ATMOSPHERE DEFINITION A LAYER OF GASES THAT SURROUNDS A PLANET

ATMOSPHERE IMPORTANCE… 1. PROTECTS US 2. CONTROLS OUR TEMPERATURES(MAKES THEM JUST RIGHT)

ATMOSPHERE COMPOSITION 78% NITROGEN 21% OXYGEN LESS THAN 1%=OTHER GASES

MOST ABUNDANT GAS IN OUR ATMOSPHERE 78% NITROGEN

2ND MOST ABUNDANT GAS IN OUR ATMOSPHERE… 21% OXYGEN

AS ALTITUDE INCREASES, AIR PRESSURE DECREASES… 1. AIR PRESSURE IS STRONGEST AT THE EARTH’S SURFACE BECAUSE MORE AIR IS ABOVE YOU. 2. AS YOU MOVE FARTHER AWAY FROM EARTH’S SURFACE, FEWER GAS MOLECULES ARE ABOVE YOU ********GRAVITY PULLS GAS MOLECULES IN THE ATMOSPHERE TOWARDS THE EARTH’S SURFACE, CAUSING AIR PRESSURE

TROPOSPHERE 1. LOWEST LAYER 2. WE LIVE HERE

TROPOSPHERE 1. DENSEST LAYER 2. WEATHER HAPPENS HERE

STRATOSPHERE 1. HOME OF THE “OZONE” LAYER=PROTECTS US BY ABSORBING AND REFLECTING MUCH OF THE ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION FROM SPACE AWAY FROM EARTH’S SURFACE 2. AIRPLANES FLY ABOVE THE CLOUDS HERE(SMOOTHER FLIGHT)

STRATOSPHERE 1. ABOVE THE TROPOSPHERE(LESS DENSE THAN TROPOSPHERE) 2. UPPER PART HERE WARMER THAN BOTTOM(DUE TO OZONE LAYER)

MESOSPHERE 1. COLDEST LAYER 2. ABOVE THE STRATOSPHERE(EVEN LESS DENSE THAN STRATOSPHERE)

MESOSPHERE 1. METEORS BURN UP HERE 2. MIDDLE LAYER

THERMOSPHERE 1. UPPERMOST LAYER(ABOVE MESOSPHERE) 2. VERY HIGH TEMPERATURES HERE

THERMOSPHERE 1. HIGHEST TEMPERATURES, BUT IT DOES NOT FEEL “HOT” 2. PARTICLES HERE MOVE VERY FAST BUT THEY ARE SPACED FAR APART SO THEY DON’T TRANSFER MUCH ENERGY.

THERMOSPHERE 1. LOWEST DENSITY OF ANY LAYER 2. MADE UP OF 2 PARTS

IONOSPHERE 1. BOTTOM PART OF THERMOSPHERE 2. AURORA BOREALLIS(NORTHERN LIGHTS) 3. INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION 4. RADIO WAVES

EXOSPHERE 1. TOP PART OF THERMOSPHERE 2. CELL PHONES/TV/SATELLITES