Atmospheric Basics

Chapter 11.1

Earth/Environmental Science

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Atmospheric Composition

Air is a combination of many gases The atmosphere extends from the Earth’s

surface to outer space About 99% of the atmosphere is made of

nitrogen and oxygen, With small amounts of other gases

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Key Atmospheric Gases

The amount of water vapor can vary from zero to as much as 4% of the atmosphere. The percent varies with the

Seasons Altitude of a particular air mass Surface features under the air

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Key Atmospheric Gases

Carbon dioxide and water vapor Regulates the amount of energy the atmosphere

absorbs When water changes from one state to another

(solid liquid gas) Heat is either absorbed or released Which affects atmospheric motions

Weather patterns Climates

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Solids in the atmosphere Dust & salt

Used in cloud formation Ice & snow

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Structure of the Atmosphere

Is made of different layers Layers differ in

composition temperature

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Solar Fundamentals

The sun is the source of all energy in the atmosphere

Is transferred to Earth by Radiation

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Troposphere

Is the layer closest to Earth NASA chart

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Troposphere

Has the most mass of the atmosphere Has the most weather The most pollution There is a general decrease in temperature

from the bottom to the top

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NASA chart

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Tropopause

Is the upper limit of the troposphere Is the point where the temperature stops

decreasing Varies in height

9 km at the poles 16 km at the equator

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Stratosphere

Is a layer of concentrated ozone Ozone absorbs more ultraviolet radiation than

air The stratosphere increases in temperature

From -60 ºC to about 0 ºC

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StratopauseStratopause

Is about 50 km above Is about 50 km above the Earth’s surfacethe Earth’s surface

NASA chart

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Mesosphere

Has No concentrated ozone The temperature decreases again

From about 0 ºC to -90 Cº

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Mesopause

Is the boundary between the mesosphere and thermosphere

At 80 km above the Earth's surface

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Thermosphere

Has only a very small portion of the Earth’s atmosphere

The temperature of the air does increase to 1000 ºC

Molecules are far apart from one another

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Ionosphere

Is part of the thermosphere Has electrically charged particles Layers of progressively lighter gases NASA- Aurora borealis

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Exosphere

Is the outer most layer of the atmosphere Made of lighter gases of helium & hydrogen There is no clear boundary between the atmosphere

and space There is just fewer and fewer molecules

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How to remember the order of the layers to the atmosphere

Troposphere Stratosphere Mesosphere Thermosphere Exosphere

Track Small Meters Through Earth