1. Atmosphere

2. Layers of the Atmosphere

3. Layers of the Atmosphere
Temperature at 60 km?
60 km
~ -40 oC

4. Layers of the Atmosphere
Thermosphere
The Northern Lights occur in this layer
Where satellites orbit
Mesosphere
Meteorites burn up in this layer
- a.k.a. shooting stars
Stratosphere
Ozone layer is found in this layer
Troposphere
All clouds, breathable air, and weather occur in this layer

5. Northern Lights

6. Boundary between the Troposphere and Stratosphere

7. Composition of Troposphere 78 % nitrogen 21 % oxygen
1 % other gasses
greenhouse gasses - absorb long-wave radiation (heat) given off by the earth causing the atmosphere to warm
H2O(v)
CO2 - volcanoes and burning fossil fuels
methane (CH4) – livestock & decaying plant material in water

8. ozone (O3) layer absorbs UV-radiation
The Ozone Layer
ozone (O3) layer absorbs UV-radiation
Chemicals (CFC’s) destroy ozone creating a hole
air conditioners, refrigerators, and in aerosol cans
banned in the U.S. and the ozone has began to repair itself.

10. Energy Transferred In the Atmosphere

11. Green House Effect
Light (short-wave radiation) passes through the atmosphere and is absorbed by the surface of the Earth
The surface re-radiates that energy in the form of heat (long-wave radiation)
This long-wave radiation is absorbed by greenhouse gases, which heats up the atmosphere
Without greenhouse gases the temperature of Earth would be below freezing

14. Origin and Evolution of the Atmosphere
Original atmosphere - outgassing from volcanoes
No oxygen was present
(stromatolites) used photosynthesis and converted CO2 to oxygen
Some of this oxygen reacted with sunlight in the upper atmosphere creating ozone (O3)