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The Atmosphere Miss Napolitano & Mrs. Rodriguez Environmental Science
16

The Atmosphere Miss Napolitano & Mrs. Rodriguez Environmental Science.

Jan 02, 2016

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Julie Hubbard
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Page 1: The Atmosphere Miss Napolitano & Mrs. Rodriguez Environmental Science.

The Atmosphere

Miss Napolitano & Mrs. Rodriguez

Environmental Science

Page 2: The Atmosphere Miss Napolitano & Mrs. Rodriguez Environmental Science.

The Atmosphere

Atmosphere: mixture of gases that surround a planet

Includes nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, & other gases

Gases can be added/removed by volcanic gases, automobiles, & living organisms

Ex: photosynthesis, cell respiration

Page 3: The Atmosphere Miss Napolitano & Mrs. Rodriguez Environmental Science.

The Atmosphere

The atmosphere insulates Earth’s surface

Slows the rate at which the Earth’ surface loses heat

Keeps a stable temperature

Page 4: The Atmosphere Miss Napolitano & Mrs. Rodriguez Environmental Science.

Composition of the Atmosphere

Nitrogen: 78%

Enters the atmosphere during volcanic eruptions & when plants/animals decay

Oxygen: 21%

Mostly produced by plants

Other gases: argon, carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor

Atmosphere contains many types of tiny, solid particles called atmospheric dust

Page 5: The Atmosphere Miss Napolitano & Mrs. Rodriguez Environmental Science.

Air Pressure

Atmosphere is denser near the Earth’s surface

Due to gravity

Makes breathing difficult at higher altitudes

Page 6: The Atmosphere Miss Napolitano & Mrs. Rodriguez Environmental Science.

Layers of the Atmosphere

Layers divided based on temperature changes

The Troposphere

The Stratosphere

The Mesosphere

The Thermosphere

Page 7: The Atmosphere Miss Napolitano & Mrs. Rodriguez Environmental Science.
Page 8: The Atmosphere Miss Napolitano & Mrs. Rodriguez Environmental Science.

The Troposphere

Lowest layer of the atmosphere

As altitude increases, temperature decreases

Where weather conditions exist

Densest atmospheric layer

Extends 18 km above the surface

Page 9: The Atmosphere Miss Napolitano & Mrs. Rodriguez Environmental Science.

The StratosphereAbove the troposphere

10-50 km above the surface

As altitude increases, temperature increases

Airplane level

Ozone (O3) absorbs sun’s ultraviolet (UV) energy, warming the air & reducing UV to reach Earth

UV can damage living cells

Page 10: The Atmosphere Miss Napolitano & Mrs. Rodriguez Environmental Science.

The Mesosphere

Above the stratosphere

Extends to an altitude of ~80 km

Coldest layer

Page 11: The Atmosphere Miss Napolitano & Mrs. Rodriguez Environmental Science.

The Thermosphere

Farthest from the Earth’s surface

Nitrogen & Oxygen absorb solar radiation

Temperatures >2,000°C

Air is so thin that particles barely collide

Little heat is transferred

Would not feel hot to us

Page 12: The Atmosphere Miss Napolitano & Mrs. Rodriguez Environmental Science.

The Thermosphere (cont’d)

X-rays & gamma rays absorbed by nitrogen & oxygen causes electrically charged atoms (ions)

Ions radiate energy as light

Causes auroras (Northern & Southern Lights) near the poles

Page 13: The Atmosphere Miss Napolitano & Mrs. Rodriguez Environmental Science.

The Greenhouse Effect

Greenhouse Effect: warming of the Earth’s surface & lower atmosphere that occurs when gases absorb & reradiate infrared radiation

Makes temperature warm enough for life

Page 14: The Atmosphere Miss Napolitano & Mrs. Rodriguez Environmental Science.
Page 15: The Atmosphere Miss Napolitano & Mrs. Rodriguez Environmental Science.
Page 16: The Atmosphere Miss Napolitano & Mrs. Rodriguez Environmental Science.

Greenhouse Gases

Greenhouse gases: gases in the atmosphere that trap & radiate heat

Most abundant: water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, & nitrous oxide

None exist in high concentrations

Quantities of greenhouse gases vary because of natural & industrial processes