Layers of the
Atmosphere
Greet your partner and read
about the atmosphere layers
Today’s Purpose
List the layers of the atmosphere.
What determines how the layers are separated?
How does the temperature change in each layer of the
atmosphere?
Compare the composition of each layer of the atmosphere.
Atmosphere Layers
Layer
Temperature
Change
Pressure Change
Troposphere
Decreases with
altitude
Decreases with
altitude
Stratosphere
Increases with
altitude
Decreases with
altitude
Mesosphere
Decreases with
altitude
Decreases with
altitude
Thermosphere
Increases with
altitude
Decreases with
altitude
Other spheres
Special features
Contains most of
Earth’s
atmosphere,
weather is here,
we are here
Ozone layer (O3),
shields us from UV
rays, jet stream
found here
shields us from
meteors, coldest
sphere
Ionosphere
Exosphere
high temperature,
aurora borealis,
radio and TV
waves reflect back
to Earth here
foldable found at: http://mjksciteachingideas.com/pdf/AtmosphereFoldable.pdf
Today’s Purpose
I will fine tuning my knowledge of the properties of each layer
but using a simulator activity
• I will be able manipulating a simulator to see how the
temperature, density, and air pressure change traveling through
the atmosphere
•I will be fine tuning my knowledge of special feature of certain
layers
•I will be able to answer assessment questions summarizing the
structure of the atmosphere
http://www.glencoe.com/sites/common_assets/science/virtual_labs/ES14/ES14.html
Classwork
Closing questions from activity
http://www.glencoe.com/sites/common_assets/science/virtual_labs/ES14/ES14.html