The Atmosphere

Lift-the-flap Atmosphere Book! You will create this book by following the directions on each slide. Remember: Notes first, coloring last!

Make Your Flip Book Fit the two mid-sections together.Tape on the back or front (your choice!).

Fold the flaps inwards…

Write your name on the bottom right flap…

Label the middle of the book with the zones of the atmosphere.

Cut open on the dotted lines… Careful – cut only the top part of the flap!

You will now have 4 flaps to open and write inside…

Take notes… Go through this presentation and take notes on each zone of the atmosphere. On the BACK OF THE BOOK, write the definition of the atmosphere, ozone layer and Northern Lights.

Color ONLY when you have FINISHED your notes…

Background Info to Read: Layers of the Atmosphere There are different layers: Troposphere Stratosphere Mesosphere Thermosphere Ionosphere Exosphere Each layer has a different temperature range. Different things take place or are found in each layer.

Observe the diagram! Earth Exosphere Ionosphere Thermosphere Mesosphere Stratosphere Name The Different Layers as they come in, also explain that the Exosphere is not really a layer but is the beginning of outer space. Troposphere Observe the diagram! Earth

Take notes: Troposphere The troposphere is the layer closest to the earth. Weather, including storms, occurs here. Extends from earth’s surface to about 12 miles above. Contains 80% of the air of the atmosphere and almost all the water vapor. Air is most dense here, and has the highest pressure. The temperature of the troposphere decreases with height (gets colder the higher you go).

Take notes: Stratosphere Jet planes often fly in the lower levels of this layer because it is above the weather. This layer contains most of the ozone layer, which helps to trap the sun’s heat, and to protect us from harmful UV radiation. People cannot breathe in this layer (air is too thin). Extends to about 30-35 miles above the earth's surface. Temperature rises within the stratosphere because of the ozone layer but still remains well below freezing.

Take notes: Mesosphere Air is especially thin and molecules are great distances apart. This is where we see "falling stars" – meteors burning up as they fall to Earth Temperature decreases as you rise. About 35 to 50 miles above the surface of the Earth

Take notes: Thermosphere Layer of the atmosphere which is first exposed to the Sun's radiation and so is first heated by the Sun. Rises several hundred miles above the earth's surface, from 50 miles up to about 400 miles. Temperature increases with height and can rise to as high as 4,530 °F but the air would feel cold because the hot molecules are so far apart. Contains a working station for astronauts. The space shuttle orbits in the thermosphere.

Back of the book…

Take notes: Definition of the Atmosphere The layer of gases surrounding Earth; composed mainly of 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen, and other gases (water vapor, dust, pollutants, etc.)

Take notes: Ozone Layer Pale, blue gas with a strong odor, O3 (not O2) Ozone absorbs ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun and protects the surface of the Earth from the damaging effects of UV rays. This protects us from severe burning from sunlight. Temperature increases as you rise. 90% of ozone layer in stratosphere; 10% in troposphere

Read this slide: Why do the temperatures change? Troposphere: temperature decreases with height because the concentration of air molecules decreases with height. Stratosphere: temperature increases with height because of the ozone layer which absorbs ultraviolet rays and heats up. Mesosphere: temperature decreases with height because the concentration of air molecules decreases with height. Thermosphere: temperature increases with height because of the tremendous absorption of solar energy by the gases in the atmosphere. Even though the temperature is hot at this level, it would not feel hot because there are so few air molecules in the air at this altitude.

Now you may color your book! Use your own crayons if you have them. Borrow a basket to share with others if you don’t have your own. Color the zones on the front, and the sections on the back.

Take notes if you have finished other sections and coloring: Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis Caused when material thrown off the surface of the sun collides with the atmosphere of the Earth When the particles collide with the gases in the thermosphere they start to glow, producing an array of colors consisting of red, green, blue and violet.  Can only be seen from the polar regions

Aurora Borealis a.k.a The Northern Lights