectives:
Review layers 2. Describe atmospheric composition
3. Summarize energy flow in the atmosphere
Exosphere
Thermosphere
Mesosphere
Stratosphere
Troposphere
(Earth)

7. Troposphere Closest to Earth’s surface
Contains most of mass of atmosphere
Weather occurs here
Air temperature decreases as altitude increases
Tropopause – altitude at which temperature stops decreasing
Items found here:

9. Stratosphere Above tropopause Air temperature increases with altitude
Contains ozone layer
Heating above ozone layer caused by ozone molecules absorbing UV radiation from Sun
Stratopause – altitude where temperature stops increasing
Items found here:

11. Mesosphere Above stratopause Air temperature decreases with altitude
Occurs because very little solar radiation is absorbed by this layer
Mesopause – top of mesosphere, where temperature stops decreasing with altitude
Items found here:

13. Thermosphere Ionosphere: Made of electrically charged particles
Extremely low density of air causes temperature to rise
Ionosphere: Made of electrically charged particles
Items found here:

15. Exosphere Outermost layer No clear boundary at top
Transitional region between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space
Number of atoms and molecules in exosphere becomes very small as altitude increases
Items found here:

17. Atmospheric Layers Review
Please have your notebooks out and closed on your desk.
Exosphere
Thermosphere
Mesosphere
Stratosphere
Troposphere
Earth

18. Atmospheric Composition
Atmosphere – layer of gases that surrounds the Earth
99% of atmosphere made of nitrogen and oxygen
1% made of water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other trace gases

19. Ozone Ozone (O3) absorbs solar UV radiation
Protects living things
Ozone varies with the seasons at higher latitudes
Minimum in spring
Decrease due to reacting with CFCs (cholorfluorocarbons) which break it down

20. Atmospheric Particles
Carried by the wind in atmosphere
Dust and soil
Salt particles from ocean spray
Airborne microorganisms (fungi/bacteria) attached to microscopic dust

21. Energy Transfer in the Atmosphere
Heat = transfer of thermal energy from an area of higher temperature to an area of lower temperature
3 ways thermal energy is transferred in the atmosphere:
Radiation
Conduction
Convection

22. Radiation
Definition: transfer of thermal energy by electromagnetic waves
Light from sun heats some portions of Earth surface at all times
Solar energy that reaches Earth can be absorbed and reflected by Earth’s atmosphere and Earth’s surface

23. Absorption and Reflection
Almost all visible light pass through the atmosphere and strikes Earth’s surface
Most visible light is absorbed by Earth’s surface
Surface reflects infrared waves
The atmosphere absorbs some infrared waves and reflects infrared waves of different wavelengths
30% of solar radiation is reflected into space by Earth’s surface, atmosphere or clouds
20% is absorbed by atmosphere and clouds
50% is absorbed directly or indirectly by Earth’s surface and keeps Earth’s surface warm

24. Conduction
Definition: Transfer of thermal energy between objects when their atoms or molecules collide
Easier in solids and liquids (atoms are closer)
Air is mixture of gases, so it is a poor conductor of thermal energy
In atmosphere, conduction occurs between Earth’s surface and lowest part of atmosphere

25. Convection
Definition: Transfer of thermal energy by movement of heated material from one place to another
Occurs mainly in liquids and gases

26. Convection As it rises, air cools and density increases
Air becomes more dense then atmosphere and it sinks
Air near the surface is heated; becomes less dense and rises
As air sinks, it warms again; Repeat

27. https://www. wisc-online

28. Closure Give an example of each happening in everyday life: Radiation
Conduction
Convection