ATMOSPHERE

The Atmosphere is important! Provides gasses needed for life (oxygen and carbon dioxide, etc) Protects us from heat and radiation from the Sun (blocks some of it) Acts as an insulator and keeps Earth warm by trapping some heat Burns up most meteors before impact occurs

Troposphere Layer closest to Earth’s surface Contains life and weather Planes fly at the top of this layer Temperature decreases as altitude increases

Stratosphere 2nd layer from Earth Contains Ozone Layer – protects us from UV rays by absorbing them Weather balloons are in this layer Temperature increases as altitude increases due to Ozone Layer

Mesosphere Middle layer Contains Ionosphere – reflects radio waves Meteors burn up here Very thin atmosphere and coldest layer

Thermosphere 4th layer that also contains ionosphere Filters X-Rays and UV rays from the Sun Warmest Layer Space Shuttles and Auroras are found in this layer

Exosphere Farthest layer from Earth’s surface Air pressure and density is very low Air molecules can escape into space Satellites orbit here