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