atmosphere catalyst in what direction does the earth revolve around the sun? in what direction...

Atmosphere

Catalyst In what direction does the Earth

revolve around the sun? In what direction does the Earth rotate?

Which is warmer: direct sunlight or indirect sunlight?

Why do the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere experience different seasons at the same time?

Write in complete sentences!

Don’t talk during the Catalyst!

Objectives

By the end of today, all SWBAT…

Describe the relationship between air pressure and altitude

Describe the 5 layers of the atmosphere

Quick Recap

What is atmosphere?What are some gases in the atmosphere?

Where did oxygen come from?

Who uses it?

HW Review

New vocabulary

Altitude: height above the earth

Pressure: the amount of push “down”

Key Point #1: As altitude increases, pressure decreases The higher up you go, the less stuff there is

above you pushing down

Earth

Four layers of the atmosphere

Key Point #2: There are four major layers of the atmosphere:

Troposphere Stratosphere Mesosphere Thermosphere

Why are there different layers?

The atmosphere is made up of gases Mostly nitrogen and oxygen

Less oxygen as you go up

There are different amounts of each gas in different places—this forms layers

Location: 0-9 km above earth

Features: Most mass Lots of oxygen Weather,

pollution and life happen in the troposphere

Troposphere

Location: 10-50 km above Earth

Features: Where the ozone layer (which protects us from the Sun) is located

Stratosphere

Mesosphere

Location: 50-80 km above Earth’s surface

Features: Coldest layer Shooting stars

begin burning in the mesosphere

Location: 80-120 km above earth

Function: Fewest gas

particles Almost no oxygen Where Aurora

borealis (Northern lights) occurs

Thermosphere

Compete! Compete!

Find a partner at your tableTake turn quizzing each other about the layers of the atmosphere Don’t let your partner use their notes when answering

First person to 10 points is the winner!

Try these on for size

Order the layers of the atmosphere from lowest to highest.

Which layer of the Earth’s atmosphere experiences the least pressure? How do you know?

Which layer of the Earth’s atmosphere has the most oxygen? Why?

What would happen to life on Earth if we switched all the characteristics of the troposphere with all the characteristics of the thermosphere?

Trashketball

Teams in tables 2 minutes to solve

Team with the MOST COMPLETE correct answer shoots.

You must be able to DEFEND your answer to shoot for it

Scoring Dunk = 1 point Field goal = 2 points Three-pointer = 3 points

Explain how altitude is related to pressure, and

whyAs altitude increases pressure decreases,

because there is less stuff in the atmosphere pushing

down on you

Ms. Stroh doesn’t know anything about

environmental science. She thinks that the mesosphere protects us from the Sun.

Correct her mistake.

The stratosphere protects us from the Sun, because the stratosphere contains

the ozone layer, which filters out harmful solar

radiation

Explain what would happen to life on Earth if we

switched the amount of oxygen in the

thermosphere with the amount of oxygen in the

troposphere

All life on Earth would die!

There is almost no oxygen in the thermosphere.

Without oxygen, all animals (including us!) would die

Which layer of the atmosphere experiences the greatest amount of pressure? Explain why.

Troposphere

It is the lowest layer of the atmosphere, and therefore has the most stuff above it

pushing down

Many people believe that the thermosphere is

colder than the mesosphere, because it is higher up. Why are

they wrong?

The mesosphere is colder than the thermosphere.

Temperature is determined by how much of each gas

there is, not altitude.

Dumb ol’ Ms. Stroh loves the stratosphere,

because that’s where shooting stars burn.

Explain to her why she is wrong.

The stratosphere is where the ozone layer is located, not where shooting stars

burn.

Ms. Stroh is thinking of the mesosphere.

If you’re looking into the sky and watching the Aurora Borealis, which

layer of the atmosphere are you watching?

Thermosphere

The Aurora Borealis occurs in the thermosphere

Which layer of the atmosphere experiences

the least amount of pressure? Explain why.

Thermosphere

It is the highest layer of the atmosphere, and therefore has the least stuff above it

pushing down

Explain what would happen to life on Earth if we

switched the temperature of the mesosphere with the temperature of the

troposphere

All life on Earth would die!

The mesosphere is super cold. All life would all

freeze to death!

Closing

More altitude = more pressureCan I get one volunteer to…

State the layers of the atmosphere in order

Identify the most important characteristic of each layer of the atmosphere

Exit Questions

Which layer of the Earth’s atmosphere experiences the greatest pressure?

Yesterday, you overheard Taylor saying, “The thermosphere has to be the coldest layer of the Earth’s atmosphere, because it is the closest to space.” Now you know he’s wrong. Please correct him!

Using your knowledge of what occurs in the troposphere, please explain what would happen if an evil scientist moved all of its oxygen into the mesosphere.