Name:
Block:
Date:
Layers of the Atmosphere Practice
Directions: In the center picture below, label the 4 layers of the atmosphere. Draw a picture of different
objects/phenomena of that layer. In the boxes to the sides, write in the approximate kilometers above sea level of each
layer. Then, designate one color per gas molecule, and color in the correct number of dots representing the different gas
compositions of each.
________ km
________ km
________ km
Sea level
________ km
Nitrogen
Color:
Level
Objects/Phenomena
Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere
Weather, parachute jumpers, hot air balloons, mountain peaks
Ozone layer, airplanes
Meteors
Spacecrafts, satellites, polar lights
Nitrogen
Molecules
79
59
39
19
Oxygen
Color:
Oxygen
Molecules
20
15
10
5
Other gas
Color:
Other Gas
Molecules
1
1
1
1
Temperature of the Atmosphere
Directions: Use the information in the data table below to plot the average temperature readings at various altitudes in
the Earth’s atmosphere on the graph. Connect adjacent points with a curved line. Watch for negative numbers!
Altitude (km)
0
5
10
12
20
25
30
35
40
45
48
52
55
60
65
70
75
80
84
92
95
100
Temperature (°C)
15
-18
-49
-56
-56
-51
-46
-37
-22
-8
-2
-2
-7
-17
-33
-54
-65
-79
-86
-86
-81
-72
Questions:
1. Label the 4 different layers of the atmosphere on the graph above.
2. How do scientists divide the different layers of the atmosphere?
3. Does the temperature increase or decrease with altitude in the:
troposphere? _________________
stratosphere? _________________
mesosphere? _________________
thermosphere? _________________
4. What causes temperature changes in the stratosphere?
5. The data cuts off at 100 km above sea level in the graph above. As we move above 100 km, temperatures start
to become warmer. How warm can the thermosphere get? Why wouldn’t we be able to feel this heat if we were
to be floating in the thermosphere?