What are the layers of the

atmosphere?

Draw a diagram of the layers in

relation to the Earth.

Copy the following questions and

complete in your marble composition

book.

Let’s set up our SISN for

Atmosphere!

THE EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE:

Atmospheric Layers

SOL 6.6

Atmosphere

• A mixture of gases that

surrounds a planet or moon.

How big is the Atmosphere?

The atmosphere begins at 0 Km and

extends to 10,000 Km.

The Earth has had multiple atmopsheres

since its creation.

•Nitrogen (N2) = 78% •Oxygen (O2)= 21% •Trace gases= 1%

Argon CO2

Neon Methane Krypton

Hydrogen

• Nitrogen (N2) = 78%

• Oxygen (O2)= 21%

• Trace gases= 1%

• Argon

• CO2

• Neon

• Methane

• Krypton

• Hydrogen

Gases of the Atmosphere

As much as 90 % of the Earth’s gasses are

located in the Troposphere.

Atmospheric Pressure

• Gravity pulls down on the air molecules

the layers become compressed and

pushes the layer below. This causes air

pressure.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmQ8F

WnM0fA

• Bill Nye:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeAp3

CuGjk8

Air Pressure

Air pressure Decreases as you go Higher

Air pressure Increases as you go Lower

Think-Pair-Teach

• 1’s need to teach the

following information

to your partner (2).

1.What is the

atmosphere?

2.How large is the

atmosphere (km)?

• 2’s need to teach the

following information

to your partner (1).

1.What are the 3 main

gas components in

the atmosphere?

AND their

percentages?

2.What is the air

pressure trend in the

atmosphere?

Think-Pair-Summarize

• 1’s summarize what

your partner (2) just

taught you about the

atmosphere

composition and air

pressure.

• 2’s summarize what

your partner (1) just

taught you about what

the atmosphere is

and how large the

atmosphere is.

What do Ogres, Onions, and the

Atmosphere have in common?

LAYERS!

Earth’s atmosphere is made up of layers that

have distinct characteristics.

These layers are the…

• Troposphere,

• The Stratosphere,

–The Ozone Layer

• The Mesosphere,

• The Thermosphere,

–Ionosphere

• The Exosphere

Atmosphere Layer Game

• With your partner, you’re going to

memorize the various atmosphere layers.

Your goal is to beat every other group in

the classroom!!! Who can put the layers in

the order the fastest!?!

1.When told, take the lamonated layers out

of your ziploc baggie.

2.Scramble your layers. DON’T PEAK!!!

3.When told to go, BEGIN!!!

Troposphere

• Closest to the Earth’s surface 0-15 km

• Temperatures DECREASE

• Densest Layer! Contains almost all of Earth’s

CO2, water vapor, clouds, air pollution,

weather, and life-forms.

• Contains almost 90% of the atmosphere’s

total mass!

Stratosphere

• Layer above the troposphere

• Extends from 15-50 km.

• Temperature INCREASES.

• Contains the Ozone Layer.

Mesosphere

• Middle layer of the atmosphere.

• Extends 50-80 km.

• Temperature DECREASES.

• Coldest layer

• Upper limit for aircraft travel; lower limit for

spacecraft travel.

Thermosphere

• Uppermost atmospheric layer.

• Extends 80-500 km.

• Temperature INCREASES

• No thermal energy transfer because

air molecules are so far apart.

• Density is LOW

• Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights)

Exosphere

• Exiting atmosphere, outermost layer.

• Temperature INCREASES.

• Absorbs harmful solar energy.

• Contains electrically charged particles

Atmosphere

Foldable

• Complete the

following atmosphere

illustration in your

notebook.

• Include: Layer Name,

Temperature Trend,

and characteristics

for each layer

Atmosphere Layers

Graphing Activity

• Complete the

following

activity, ON YO

OWN!!!!!!

• That means

INDEPENDENT

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First

• First part is to graph the composition of the

atmosphere. READ the instructions as

they give you the answers and the

percentages of the various gases (EVEN

THOUGH YOU SHOOOOOUUUUUULD

KNOW THEM!).

Second

• Graph the temperature trend/curve for the

atmosphere.

• This is plotted as an (X,Y) graph.

• We will do the first two together. After that

YOYO!

Analyze your graph

• When you have completed the

temperature curve it should look similar to

this.

Everyone good so far?

• Once we have determined you’ve got it

goin’ on and you’re on the right track, put

in lines where the layers occur.

• We will do ALL this together.

Atmosphere Jigsaw Activity

• Complete Jigsaw activity.

• Number off 1-5.

