Layers of the atmosphere Atmosphere- mixture of gases surrounding a planet or moon; air Earth’s Atmospheric Gases: 78% -N 28% - O 1% -Ar, Dust, Volcanic ash, sea salt 4 main layers: Troposphere Stratosphere Mesosphere Thermosphere 2 Minor layers: Ionosphere Exosphere

Two Special Moms In TN Everyday Troposphere Stratosphere Mesosphere Ionosphere Thermosphere Exosphere

Troposphere Lowest layer we live here only KNOWN layer to support life Tropo means turn most of atmosphere’s weather occurs here Shallowest layer ;but, contains most of the atmosphere’s mass most dense layer Gases mix here As altitude rises temperature decreases

Stratosphere layer directly above troposphere Contains O₃- protects us from sun’s uv rays Located 15-50 km above earth surface Strato means layered or stretching out Gas do not mix here Cold -60⁰C (bottom) to 2,000⁰C at top As altitude increases temperature increases also Air has very little moisture (DRY)

Mesosphere Middle layer Coldest layer 50-80 km above Earth’s surface As altitude increases temperature decreases most meteoroids burn up here, producing a meteor trail Protect Earth from meteors Temperature 93⁰ C – 100⁰ C at the top Meteorite- burns up in the Mesos… Meteor- does NOT burn up…hits the Earth

Thermosphere Thermo means heat 2,000⁰C at the top Air molecules are 1 km apart N & O convert solar energy to heat Astronauts visit Air very thin: 0.0001% as dense as the air at sea level Northern lights **even though temperature is hot, thermosphere is NOT hot Heat-transfer of thermal energy Temperature-measure of average energy of particles in motion

Ionosphere Located b/t upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere N and O absorb harmful solar energy As temp rises, gases/particles  become electrically charged: ions Auroras-radiated energy seen as shimmering lights in the Polar regions- look this way b/c ions radiate energy AM radio waves can travel around the world here (Frequency) 50-400 km

Exosphere Satellites, Space shuttles Aliens (), Outer space 400 +km- altitude Beyond Cold

Formation of wind Sun heats air-causes a rise in temperature-causes a change in air pressure-begins air to moving /convection current=wind Wind is moving air…moves by Convection current Convection current- Transfer of heat by current in a liquid or gas

jet streams are narrow belts of high-speed winds that blow in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. winds can reach maximum speeds of 400 km/h. Unlike other global winds, the jet streams do not follow regular paths around the Earth.