The Atmosphere

Atmosphere Atmosphere Made up of mostly nitrogen and oxygen Protects us from the Sun “atmo” means air/vapor Also contains dust, volcanic ash, sea salt, dirt, smoke, and other pollutants

Air Pressure Air Pressure Force of all the air pushing down Decreases with altitude (height)

Temperature Temperature Composition of the atmosphere effects temperature Temperatures drop, raise, drop, and raise again the higher up you go (each layer acts differently)

Troposphere Troposphere most dense and most pressure Closest to Earth’s surface Is where the weather happens Has clouds, water vapor, pollution Gases mix due to varying temp’s “tropo” means turn/change

Stratosphere Stratosphere Gases here are layered and do not mix Air is thin with little moisture Ozone layer is here - absorbs the ultraviolet radiation from the sun (making life on earth possible) “strato” means layered

Mesosphere Mesosphere “Meso” means middle Coldest layer

Uppermost layer High temp’s but feels cold Mostly made of O +, N +, and He + ions Thermosphere Thermosphere

Conduction Conduction the transfer of heat through direct contact occurs when hot air molecules contacts Earth’s surface Example: touching hot item

Convection Convection transfer of heat in currents of a liquid or a gas hot liquids and gases move up, cool move down Examples: heat rising off hot street, boiling water

Radiation Radiation transfer of heat through invisible waves Comes from the Sun or something hot Responsible for the weather cycle Example: face is warmed with sunlight on it

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Greenhouse GreenhouseEffect The warming of Earth because the atmosphere holds heat like a blanket; (carbon dioxide and water vapor hold heat)

Global GlobalWarming increase in global temperature due to an increase in greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide)