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 when you are finished your notes…

Back of the book…

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.) Brainpop: Earth’s atmosphere

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.

Exosphere Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Stratosphere Troposphere 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 Earth

Troposphere The layer of the atmosphere closest to the earth is the troposphere. This layer is where weather occurs. It begins at the surface of the earth and extends out to about 4-12 miles. Contains 80% of all the mass of the atmosphere and almost all the water vapor.. The temperature of the troposphere decreases with height.

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. People can not breathe in this layer. 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.

Ozone Layer Pale, blue gas with a strong odor. O3 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

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 your rise. About 35 to 50 miles above the surface of the Earth

Thermosphere / Exosphere 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.

Aurora Borealis a.k.a The Northern Lights

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 consists of red, green, blue and violet.  Can only be seen from the polar regions

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.