Name___________________________________________________
Atmosphere Activity
Period _______ Date ________
Refer to Book pgs 515-520 (grading criterion on the back)
Objective #1: Students will demonstrate how the atmosphere can be divided into layers based on
temperature changes at different heights by making a colorful scale model of the layers of the
atmosphere.
Objective #2: Students will include different objects that might be found in each layer, and
identifying characteristics of the layers.
Objective #3: Students will use dimensional analysis to calculate the scale for drawing using
1 mm = 1.3 km.
Procedure:
Calculate the height of each atmospheric layer using the example on the board and the information from
your book. The temperature information from your computer research last week (also found in your book,
chapter 15) should be included in your layers. Use the dimensional analysis examples in your notes (and
also on the back of this sheet) for making your conversions. You will hand in your calculations, so be sure
to show all steps of your work.
Carefully use a ruler to draw the layers on your sheet. You are given only one sheet, so draw your lines in
light pencil to begin with in case you need to erase. The tropopause should be slanted slightly to illustrate
the height variations. The ionosphere’s upper level should have a dotted line.
Include at least three objects in your drawing and place in appropriate layers.
Background information:
The atmosphere can be divided into four main layers based on temperature variations. The layer closest to the Earth
is called the troposphere with temperatures close to -80° C at the top. Above this layer is the stratosphere, followed
by the mesosphere, then the thermosphere. The thermosphere has two sub layers, the ionsphere and the exosphere.
The tropopause, stratopause, and mesopause are the boundaries at the top of each layer.
Temperature variations in the four layers are due to the way solar energy is absorbed as it moves downward through
the atmosphere. The Earth’s surface is the primary absorber of solar energy. Some of this energy is reradiated by
the Earth as heat, which warms the overlying troposphere.
The temperature begins to increase with altitude in the stratosphere to about 0° C. This warming is caused by a
form of oxygen called ozone (O3) that absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Ozone protects us from most of
the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, which can cause cancer, genetic mutations, and sunburn.
At the stratopause, the temperature stops increasing with altitude. The overlying mesosphere does not absorb solar
radiation, so the temperature decreases with altitude to around -138° C.
At the mesopause, the temperature begins to increase with altitude, and this trend continues in the thermosphere.
Here solar radiation first hits the Earth’s atmosphere and heats it up to around 1,000° C.
Because the atmosphere is so thin in the thermosphere, a thermometer cannot measure the temperature accurately
and special instruments are needed. Remember, temperature is the average motion of the molecules. If they are
spread far apart, it is much harder to measure.
Dimensional Analysis Example: (use this problem and how it is solved to assist you as you do you own
calculations) Calculate what the scale would be for 18 km. (Scale: 1 mm = 1.3 km)
(18 km) x (1.0 mm) = 18 x 1.00 (km)(mm) = 13.8 mm (which means you would
1
(1.3 km)
1.3
(km)
draw a height of 13.8 mm
to represent 18 km)
Put your actual
measurement
here
Conversion
factor
Do the
math
Cancel out
your units
Measurement
for your scaled
drawing
Grading Rubric
1. Calculations (attach your calculations showing all work, with a paper clip) (5 points)
2. Line Measurements accuracy (6 points) Make sure ionosphere line is dotted
a. Label tropopause, stratopause, and mesopause INK! (3 points)
b. Label tropo, strato, meso, iono, exopsphere and thermosphere INK! (6 points)
c. Upper temperatures (degrees C) each layer (right side) INK! (5 points)
d. Altitude in (km) for each layer (left side) INK! (5 points)
3. Information on layers (25 points)
tropo, strato, meso, iono, exosphere (small paragraph on each) Should be in INK or TYPED
and very legible! This should include temperature, thickness or altitude and a short description
of characteristics of each layer (and what happens in each layer) Can be on cards attached to
poster, or on another sheet of paper.
4. Drawings- (15 points) Three or more per layer, in color. The drawings must depict something
that occurs in each layer. These can be processes of things that are found in the layers.
5. Creativity/Neatness - (10 points) Be neat with your lines and your drawings. Be creative on your
layout of this project as there are several different ways to display your information. They
shouldn’t all look the same. Go over any pencil lines with ink.
Atmosphere Activity Self Evaluation
Calculations (please attach) 5 pts
Line Measurement Accuracy 6 pts
a. Pauses labels 3 pts
b. Spheres labels 6 pts
c. Upper temps 5 pts
d. Altitude (km) 5 pts
Layer Information 25 pts
Drawings 3/layer 15 pts
Creativity/Neatness 10 pts
Total points 80
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Name_____________________________________
Please evaluate yourself in each of
these areas, then total. Make sure your
name is on both sides of this paper.
Paper clip this form to your project
along with your math calculations.