The AtmosphereThe Atmosphere

Model itModel it

Draw a model of what you think the Earth’s Draw a model of what you think the Earth’s atmosphere looks like on your notes.atmosphere looks like on your notes.

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OutlineOutline

What is it?What is it? What is it made of?What is it made of? Why do we need it?Why do we need it? What are the different layers of it like?What are the different layers of it like?

IntroductionIntroductionAssess prior knowledgeAssess prior knowledge

Make some predictions about the Make some predictions about the atmosphere, then watch the following video.atmosphere, then watch the following video.– What is the air like 24 miles above Earth’s What is the air like 24 miles above Earth’s

surface?surface?– What is the temperature like?What is the temperature like?– Where does outer space start?Where does outer space start?– Will the jumper feel the “wind” rushing against Will the jumper feel the “wind” rushing against

him as he starts his jump?him as he starts his jump?– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHtvDA0W34I

After the video- DiscussAfter the video- Discuss

Why is he in a space suit?Why is he in a space suit?–What are the air and the What are the air and the temperature like 24 miles temperature like 24 miles above Earth’s surface?above Earth’s surface?–Why does the balloon get Why does the balloon get larger the higher it goes?larger the higher it goes?–Was he in “outer space”?Was he in “outer space”?–Does his space suit start Does his space suit start flapping in the wind right flapping in the wind right away?away?

Felix jumped Felix jumped 24 miles 24 miles above sea above sea levellevel

““Wind” Wind” started started about 16 up about 16 up miles- why?miles- why?

Expected Expected RecordsRecords

He broke 3He broke 3

What is the atmosphere?What is the atmosphere?

A blanket of gases that surround Earth and A blanket of gases that surround Earth and are held in place by gravitational forces.are held in place by gravitational forces.

What is the atmosphere made What is the atmosphere made of?of?

The atmosphere is made of solids, liquids, and The atmosphere is made of solids, liquids, and gases.gases.

Gases:Gases:– 78% Nitrogen (N)78% Nitrogen (N)– 21% Oxygen (O)21% Oxygen (O)– 1% trace gases including- Argon (Ar), Carbon Dioxide 1% trace gases including- Argon (Ar), Carbon Dioxide

(CO(CO22), Neon (Ne), Helium (He), Hydrogen (H), and Ozone ), Neon (Ne), Helium (He), Hydrogen (H), and Ozone

(O(O33))

Do you think the atmosphere was Do you think the atmosphere was the same 4.6 billion years ago?the same 4.6 billion years ago?

Just formed Earth: Like Earth, the hydrogen (H2) and helium (He) were very warm. These

molecules of gas moved so fast they escaped Earth's gravity and

eventually all drifted off into space.

Young Earth: Volcanoes released gases H2O (water) as steam, carbon dixoide (CO2), and ammonia (NH3). Carbon

dioxide dissolved in seawater. Simple bacteria

thrived on sunlight and CO2. By-product is oxygen (O2).

As plants evolved, so did our As plants evolved, so did our atmosphereatmosphere

Current Earth: Plants and animals thrive in balance. Plants take in carbon dioxide (CO2) and give off oxygen (O2). Animals take in oxygen (O2) and give off CO2. Burning stuff also gives off CO2.

Liquids in the atmosphereLiquids in the atmosphere

Water vaporWater vapor– Varies with Varies with

humidity levelshumidity levels

Solids in the atmosphereSolids in the atmosphere

–DustDust

–PollenPollen

Why do we need an Why do we need an atmosphere?atmosphere?

What would Earth be like without one?What would Earth be like without one?

1. Contains air for respiration and photosynthesis1. Contains air for respiration and photosynthesis

2. Controls Earth’s temperature2. Controls Earth’s temperature

But too much atmosphere can be bad!But too much atmosphere can be bad!– It makes Venus the hottest planet in the Solar It makes Venus the hottest planet in the Solar

System (Average temp: 800+ degrees F)System (Average temp: 800+ degrees F)

3. Protects us from:3. Protects us from:–Harmful sun rays – UV (ultraviolet)Harmful sun rays – UV (ultraviolet)

–Meteors, asteroids, etc.Meteors, asteroids, etc.

What are the What are the different layers of different layers of the atmosphere?the atmosphere?