1-Troposphere

2- Stratosphere

3- Mesosphere

4-Thermosphere

5-Exosphere

• Get in your groupings.

• Compelte a Poster on your layer.

Poster should have Title, WRITTEN

information, various temperature trends

apparent in your layer, and neat facts or

characteristics.

• Go back to your original seat.

• Each should teach your group whatever

layer you just finished learning/creating a

poster on.

• When everyone has presented, staple all

the posters together to create a group

booklet! Complete foldable in your SISN

based off the information in your group

book.

• Turn in your book to me at the end when

you have finished for me to grade!!!

Troposphere

• The

troposphere is

the lowest layer

of the

atmosphere that

lies next to the

Earth’s surface.

Troposphere

• Most of the

air that

makes up

the

atmosphere

is found in

the

troposphere.

Troposphere

• It extends to about

14 kilometers

(around 9 miles)

above the Earth

• and is where

virtually all weather

takes place.

Troposphere

• As you move up into the troposphere the temperature decreases.

• At the top of this layer the air temperature is about - 60°C (-76° F).

Stratosphere

• The stratosphere begins at the top of the troposphere (14 km/ 9 miles) and extends to about 50 kilometers (31 miles) above the surface of the Earth.

Stratosphere

• As you move up

into the

stratosphere the

air temperature

actually

increases.

Stratosphere

• This occurs because of ozone.

• Ozone is a gas that absorbs solar radiation and releases it as heat.

• The stratospheric or "good" ozone protects life on Earth from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Stratosphere

• The ozone

layer/

ozonosphere

is located at

the bottom of

the

stratosphere.

Mesosphere

• The mesosphere

begins at about 50

kilometers (31 miles)

above the Earth’s

surface and extends

to 80 kilometers (50

miles).

Mesosphere

• As you move up into

the mesosphere, the

air temperature

decreases.

• Temperatures at the

top of this layer can

drop to -90°C

(- 130°F ).

Mesosphere

• Interestingly, this

layer also protects the

Earth.

• Meteoroids entering

Earth’s atmosphere

usually burn up in the

mesosphere.

Thermosphere

• The

thermosphere

is the

outermost layer

of the Earth’s

atmosphere.

Thermosphere • It begins at 80

km (50 miles)

above the Earth

and extends

outward into

space.

• Sometimes the

thermosphere

and exosphere

are listed as

separate

layers.

Thermosphere

• The higher you move

in this layer, the

higher the

temperature.

• Temperatures in the

thermosphere can

reach 1,800°C

(3,300°F)!

Thermosphere

• The beautiful colors of

the aurora borealis or

northern lights occur

in this atmospheric

layer.

Thermosphere

• This is

also

where the

space

shuttle

orbits the

Earth!

Thermosphere

Thermosphere

• The ionosphere is found at the bottom of

the thermosphere (close to the

mesosphere).

• The exosphere is located at the top of the

thermosphere.

Mr. Lee’s Layers of the Atmosphere Song

• The Earth’s Atmosphere: Atmospheric Layers

• Earth’s atmosphere is made up of layers that have distinct characteristics. These layers are the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, and the thermosphere. Let’s find out where these layers are located in relation to the Earth’s surface and how they are affected by temperature.

• The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere that lies next to the Earth’s surface. Most of the air that makes up the atmosphere is found in the troposphere. It extends to about 14 kilometers above the Earth and is where virtually all weather takes place. As you move up into the troposphere the temperature decreases. At the top of this layer the air temperature is about - 60°C.

• The stratosphere begins at the top of the troposphere and extends to about 50 kilometers above the surface of the Earth. As you move up into the stratosphere the air temperature actually increases. This occurs because of ozone. Ozone is a gas that absorbs solar radiation and releases it as heat.

• The mesosphere begins at about 50 kilometers above the Earth’s surface and extends to 80 kilometers. As you move up into the mesosphere, the air temperature decreases. Temperatures at the top of this layer can drop to -90°C. Interestingly, this layer also protects the Earth. Meteoroids entering Earth’s atmosphere usually burn up in the mesosphere.

• The thermosphere is the outermost layer of the Earth’s atmosphere. It begins at 80 kilometers above the Earth and extends outward into space. The higher you move in this layer, the higher the temperature. Temperatures in the thermosphere can reach 1,800°C! The beautiful colors of the aurora borealis or northern lights occur in this atmospheric layer. This is also where the space shuttle orbits the Earth!

Onions have layers. Ogres have

layers.

• The Earth’s

atmosphere has

LAYERS!

• Earth’s atmosphere is

made up of layers

that have distinct

characteristics.