Atmosphere layer of gases -protects life on earth -blanket of air -reaches to approximately 1000 km Atmospheric layer

-consists of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% of other gases (helium, neon, and ozone) -nitrogen -oxygen -argon

STRUCTURE OF THE ATMOSPHERE Exosphere

- outermost layer of Earth's atmosphere - merges with the emptiness of outer space - hydrogen and helium 1. Exosphere

- second-highest layer of Earth's atmosphere - lower part contains the thermosphere - completely cloudless and free of water vapor - high as 1,727˚C 2. Thermosphere

3.Mesosphere - third highest layer of Earth's atmosphere - coldest place on earth - mesopause separates the mesosphere from the next layer - low as -93˚C

4. Stratosphere - the second-lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere - dry, clean, cold and less dense - contains the ozone layer - temperatures rise with increasing altitude - increases gradually to -3˚C

5. Troposphere - lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere - 17 to -52˚C - bounded above by the tropopause, a boundary marked by stable temperaturestropopause - temperature usually declines with increasing altitude

Other layers : Ozone layer - contained within the stratosphere - in the lower portion of the stratosphere Ionosphere - region of the atmosphere that is ionized by solar radiation - overlaps the atmosphere

Greenhouse Effect - capture and recycle energy - water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, troposheric ozone, fluorocarbons

Weather and Climate Weather – specific condition of the atmosphere over a short period of time - temperature, humidity, precipitation, cloudiness, visibility, wind Climate – general pattern of the weather

Weather Patterns and Irregularities 1) Global Winds - uneven heating produces global circulation patterns 2) Air Masses - drive large bodies of air 3) Fronts - location where two air masses

4) Jet Streams - high in the atmosphere, narrow bands of strong wind 5) Coriolis Effect - global winds do not move in straight lines