Name: ____________________________________________________
Period: _______________
The Atmosphere
Layer of _____________________ that surrounds the ___________________________.
It’s purpose is to:
1.
Support life on Earth by ____________________________ it from harmful radiation from the sun
2.
Keeps the Earth _____________________ enough to support life
3.
Provide _____________________ plants and animals need to breathe
4.
Keep Earth warm enough for _______________________________
Composition of the Atmosphere
• 78% _____________________________________________
• 21% _____________________________________________
• 1 % Other: Argon, Carbon Dioxide, Water vapor
2 Important Variables when studying the atmosphere.
1. Atmosphere ____________________________________
-Atmospheric pressure __________________________________ as altitude increases.
-As you increase in altitude, there is ______________________________ above you and thus,
less pressure exerted.
-Atmospheric pressure is practically nonexistent in the mesosphere and above.
2. Atmosphere ___________________________________
-Atmospheric temperature _____________________________ as altitude increases.
-The _______________________________ layer absorbs radiation from the sun.
-Temperature is a measure of how _______________ or _________________ the atmosphere is.
Pressure and temperature determine the ________________________ of air molecules!
• At greater altitudes the same volume contains _____________________________ molecules of gases
• Measured with a _________________________________________
**Must get to this point**
Layers of the Atmosphere
• Troposphere
•
• Mesosphere
•
• Exosphere
Layer Boundaries
• Differences in ____________________________________ separate each layer from the one above it.
• Temperature remains constant through the boundary.
• Boundaries are:
Tropopause
Stratopause
Mesopause
Troposphere 0-10km
• __________ of the mass of the atmosphere.
• _______________ fly here
• All _______________________________ takes place in the troposphere
• _________________ are found here
Stratosphere 10km-50km
• ___________________________ layer found near the bottom of the stratosphere.
• Radiation from the ___________________ is absorbed here.
• Temperature _________________________________ in this layer
Ozone Layer
• Ozone gas (O3) absorbs solar radiation and releases it as heat. It protects earth from
harmful UV rays
Mesosphere 50km – 85km
• __________________________________ Layer
• ______________________________ layer -100o C
• ____________________________ earth – meteoroids and meteors burn up in this layer.
Thermosphere “heat sphere” 85 km-500km
• Temp. _________________________________ with height above earth.
• Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights)
• Space shuttle _____________________________ here
Exosphere
• 500km - thousands of km into space
• Air is ____________________ thin (thinnest layer)
• ________________________________ orbit the earth here
Fill in the table below with the word increases or decreases.
Layer
Temperature
Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere
Exosphere
How does the atmosphere protect life on Earth?
1.
2.
Air Pressure