1. Unit 7: Atmosphere Notes

2. Atmosphere Structure
Contains many gases, most in small amounts, including some pollutants.
It is concentrated on earth’s surface and it rapidly thins as you move upward.
Maintains life on earth and weather occurs here.

3. Atmosphere Composition
Composed of a mix of different gases.
78 % Nitrogen
21% Oxygen
0.9% Argon
0.1 % Trace Gas

4. Atmospheric Layers Troposphere Stratosphere Mesosphere Thermosphere
Exosphere

5. Atmospheric Layers Troposphere Atmospheric layer closest to Earth.
Called “lower atmosphere”
Has the densest layer of gases
Contains almost all weather

6. Atmospheric Layers Stratosphere
Above the troposphere (~7 miles above sea level)
Air is less dense.
Airplanes fly in the lower stratosphere to avoid turbulent weather clouds.
Ozone layer is located at the top of the stratosphere

7. Atmospheric Layers Mesosphere
Above the stratosphere (30-50 miles above sea level)
Contains chemicals that absorb energy from the sun.
Called the “middle atmosphere”

8. Atmospheric Layers Thermosphere
Above the mesosphere (50 miles above sea level)
Called “upper atmosphere”
Space shuttles and satellites orbit earth in this layer.
Auroras take place in this layer

9. Atmospheric Layers Exosphere
Outermost layer with no definite outer limit
Merges with space

10. Atmosphere Graph Which layer is located at 1000 mb of pressure?
______________________
2. Which layer is located at 110 km?
______________________3. What temperature is the Stratopause?
Troposphere
Thermosphere
~ 10 ˚C