INTRO

Objective 02/4/2013Identify the layers of the atmosphere.

What causes your ears to pop as you drive up a mountain? What does altitude have to do with air-pressure?

LAYERS OF THE ATMOSPHERE

Layers of the Atmosphere Atmosphere The mixture of

gases that surrounds our planet, allowing plants and animals to live here.

Does Air Have Mass? What makes up

our Atmosphere? A mixture of gases

Nitrogen – 78% Oxygen – 21%

And other stuff: Carbon dioxide Salt Dust Ice Water vapor

Does Air Have Mass? Air pressure The measure of

the force with which air molecules push on a surface.

Pressure Demo

Does Air Have Mass? What is Air

Pressure? At sea-level, air

weighs about 30 pounds per square inch!

However, scientists measure air pressure in millibars (mb)

Layers of the Atmosphere What separates

the layers? Areas of different

temperature

Layers of the Atmosphere

Layers of the Atmosphere Troposphere 0 – 12km

Lowest layer All weather and

clouds occur here

Layers of the Atmosphere Stratosphere 12 – 50km

Contains the Ozone Layer, which absorbs harmful UV rays from the sun

Planes fly here

Layers of the Atmosphere Mesosphere 50 – 80km

Coldest layer Meteors burn up

here, producing “meteor tails”

Layers of the Atmosphere Thermosphere 80 – 550km

No definite outer limit

Hottest layer, but thinnest

Layers of the Atmosphere Thermosphere

continued Divided into two

layers Ionosphere

Reflects radio waves back to earth

Aurora Borealis occurs here

Exosphere Satellites and the

International Space Station orbit in this layer!

Layers of the Atmosphere Summary:

What are the four layers of the atmosphere?

Which layer of the atmosphere makes it possible to listen to the radio?

Which layer do you live in?

Objective 02/4/2013

Outro

Identify the layers of the atmosphere.

Why does the temperature of different layers of the atmosphere vary?