The Atmosphere By : Jennifer Drinkard

Atmospheric gases Our atmosphere is made up of mainly Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Carbon Dioxide, but it also contains traces of argon and other gases.

What is our atmosphere made up of?  Our atmosphere is made up of many gases.  79% of it is comprised of Nitrogen.  About 21% is Oxygen.  The small amount that is left over is comprised of carbon dioxide and other gases.

The Layers of the Atmosphere Our atmosphere is made up of four layers. The Troposphere, the Stratosphere, the Mesosphere, and the Thermosphere. Each of these have their own similarities and differences.

The Troposphere  It is Closest to the Earth’s surface  The Troposphere goes up to about 10 – 15 km above the surface  It Contains 75% of the atmosphere’s mass  It is Wider at the equator then at the poles  Temperature and pressure drops the farther you go up  Weather occurs here

Stratosphere  The Stratosphere is about 35 km  It Extends from about 15 – 50 km above the Earth’s surface  This layer Contains ozone  It Absorbs most of the ultraviolet radiation from the sun

Mesosphere  It Goes from about 50 to 80 kilometers above the surface  Temperatures are about -130 degrees Fahrenheit  The Mesosphere contains the coldest temperatures anywhere on Earth  This is where meteors coming too close to Earth burn up

Thermosphere  The Thermosphere is the top layer of the atmosphere  Is about 80 to 145 kilometers above Earth’s surface  It contains less than.01% of all air within the atmosphere  Temperatures can reach up to 2000 Fahrenheit

What is global warming?  Global Warming is a rise in average global temperatures.  This is caused by the greenhouse effect.

The Greenhouse Effect  The earth’s heating process, in which the gases in the atmosphere trap thermal energy, is known as the greenhouse effect.  The term “greenhouse” is used because our atmosphere works much like a greenhouse, as shown below.