Name
Date
Earth’s Atmosphere
How does Earth’s atmosphere affect life on Earth?
Before You Read
Before you read the chapter, think about what you know about Earth’s atmosphere. Record your
thoughts in the first column. Pair with a partner, and discuss his or her thoughts. Write those thoughts
in the second column. Then record what you both would like to share with the class in the third
column.
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Think
Pair
Share
Chapter Vocabulary
Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Lesson 3
Lesson 4
NEW
NEW
NEW
NEW
atmosphere
water vapor
troposphere
stratosphere
ozone layer
ionosphere
radiation
conduction
convection
stability
temperature inversion
wind
trade winds
westerlies
polar easterlies
jet stream
sea breeze
land breeze
air pollution
acid precipitation
photochemical smog
particulate matter
ACADEMIC
REVIEW
process
liquid
A Lesson Content Vocabulary page for each lesson is provided in the Chapter Resources Files.
Earth’s Atmosphere
117
Lesson 1
Describing Earth’s Atmosphere
Scan Lesson 1. Read the lesson titles and bold words. Look at the pictures. Identify three facts
that you discover about Earth’s atmosphere. Record these facts in your Science Journal.
Importance of Earth’s
Atmosphere
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409
Define atmosphere, and identify four things the atmosphere
.
does for Earth.
Atmosphere: a thin layer of gases surrounding Earth
1. provides oxygen and water
2. acts as an insulator, regulating temperature
3. protects organisms from some of the Sun’s harmful rays
4. protects Earth’s surface from meteorites
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Write the number of each event on the time line to describe
410
how Earth’s atmosphere changed over time.
.
1. Photosynthetic organisms remove carbon dioxide from
the air and release oxygen.
2. Water vapor cools and condenses. Rain falls, evaporates,
and eventually accumulates in oceans.
3. Atmosphere contains present levels of carbon dioxide,
oxygen, nitrogen, and other gases.
4. Atmosphere is mainly water vapor with a little carbon
dioxide and nitrogen.
4
Early
atmosphere
118
Earth’s Atmosphere
2
1
3
Present
time
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Origins of Earth’s
Atmosphere
Lesson 1 | Describing Earth’s Atmosphere (continued)
Composition of the
Atmosphere
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411
.
Assess information about the atmosphere. Read each
statement below. If the statement is true, write true on the line. If
the statement is false, write false on the line and rewrite the
underlined portion so that it is true.
Earth’s atmosphere is mostly made of visible gases, including
nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide.
False; invisible
Solid and liquid particles are also present in the atmosphere.
True
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411
.
Identify the gases that make up Earth’s atmosphere.
Gases in the Atmosphere
Percent
Gas
78
nitrogen
21
oxygen
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
1
I found this on page
411
.
a.
water vapor
b.
argon
c.
carbon dioxide
d.
ozone
Identify solid and liquid particles in the atmosphere.
Particles in the Atmosphere
Solids
Liquids
a. pollen
a. water droplets
b. dust
b. acids from volcanic
c. salt
d. volcanic ash
e. soot from exhaust
eruptions
c. acids from burning
fossil fuels
Earth’s Atmosphere
119
Lesson 1 | Describing Earth’s Atmosphere (continued)
Layers of the
Atmosphere
Describe the layers of the atmosphere. First, list the layers
in order from the surface to space. Identify the height of each layer.
Then describe each layer.
Layers of the Atmosphere
Layer and
Height above
Earth’s Surface
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413
.
Exosphere
above 500 km
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413
.
Thermosphere
extends from
about 85 km to
more than
500 km
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413
.
Mesosphere
extends from
about 50 km to
about 85 km
412
.
Stratosphere
extends from
about 15 km to
about 50 km
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412
.
Troposphere
from the surface
to a height of
8–15 km
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412
.
Sample answers are shown.
Pressure and density are so low that
gas molecules can be kilometers
apart; air molecules move so rapidly
that some escape to space.
This layer contains very few gas
molecules; protects Earth from
meteorites; includes part of the
ionosphere; auroras, colors emitted
by the ionosphere’s electrically
charged particles, are found here.
This layer contains very few gas
molecules; protects Earth from
meteorites; includes part of the
ionosphere.
Bottom half contains the ozone (O3)
layer, which absorbs the Sun’s
ultraviolet rays more effectively than
O2; UV absorption causes
temperatures in the stratosphere to
increase with height.
