Introduction to the Atmosphere Activities
Name: ______________________________ ___Date: _______________Class: _____
HERE’S THE TAKE AWAY!
Station 1 – Layers of the atmosphere

Earth’s atmosphere is made up of ______________ layers.

Troposphere – 12 miles thick, our ______________________ occurs here.

Troposphere contains approx. ____________% of earth’s atmospheric gases.

Therefore, the troposphere is the most ______________ layer.
Station 2 – Composition of the atmosphere

Earth’s atmosphere contains 78% ________________ and 21% ______________

Earth’s position in the solar system is _________________ _________________,
which is what the Goldilocks Principle refers to.

Plants carry out photosynthesis, which gives us an abundance of
______________.

Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas. Earth’s atmosphere contains a small amount
of CO2, which helps to keep the Earth warm – without the CO2, Earth would be
_________ _____________ for living organisms to survive.
Station 3 – It’s Just a Phase: Solids, Liquids, Gases

Earth is the only known planet that contains materials in all 3 _______________
of matter.

Solids: Have __________ energy and tightly ________________ particles that
only __________________ in place due to strong chemical bonds.

Liquids: Have _________ energy than solids, particles are able to ____________
around and over each other due to weaker chemical bonds.

Gases: Have ____________ energy, particles are able to move and fill up all
available space because there are no chemical bonds between the particles.
Station 4 – The Water Cycle

The sun’s energy heats up Earth’s water causing the water to
_________________________ into the atmosphere.

As the water vapor cools, it condenses to form _________________.

When the _________________________ of the cloud becomes greater than the
atmospheric density, precipitation will fall back to Earth’s surface.

Precipitation collects in Earth’s bodies of ___________________; percolates into
the ground, and runs off of impermeable _____________________________.

Much of Earth’s ________________ is moved around through the Water Cycle.
Station 5 – Earth’s Energy Budget

100% of the Sun’s ____________________ travels toward Earth.

Approximately 50% of this energy is either absorbed by the
________________________________ or reflected back into space. This energy
never reaches Earth’s _________________________________.

The other 50% of the sun’s energy is absorbed by _________________________
materials.

About 30% of the energy that is absorbed by the Earth’s surface is
____________________________ back into the atmosphere.

Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere _______________________ some of this heat
and acts as a blanket that helps ____________________ the Earth warm.

Too much Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can cause ____________________
warming.
Station 6 – Radiation

Radiation is a type of heat __________________ that involves the movement of
electromagnetic radiation from one place to another.

During radiation, _______________________ is emitted or spreads out and
moves away from the source of the heat.

Dark surfaces (land, asphalt) absorb __________________ heat than light
surfaces (water, snow, ice)

Light surfaces _____________________ more heat.

Earth receives the energy from the sun through ___________________________.
Station 7 – Convection

Convection is a type of heat transfer that involves the ______________________
of liquids or gases (fluids)

_________________________ fluids have lower densities and tend to rise when
associated with cooler fluids.

________________________ fluids have higher densities and tend to _________
when associated with warmer fluids.

Heat is transferred by the _____________________________ of the molecules.

Earth’s atmosphere and oceans are heated largely by the process of
_____________________________________
Station 8 – Conduction

Conduction is a type of heat transfer that involves particles coming into
__________________________ with one another.

When this contact occurs, heat is __________________________ from one
particle to another.

Some objects are good at conducting heat – glass and metal.

Some objects are not so good at conducting heat and are considered
_________________________________ - plastic and wood.

Conduction occurs as molecules of _________________ come into contact with
Earth’s surface.