Composition and Composition and Structure of the Structure of the

AtmosphereAtmosphereWhy is it so important to life Why is it so important to life

on earth?on earth?

Composition of the Composition of the AtmosphereAtmosphere

The atmosphere is composed of a The atmosphere is composed of a mixture of gases, solids and liquids.mixture of gases, solids and liquids.

Solids? Particles of dust and dirt float Solids? Particles of dust and dirt float around in the air. Most of these around in the air. Most of these particulates are invisible to the particulates are invisible to the human eye. human eye.

Atmospheric Atmospheric GasesGases(Mixture of gases, solids, and liquids)(Mixture of gases, solids, and liquids)

Nitrogen - 78%Nitrogen - 78% Oxygen - 21%Oxygen - 21% Water Vapor – 0 to 4%Water Vapor – 0 to 4%

Used for clouds and precipitationUsed for clouds and precipitation Carbon Dioxide - .037%Carbon Dioxide - .037%

Keeps Earth warm and is used by Keeps Earth warm and is used by plants to make foodplants to make food

Argon - .93%Argon - .93% Traces of neon, helium, methane, Traces of neon, helium, methane,

krypton, xenon, hydrogen, and krypton, xenon, hydrogen, and ozoneozone

Earth’s atmosphere is Earth’s atmosphere is made up of 5 different made up of 5 different

layers…layers…

Did you know that The Did you know that The Science Monkeys Took Science Monkeys Took

Evan?Evan?

TThehe SSciencecience MMonkeysonkeys TTookook EEvanvan

Say it with Say it with me…me…

I know you are thinking…I know you are thinking…what is she talking what is she talking

about???about??? TThehe SSciencecience MMonkeysonkeys TTookook EEvanvan

MEANS….MEANS….

TTroposphereroposphere SStratospheretratosphere MMesosphereesosphere TThermospherehermosphere EExospherexosphere

THE FIVE LAYERS THE FIVE LAYERS OF THE EARTH’S OF THE EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE ATMOSPHERE FROM THE EARTH FROM THE EARTH OUT!OUT!

Why is the atmosphere Why is the atmosphere divided into 5 different divided into 5 different

layers?layers? Any guesses?Any guesses?

The atmosphere is divided The atmosphere is divided into five different layers into five different layers because the atmosphere is because the atmosphere is not uniform, its properties not uniform, its properties change with altitude.change with altitude.

Two properties change with Two properties change with altitude, the AIR PRESSURE altitude, the AIR PRESSURE and the AIR TEMPERATUREand the AIR TEMPERATURE

Lets look at each layer Lets look at each layer individually.individually.

The first layer of the The first layer of the atmosphere is the…atmosphere is the…

The troposphere is the layer of the atmosphere The troposphere is the layer of the atmosphere nearest to earth.nearest to earth.

The troposphere goes from 0km to 16km.The troposphere goes from 0km to 16km. All weather happens in the troposphere.All weather happens in the troposphere. More than half the air in the total atmosphere is More than half the air in the total atmosphere is

in this layer.in this layer. The temperature drops as the altitude increases.The temperature drops as the altitude increases. Harmful ozone is found here…IT CREATES SMOG!Harmful ozone is found here…IT CREATES SMOG!

TROPOSPHETROPOSPHERERE

What is OZONE?What is OZONE? A gaseous layer in the upper

atmosphere that protects the earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation.

What is SMOG?What is SMOG? Pollution Smoke + Fog = Smog It can make it difficult to

see and the air dangerous to breathe.

The second layer of the The second layer of the atmosphere is the…atmosphere is the…

The stratosphere goes The stratosphere goes from 16km to 50 km.from 16km to 50 km.

The temperature goes up The temperature goes up with altitude.with altitude.

Most jets fly in this layer.Most jets fly in this layer. The protective ozone is The protective ozone is

at the top of the at the top of the stratosphere (It protects stratosphere (It protects us from the ultraviolet us from the ultraviolet radiation of the sun.)radiation of the sun.)

Rivers of air, called Jet Rivers of air, called Jet Streams, can be found at Streams, can be found at the base of this layer.the base of this layer.

STRATOSPHERSTRATOSPHEREE

The third layer of the The third layer of the atmosphere is the…atmosphere is the…

The Mesosphere goes The Mesosphere goes from 50km to 90km.from 50km to 90km.

In the mesosphere, the In the mesosphere, the temperature drops with temperature drops with altitude.altitude.

The mesosphere is the The mesosphere is the coldest layer of the coldest layer of the atmosphere.atmosphere.

Meteors burn up in this Meteors burn up in this layer.layer.

Radio waves are Radio waves are reflected back to earth in reflected back to earth in the mesosphere.the mesosphere.

MESOSPHEREMESOSPHERE

The fourth layer of the The fourth layer of the atmosphere is the…atmosphere is the…

The thermosphere goes from 90km to 300km.The thermosphere goes from 90km to 300km. In the thermosphere the temperature goes up In the thermosphere the temperature goes up

with altitude. with altitude. The thermosphere is the hottest layer of the The thermosphere is the hottest layer of the

atmosphere.atmosphere. Curtains of light called auroras occur in this layer.Curtains of light called auroras occur in this layer. The Ionosphere is found in the thermosphere. The Ionosphere is found in the thermosphere.

This is the component of the thermosphere that This is the component of the thermosphere that makes the auroras.makes the auroras.

THERMOSPHETHERMOSPHERERE

The last layer of the The last layer of the atmosphere is the…atmosphere is the…

The exosphere is the The exosphere is the outermost layer of outermost layer of the atmosphere.the atmosphere.

The temperature in The temperature in the exosphere goes the exosphere goes up with altitude.up with altitude.

Satellites orbit earth Satellites orbit earth in the exosphere.in the exosphere.

EXOSPHEREEXOSPHERE

GOOD LUCK!GOOD LUCK!

It is important to understand the It is important to understand the different characteristics of the earth’s different characteristics of the earth’s atmosphere. As you go through the atmosphere. As you go through the

following slides, challenge your partner following slides, challenge your partner to see who can name the correct layer to see who can name the correct layer

in which each characteristic can be in which each characteristic can be found.found.

EXOSPHEREEXOSPHERE

MESOSPHEREMESOSPHERE

THERMOSPHERETHERMOSPHERE

TROPOSPHERETROPOSPHERE

STRATOSPHERESTRATOSPHERE

THERMOSPHERETHERMOSPHERE

OR THE IONOSPHEREOR THE IONOSPHERE

MESOSPHEREMESOSPHERE