• Atmosphere- Gas layer of Earth. (Air)

• Lithosphere- Solid Layer of Earth. (Rocks)

• Hydrosphere- Liquid Layer of Earth. (Water)

The Atmosphere

•Made up of: nitrogen 78%, Oxygen 21% and Carbon Dioxide, water and other trace gases 1%

• Weather- The condition of Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place.

• Climate-The average, year after year conditions of temperature, precipitation, winds and clouds in the area.

The atmosphere supports life because:

• Contains oxygen and other gases that living things need.

• Traps energy from the sun which keeps the surface warm and water in its liquid form.

• Protects Earth from radiation and meteoroids.

The Layers of the Atmosphere

The Atmosphere is divided into four main layers according to changes in temperature

• Troposphere- Lowest layer, where you live, where weather occurs.

• Stratosphere- Second Layer, contains ozone which protects from UV radiation

• Mesosphere- Third layer, protects from meteoroids.

• Thermosphere- Outmost layer.

The Atmosphere Absorbs Heat

Greenhouse Effect

• Greenhouse gases- Absorb heat . It’s a natural process that keeps the temperature comfortable for most living things.

• The most important ones are Carbon Dioxide, Methane and Water Vapor.

• Others- Nitrogen Oxides and Ozone.

Vocabulary

• Fossil Fuel- Energy resource formed from the remains of dead plants and animals.

For Examples-Coal, oil, natural gas

• Global Warming- A gradual increase in the average temperature of Earth’s atmosphere.

Greenhouse Gases

• Carbon Dioxide- Animal Respiration, Burning Fossil Fuels.

• Water Vapor- Deforestation, Draining Swamps.

• Methane-Farming and Landfills.

Properties of Air

• Air has mass.

• It also has properties such as density and pressure.

• Altitude- Distance above sea level.

• http://www.middleschoolchemistry.com/multimedia/chapter1/lesson5#solid_liquid_and_gas

Pressure

• Pressure is the force pushing on an area.

• Air pressure is the result of a column of air pushing down on an area. It is measured with a barometer. The unit is the millibar.

• Air pressure decreases as altitude increases.

Density

• As the altitude increases, the density decreases.• As air pressure decreases so does the density

Temperature

• Average amount of energy of motion of each particle of a substance.

• Measured with a thermometer.

• Measured in degrees.

• Scales commonly used are: Celsius, Farenheit and Kelvin.

Heat Transfer in the Troposphere

• Radiation- transfer of heat. (no touching)

• Conduction-direct transfer of heat. (touching)

• Convection-transfer of thermal energy by the movement of a fluid.