As height increases, temperature
decreases; warmest part of
troposphere is near Earth’s surface;
weather occurs in this layer.
Distinguish ozone from oxygen.
Ozone
O3, made of 3 oxygen
atoms; effectively
absorbs harmful UV rays
120
Earth’s Atmosphere
Oxygen
O2, made of 2 oxygen
atoms
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
I found this on page
Description
Lesson 1 | Describing Earth’s Atmosphere (continued)
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413
.
Identify the 2 layers of the atmosphere that contain the
ionosphere.
mesosphere
1.
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413
.
2.
thermosphere
Explain, in your own words, how auroras form in the ionosphere.
Auroras form when the ionosphere’s electrically charged
particles are exposed to sunlight. They emit vivid colors
that are most visible at Earth’s North Pole and South Pole.
Air Pressure and Altitude
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414
.
Describe the relationship between altitude and air
pressure.
As altitude
Temperature and
Altitude
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414
increases
decreases
.
Identify the changes in temperature and altitude in the
different layers of the atmosphere.
.
Layer of the
Atmosphere
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
, air pressure
Altitude
Temperature
Troposphere
↑ increases
decreases ↓
Stratosphere
↑ increases
increases ↑
Mesosphere
↑ increases
decreases ↓
Thermosphere
↑ increases
increases ↑
Exosphere
↑ increases
increases ↑
Suppose that you move from a town near the ocean to a town in the
mountains. To what atmospheric changes would your body need to adjust?
Accept all reasonable responses. Sample answer: Air pressure is greater at sea level
than it is high in the mountains. Higher pressure causes the air to be denser, and
therefore more oxygen is available for people to breathe. If a person were to move
from sea level to the mountains, his or her body would need to adjust to lower air
pressure and less available oxygen.
Earth’s Atmosphere
121
Lesson 2
Energy Transfer in the Atmosphere
Predict three facts that will be discussed in Lesson 2 after reading the headings. Record these
facts in your Science Journal.
Define radiation.
Energy from the Sun
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418
.
Radiation: the transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves
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418
.
Identify the 3 forms of radiation that make up most of the Sun’s
energy.
1. visible light
2. ultraviolet light
3. infrared radiation
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418
.
Compare and contrast infrared and ultraviolet light.
Infrared
Energy on Earth
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419
Students should color
the graph according to
the percentages listed.
.
and absorbed by Earth’s surface and atmosphere. Complete the key
to show what each color indicates.
25% 50%
5%
Earth’s Atmosphere
Ultraviolet
wavelengths
shorter than
visible light;
overexposure
harmful to
humans
Color the circle graph to represent the portion of radiation reflected
20%
122
Both
near-visible
energy from
the Sun;
absorbed by
atmosphere
KEY
25% reflected back to space by
particles in the atmosphere
20% absorbed by particles in
the atmosphere
50% absorbed by Earth’s surface
5% reflected back by land and
sea surfaces
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
wavelengths
longer than
visible light;
felt as heat
Lesson 2 | Energy Transfer in the Atmosphere (continued)
Explain how radiation levels are kept in balance.
Radiation Balance
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420
.
Incoming
Solar radiation that
reaches Earth’s surface is
Outgoing
Earth emits
absorbed radiation
absorbed by land,
back toward the Sun
in the form of
trees, soil, and
oceans
420
.
.
Identify three greenhouse gases, and include their chemical
The Greenhouse Effect
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infrared radiation
.
formulas.
1. water vapor (H2O)
2. carbon dioxide (CO2 )
3. methane (CH4)
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
I found this on page
420
.
Students should draw a
yellow arrow indicating
light from the Sun. Red
arrows should indicate
the infrared energy that
radiates away from Earth
as well as some of the
outgoing radiation that is
directed back toward
Earth.
Thermal Energy Transfer
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421
.
Draw a yellow arrow to indicate the incoming visible light.
Draw red arrows to indicate the paths of infrared energy.
Greenhouse Effect
Sunlight
Greenhouse
gases
Earth’s surface
Identify and define 3 ways that thermal energy is
transferred.
1. radiation: the transfer of thermal energy by
electromagnetic waves
2. conduction: the transfer of thermal energy by collisions
between particles of matter
3. convection: the transfer of thermal energy by the
movement of matter from one place to another
Earth’s Atmosphere
123
Lesson 2 | Energy Transfer in the Atmosphere (continued)
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421
.