LayersLayers 5 layers starting at Earth’s 5 layers starting at Earth’s surfacesurface

and going up:and going up:–Troposphere (lowest)Troposphere (lowest)–StratosphereStratosphere–MesosphereMesosphere–ThermosphereThermosphere–Exosphere (highest)Exosphere (highest)

Make up an acronym to Make up an acronym to remember the layersremember the layers

TSMTETSMTE– Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere,

Thermosphere, ExosphereThermosphere, Exosphere

The Starving Monkey Tries EggsThe Starving Monkey Tries Eggs

TroposphereTroposphere– Altitude (Height): surface to 6 milesAltitude (Height): surface to 6 miles

– Air pressure: decreasesAir pressure: decreases

– Temperature: decreasesTemperature: decreases

– Phenomenon: most gases found here, planes Phenomenon: most gases found here, planes fly here fly here

StratosphereStratosphere– Altitude (Height): 6-30 milesAltitude (Height): 6-30 miles

– Air pressure: decreasesAir pressure: decreases

– Temperature: increasesTemperature: increases

– Phenomenon: Weather balloons here, Phenomenon: Weather balloons here, ozone layer hereozone layer here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXzs46aEJLg

Ozone LayerOzone Layer Made of oxygen (OMade of oxygen (O33))

It absorbs most of the ultra violet radiation It absorbs most of the ultra violet radiation from the sun (UV rays)from the sun (UV rays)

The ozone protects us from skin cancerThe ozone protects us from skin cancer The ozone layer has been damaged by The ozone layer has been damaged by

CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons)CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons)

MesosphereMesosphere– Altitude (Height): 30-50 milesAltitude (Height): 30-50 miles

– Air pressure: decreasesAir pressure: decreases

– Temperature: decreases (coldest layer)Temperature: decreases (coldest layer)

– Phenomenon: Where meteors burn upPhenomenon: Where meteors burn up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y66OHiB_p4I2013 Russian meteorite video

ThermosphereThermosphere– Altitude (Height): 50-400 milesAltitude (Height): 50-400 miles

– Air pressure: decreasesAir pressure: decreases

– Temperature: increasesTemperature: increases

– Phenomenon: X-ray and UV energy is Phenomenon: X-ray and UV energy is absorbed here, causing high absorbed here, causing high temperatures, space shuttle flew here, temperatures, space shuttle flew here, International Space station orbits in this International Space station orbits in this layer, Northern lights happen herelayer, Northern lights happen here

Charged particles from the sun Charged particles from the sun interact with Earth’s magnetic interact with Earth’s magnetic

field in the thermospherefield in the thermosphere

ExosphereExosphere– Altitude (Height): Altitude (Height):

400-600 miles400-600 miles– Air pressure: Air pressure:

decreases (very decreases (very few air molecules)few air molecules)

– Temperature: Temperature: decreasesdecreases

– Phenomenon: Phenomenon: Boundary with Boundary with “outer space”“outer space”

Atmospheric PressureAtmospheric Pressure As you increase in altitude, air pressure As you increase in altitude, air pressure

decreases.decreases.

Water bottles are crushed as a plane descends due to increasing air pressure

Why is Denver considered a Why is Denver considered a “hitter’s park” more than other “hitter’s park” more than other

baseball stadiums?baseball stadiums?

Fly balls typically travel about 5% farther at Coors than at Fenway, all other things equal. Therefore a 380 ft drive at Fenway will travel nearly 400 ft at Coors Field. Lower air density

than other fields.

Atmospheric TemperaturesAtmospheric Temperatures

Some layers Some layers easily absorb easily absorb the Sun’s the Sun’s energy, while energy, while others do not.others do not.

Temperatures Temperatures vary in each vary in each layer.layer.

ReviewReview

Name the LayersName the Layers Name the correct order of the layers of the atmosphere Name the correct order of the layers of the atmosphere

starting from Earth.starting from Earth.– TroposphereTroposphere– StratosphereStratosphere– MesosphereMesosphere– ThermosphereThermosphere– ExosphereExosphere

What is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere?

Nitrogen (78%) then

Oxygen (21%)

Why do we need our atmosphere?Why do we need our atmosphere?

• Provides air for respiration and photosynthesis

• Controls our temperature

• Protects us from harmful sun rays and meteors

Why is it harder to breathe when you climb Why is it harder to breathe when you climb tall mountains?tall mountains?– Less air pressure, so there are fewer oxygen Less air pressure, so there are fewer oxygen

moleculesmolecules

What happens if our ozone layer What happens if our ozone layer disappears?disappears?– More harmful rays can reach earth’s surface More harmful rays can reach earth’s surface

and increase skin cancer ratesand increase skin cancer rates

Model itModel it

Modify your original model of what you think Modify your original model of what you think the Earth’s atmosphere looks like, include the Earth’s atmosphere looks like, include any new information you learned.any new information you learned.

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Intro to LabIntro to Lab

http://www.glencoe.com/sites/http://www.glencoe.com/sites/common_assets/science/virtual_labs/common_assets/science/virtual_labs/ES14/ES14.htmlES14/ES14.html