Earth’s Atmosphere *Is a thin layer of gas surrounding the planet, it is what allows life to exist on Earth. *The gases that make up the atmosphere are 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen 1% other. *The atmosphere protects Earth like a big blanket. It absorbs the heat from the Sun and keeps the heat inside the atmosphere helping the Earth to stay warm known as the Greenhouse Effect. It also keeps the temperature of the Earth stable. *The atmosphere is divided into 5 layers, air pressure decreases as you go through the atmosphere because the air particles in the air are further apart and there is less air above you.

http://easyscienceforkids.com/all-about-the-atmosphere/

http://forces.si.edu/atmosphere/04_00_01.html

Troposphere The layer closest to Earth, its about 11 miles thick Contains most of the weather Contains most of the air molecules Heated by the warmth of the earths surface, temperature decreases as you travel farther from the ground This is where we live, where clouds develop, birds fly, and pollution collects.

Stratosphere About 30 miles high Ozone Layer is located here, found at the top of the layer- absorbs UV radiation from the sun Gets warmer the further away you get from the Earth, temperature increase as you travel higher Weather balloons found here

Mesosphere *Reaching 50 miles from the Earth. *It’s very cold because it contains little ozone to absorb the heat. The part of the mesosphere close to the bottom –ozone layer- gets the most warmth. Temperature decreases at this layer *Meteors burn up here *Shooting Stars are found here

Thermosphere The hottest layer Ionosphere layer is part of the thermosphere, which contains electrically charged particles Aurora Borealis- Northern Lights- is found here International Space Station is found here

Exosphere The outermost layer and the thinnest Temperature increases Has almost no matter, and eventually extends into space Satellites orbit the Earth in this layer

How to Remember the Order of the Atmosphere: Test- Troposphere Scores-Stratosphere Make- Mesosphere Teachers- Thermosphere Excited- Exosphere