1. Atmospheric Basics
Atmosphere Basics
Air is a combination of many gases, each with its own unique characteristics.
About 99% of the atmosphere is composed of nitrogen and oxygen.
The remaining one percent consisting of small amounts of argon, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other gases.

2. The surrounding air of the Earth
Atmosphere
The surrounding air of the Earth

3. Atmospheric Basics

4. Composition of Air
There are many different types of gasses in the atmosphere
They include nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide and other noble gasses
The gas that is most abundant is nitrogen

5. Structure of the Atmosphere
Atmospheric Basics
Structure of the Atmosphere
The atmosphere is made up of several different layers.
Each layer differs in composition and temperature.

7. Layers of the atmosphere
There are 4 layers in the atmosphere
They are the troposphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and stratosphere

9. Troposphere
This is the layer that is closest to the surface of the earth
It’s elevation ranges from 0 to 10 km

10. Atmospheric Composition
Atmospheric Basics
Atmospheric Composition
Lower Atmospheric Layers
The troposphere, the layer closest to Earth’s surface, contains most of the mass of the atmosphere, including water vapor.
Most weather takes place in and most air pollution collects in the troposphere.

11. Stratosphere This layer sits on top of the troposphere
It’s elevation ranges from 10 km to around 25 km
This layer contains the ozone layer, which protects us from harmful sunlight

12. Atmospheric Composition
Atmospheric Basics
Atmospheric Composition
Lower Atmospheric Layers
The stratosphere, is where most ozone is located.
Its referred to as stratospheric ozone.
Planes like to fly here because there is less moisture so less clouds so less weather to jostle the planes.

13. Mesosphere This layer is above the stratosphere
It’s elevation ranges from 25 to 100 km

14. Thermosphere This is the highest layer of the atmosphere
It’s height ranges from 100 to 400 km
This is where most small meteorites burn up and is also the location in the atmosphere that the northern lights occur (aurora borealis)

15. Atmospheric Composition
Atmospheric Basics
Atmospheric Composition
Upper Atmospheric Layers
The mesosphere is the coldest layer of the atmosphere. It has very strong winds. This is where you would see meteors shooting through.
The thermosphere is the farthest layer from the surface and it contains a very small part of the atmosphere’s mass.
This is the hottest layer because it is closer to the sun and it absorbs the heat from it.

16. Atmospheric Composition
Atmospheric Basics
Atmospheric Composition
The thermosphere is divided into two parts.
The ionosphere is important for radio communications because it bounces waves back to earth. This is also where the aurora bolealis occurs.
The exosphere, which is composed of light gases such as helium and hydrogen, so satellites can travel here very easily
Molecules are actually traveling so fast that some are able to escape from earth’s gravity.
There is no clear boundary between the atmosphere and space.

17. Atmospheric Basics

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