Identify each type of energy transfer.
Sun
convection
radiation
conduction
surface air
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421
.
Describe latent heat’s relationship to water, and give an
example.
Latent heat is exchanged when water changes from one
phase to another.
Example: When water turns to ice, energy (latent heat) is
released into the atmosphere. When frozen water absorbs
energy (latent heat), it changes to liquid water.
Circulating Air
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422
.
Describe how air moves as it is heated and cooled. Indicate
what happens at each position.
2
1
less dense
Position 1: As air warms, it becomes
is pushed upward by cooler air sinking under it
and
.
Position 2: As air moves away from the warm surface, it loses
heat
cools
and
. Cool air is
denser
sink
than warm air, so it begins to
.
sinks
Position 3: Cool air
and pushes the
warm
air out of the way.
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422
.
Define stability.
Stability: the property of the atmosphere that describes
whether rising or sinking air motions will be strong or weak
124
Earth’s Atmosphere
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
3
Lesson 2 | Energy Transfer in the Atmosphere (continued)
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422
Distinguish the motion of stable and unstable air.
.
Motion of Stable Air
Motion of Unstable Air
weak rising and sinking
air motions
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423
strong rising and sinking
air motions
Explain air movement during a thunderstorm.
.
During unstable conditions, ground level air is much warmer
than
higher-altitude air . Air rises
rapidly
Latent heat
and produces large, tall clouds.
, cools,
, released as
liquid
gas
water vapor, changes from a
to a
adds to the instability, and produces a violent storm.
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423
,
Sequence a temperature inversion.
.
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Ground-level air is nearly the same temperature as
higher-level air
A layer of
cooler air
a layer of
warmer air
A
trap
temperature inversion
pollution
.
is trapped by
above it.
prevents air from mixing and can
in the air close to Earth’s surface.
While on a picnic in the Rocky Mountains, you notice that clouds form
and disappear at the top of the peaks. How can you explain this phenomenon?
Accept all reasonable responses. Sample answer: Air moving over a mountain range
must rise and flow over it. As the air rises, it cools. Water vapor condenses and
forms a cloud. As the air moves over the mountain, it begins to sink. The air warms,
and liquid water in the air again changes to water vapor.
Earth’s Atmosphere
125
Lesson 3
Air Currents
Skim Lesson 3 in your book. Read the headings and look at the photos and illustrations.
Identify three things you want to learn more about as you read the lesson. Write your ideas in
your Science Journal.
Global Winds
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427
Explain the formation of Earth’s global winds.
.
The Sun heats Earth’s surface unevenly because of the angle at
which the Sun’s light strikes the surface
. This uneven
air pressure
heating causes differences in
.
Low
High
pressure develops over the tropics.
pressure develops over the poles. The movement of air from areas of
high pressure to areas of low pressure is called
wind
.
Global wind belts influence
a.
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428
.
b.
weather
Assess information about circulation in Earth’s atmosphere.
Read each statement below. If the statement is true, write true on
the line. If the statement is false, write false on the line and rewrite
the underlined portion so that it is true.
Two of the three cells that scientists use to describe circulation
of Earth’s atmosphere are conduction cells.
False; convection
The first belt begins with warm air rising at the equator and
dropping back to Earth near 30˚ latitude.
True
The third cell, at the lowest latitude, is also a convection cell.
False; highest
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428
.
Explain the Coriolis effect.
Coriolis effect: The rotation of Earth causes moving air and
water to appear to turn to the right in the northern
hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere.
126
Earth’s Atmosphere
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Global Winds Belts
climate
Lesson 3 | Air Currents (continued)
Analyze prevailing winds.
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Winds
Description
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429
.
Trade
steady winds that flow toward the
equator from east to west between 30˚N
latitude and 30˚S latitude
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429
.
Doldrums
areas of high pressure and light, calm
winds at about 30˚N latitude and 30˚S
latitude
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429
.
Westerlies
steady winds that flow from west to east
between latitudes 30˚N and 60˚N and
between latitudes 30˚S and 60˚S
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429
.
Polar easterlies
cold winds that blow from east to west
near the North Pole and the South Pole
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429
.
