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Published byErika Reed Modified over 9 years ago
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Earth’s Unique Atmosphere 1. Magnetic Field: a layer of electrical charges that protects Earth from solar winds and cosmic rays Caused by: the liquid metal in Earth’s outer core
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Earth’s Unique Atmosphere 2. Ozone Layer: A layer of O 3 molecules that reflects UV radiation
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Ozone Good Ozone: Found in the stratosphere Keeps out harmful UV radiation Bad Ozone: Found in the troposphere Causes pollution and harms lung tissue
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Ozone Depletion Humans are releasing CFC gases into the atmosphere that destroy ozone molecules
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CFC’s Chlorofluorocarbons: gases that break up ozone molecules New Regulations: Montreal Protocol (1987): Now products are made with little or no CFC gases to protect our ozone layer
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Earth’s Unique Atmosphere 3. Greenhouse Effect: Certain gases trap heat inside Earth’s atmosphere and reflect heat back to Earth’s surface
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Greenhouse Gases Any gas that traps heat inside Earth’s atmosphere Carbon dioxide: CO ₂ Methane: CH ₄ Water Vapor: H₂O Nitrous oxide: N₂O Sulfur Dioxide: SO₂
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Exosphere 300-6000 miles above Earth’s surface Extremely hot 200-2000 ºF Mostly Hydrogen and Helium molecules Beginning of outer Space
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Thermosphere 50-300 miles above Earth’s surface Temperature increases with altitude -80 to 200° F Space shuttle, space station and satellites orbit here Aurora: A natural light display caused by energetic particles interacting with Earth’s magnetic field
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Mesosphere 30-50 miles above Earth’s surface Temperature decreases with altitude Coldest layer: -130 to 0 °F Meteors burn up in this layer Noctilucent clouds: high clouds made of ice crystals
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Stratosphere 6-30 miles above Earth’s surface Temperature increases with altitude -100 to 30 °F Good ozone layer Reflects harmful UV radiation Military air space Jet stream: A current of rapidly moving air Radiosonde: Weather balloon
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Troposphere 0-6 miles above Earth’s surface Temperature decreases with altitude: -100 to 60 ºF Highest air pressure = Contains most air molecules Bad ozone: causes air pollution Weather and cloud formation Commercial airplanes fly here Highest mountain: Mt. Everest 5.5 miles
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Atmospheric Temperature Graph
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90 miles Thermosphere 50 miles Mesosphere 30 miles Stratosphere 6 miles Troposphere -120 ⁰F -60 ⁰F 0 ⁰F 60 ⁰F 120 ⁰F
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