The Layers of the Earth’s Atmosphere Please follow along and add notes to your graphic organizer 

Why is the atmosphere important? The atmosphere is an important part of what makes Earth livable. It blocks some of the Sun's dangerous rays from reaching Earth. It traps heat, making Earth a comfortable temperature.

The Atmosphere The atmosphere consists of layers of air that surround the Earth. Some of the “air” is oxygen, which we breathe, but there are also many other gasses, dust particles, and even some water vapor mixed into the air.

Composition of Air There are many different types of gasses in the atmosphere They include nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide and other noble gasses The gas that is most abundant is nitrogen

Layers of the atmosphere There are 4 layers in the atmosphere They are the troposphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and stratosphere

EXOSPHERE THERMOSPHERE MESOSPHERE STRATOSPHERE TROPOSPHERE The Earth's Atmosphere

The troposphere is the layer closest to the surface of Earth The troposphere is the layer closest to the surface of Earth. Nearly all life and all weather occur in this layer. The air thins in this layer and is denser than in other layers. In this layer, the higher up from Earth’s surface you go, the colder it gets. The peak of Mt. Everest is near the top of this layer. TROPOSPHERE

The temperature in this layer becomes warmer The temperature in this layer becomes warmer. The air is thinner and drier than in the previous layer. STRATOSPHERE

The mesosphere is the coldest layer of the atmosphere The mesosphere is the coldest layer of the atmosphere. When meteoroids from space enter our atmosphere, this is the layer in which they usually burn up. That might be surprising because it’s a pretty thin layer. MESOSPHERE

Temperatures in the thermosphere are very high, more that 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. This is where space begins. The International Space Station orbits Earth in this layer. THERMOSPHERE

The exosphere is the outermost layer of Earth’s atmosphere but there is no exact dividing line between this layer and space. EXOSPHERE

EXOSPHERE THERMOSPHERE MESOSPHERE STRATOSPHERE TROPOSPHERE The exosphere is the outermost layer of Earth’s atmosphere but there is no exact dividing line between this layer and space. EXOSPHERE Temperatures in the thermosphere are very high, more that 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. This is where space begins. The International Space Station orbits Earth in this layer. THERMOSPHERE The mesosphere is the coldest layer of the atmosphere. When meteoroids from space enter our atmosphere, this is the layer in which they usually burn up. That might be surprising because it’s a pretty thin layer. MESOSPHERE The temperature in this layer becomes warmer. The air is thinner and drier than in the previous layer. STRATOSPHERE The troposphere is the layer closet to the surface of Earth. Nearly all life and all weather occur in this layer. The air thins in this layer and is denser than in other layers. In this layer, the higher up from Earth’s surface you go, the colder it gets. The peak of Mt. Everest is near the top of this layer. TROPOSPHERE

Watch and Learn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn3R8cLkD5k

What is the greenhouse effect (describe how it works)? Energy from the Sun that makes its way to the Earth’s surface can have trouble finding its way back out to space. This is because of a natural process called the greenhouse effect. Without the greenhouse effect, Earth’s temperature would be below freezing.

What are the main greenhouse gases? Carbon Dioxide Water Vapor Nitrous oxide Methane