Layers of the Atmosphere Atmosphere is divided into different layers based on temperature. Temperature changes as you go up. Sometimes it INCREASES Sometimes it DECREASES Sometimes it STAYS THE SAME There are 4 main layers to our atmosphere, each with different characteristics: 1. Troposphere 2. Stratosphere 3. Mesosphere 4. Thermosphere 5. Exosphere

ATMOSPHERE Layers of the Atmosphere Thermosphere Temperature INCREASES High temperatures Thin air. Feels cold. Mesosphere Temperature DECREASES Most meteors burn up here! Stratosphere Temperature INCREASES Contains ozone O3 absorbs bad rays Absorption = Warm Troposphere Temperature DECREASES. Weather occurs here. ATMOSPHERE

Air Pressure Air pressure is the weight of air pushing down from above. As you go up, pressure DECREASES. Air pressure makes air near Earth’s surface DENSE.

Temperature Inversion. A temperature inversion is a thin layer of the atmosphere where the normal decrease in temperature with height switches to the temperature increasing with height. An inversion acts like a Lid, keeping normal hot air from rising through the atmosphere and trapping this layer of air. Several related effects Trapping of pollutants below the inversion creating smog. Clouds can spread out and flatten such is the case of the top of thunderstorm clouds. The inversion could also prevent thunderstorms from forming by not allowing the warm air to rise to a height enough for condensation to occur.