Jet stream
a narrow band of high winds, commonly
located near the top of the troposphere;
influences weather
Local Winds
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430
Compare and contrast a sea breeze and a land breeze.
.
Land Breeze
Sea Breeze
blows during
the day; blows
from the water
to the land
Both
winds caused
by local
temperature
and pressure
differences
blows during
the night; blows
from the land to
the water
An airplane pilot flying from California to New York would like to
make the flight in the shortest amount of time possible. What could the pilot do to
decrease his travel time?
Accept all reasonable responses. Sample answer: The pilot could enter the jet stream
and cut his travel time by using these strong east-blowing winds.
Earth’s Atmosphere
127
Lesson 4
Air Quality
Scan Lesson 4. Read the lesson titles and bold words. Look at the pictures. Identify three facts
that you discover about Earth’s air quality. Write these facts in your Science Journal.
Sources of Air Pollution
Identify the 2 general sources of air pollution, and give an
example of each.
1. Point-source: emissions from factories or power plants
that burn fossil fuel
2. Nonpoint-source: emissions from all the cars in a city or
from aerobic bacteria in swamps
Analyze the causes and effects of air pollution.
Causes and Effects
of Air Pollution
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435
.
Cause
Acid precipitation
Effect
1. changes water chemistry
2. weathers objects made of stone
1. damages plant and animal tissue
2. reduces visibility
3. causes difficulty breathing
Particulate Pollution
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436
Define particulate matter. Then list three ways in which
.
particulates can harm humans.
Particulate matter: a mixture of dust, acids, and other
chemicals that can be harmful to human health
128
Earth’s Atmosphere
1.
asthma
2.
bronchitis
3.
heart attacks
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Photochemical
smog
Lesson 4 | Air Quality (continued)
Identify the problems of wind moving or not moving air
Movement
of Air Pollution
pollution.
436
I found this on page
.
When the wind blows, it carries pollution with it
.
When the wind does not blow, pollution does not mix with
the surrounding air, and pollution levels can grow to
dangerous levels
Describe two aspects of the Clean Air Act.
Maintaining Healthful
Air Quality
437
I found this on page
.
.
1. The Clean Air Act gives the U.S. government the power
to set air quality standards
.
2. The standards require states to monitor air pollution
levels
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
I found this on page
437
.
.
Complete the statement to explain how monitoring air
quality helps people.
If air pollution levels are too high . . .
…then the public is notified of danger and
advised to limit outdoor activities
Air Quality Trends
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438
Sample answers are
shown.
Identify four sources of indoor air pollution.
.
1. tobacco smoke
3. cleaning products
2. radon leaks
4. pesticides
Suppose that a doctor has just diagnosed you with a respiratory
problem. She has suggested that you remove sources of air pollution from your living
space. What could you do?
Accept all reasonable responses. Sample answer: Ban tobacco smoke and pesticides
from inside the house. Use only safe cleaning products that will not contribute to the
problem. Replace upholstered furniture, carpets, and draperies with materials that will
not hold dust particles. Discontinue using the fireplace. Have an expert check for radon.
Earth’s Atmosphere
129
Review
Earth’s Atmosphere
Chapter Wrap-Up
Now that you have read the chapter, think about what you have learned.
Use this checklist to help you study.
Complete your Foldables® Chapter Project.
Study your Science Notebook on this chapter.
Study the definitions of vocabulary words.
Reread the chapter, and review the charts, graphs, and illustrations.
Review the Understanding Key Concepts at the end of each lesson.
Look over the Chapter Review at the end of the chapter.
Reread the chapter Big Idea and the lesson Key Concepts. Explain
how Earth’s atmosphere affects life on Earth.
Accept all reasonable responses. Sample answer: Earth’s atmosphere provides the
oxygen, water, and temperature regulation needed for life to survive on Earth. Earth’s
atmosphere protects living things from some of the Sun’s harmful rays and protects
Earth’s surface from meteorites. The unequal heating of Earth’s land and water
temperatures near large bodies of water. Global winds move heat from the tropics to
the poles. Weather occurs in the atmosphere as water circulates between the surface
and the air. Earth’s atmosphere can become polluted. To preserve the quality of
Earth’s atmosphere, people have made laws to limit and to monitor pollution.
Challenge What is being done in your community to improve air quality? What could you do to
promote the effort?
130
Earth’s Atmosphere
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
causes convection currents called winds. Local winds help to moderate air