THE EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE:Atmospheric Layers

SOL 6.6

Onions have layers. Ogres have layers.

• The Earth’s atmosphere has 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.

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.