The Earth’s Spheres The Earth is separated into different layers or spheres. The Earth is separated into different layers or spheres. Each sphere has different.

The Earth’s SpheresThe Earth’s Spheres

The Earth is separated into different layers or spheres.The Earth is separated into different layers or spheres. Each sphere has different observable properties or Each sphere has different observable properties or

characteristics such as temperature and composition.characteristics such as temperature and composition. Each layer is held together due to gravity.Each layer is held together due to gravity. Each layer has a different density. The farther from Each layer has a different density. The farther from

the center of the Earth you are, the less dense the the center of the Earth you are, the less dense the layer.layer.

The three main spheres are the atmosphere, The three main spheres are the atmosphere, hydrosphere and the lithosphere.hydrosphere and the lithosphere.

The Structure of Earth from Surface to Outer AtmosphereThe Structure of Earth from Surface to Outer Atmosphere

Spheres of EarthSpheres of Earth The first sphere we will discuss is The first sphere we will discuss is

called the called the ATMOSPHERE.ATMOSPHERE.

The atmosphere is a layer of gas The atmosphere is a layer of gas composed primarily of 78% composed primarily of 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen that nitrogen and 21% oxygen that surrounds the Earth’s surface and is surrounds the Earth’s surface and is 1000 km thick.1000 km thick.

Other gases that make up the Other gases that make up the remainder of the atmosphere are remainder of the atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, argon, water vapor, carbon dioxide, argon, ozone, neon and a few other gases.ozone, neon and a few other gases.

Discussing the structure of the atmosphereDiscussing the structure of the atmosphere

The layer closest to the Earth’s The layer closest to the Earth’s surface where nearly surface where nearly allall weather weather occurs is called the occurs is called the TROPOSPHERETROPOSPHERE. The layer with . The layer with most of the water vapor. (ESRT most of the water vapor. (ESRT pg 14) . This is the densest layer of pg 14) . This is the densest layer of the atmosphere and contains the the atmosphere and contains the gases necessary for us to breath. gases necessary for us to breath. When we pollute our atmosphere When we pollute our atmosphere with toxic gases we are polluting with toxic gases we are polluting the air that we breath. the air that we breath. Increasing the amount of CO2, Increasing the amount of CO2, increases the temperature.increases the temperature.

The atmosphere is The atmosphere is stratifiedstratified or layered and the layers or layered and the layers are separated by something called a are separated by something called a pausepause..

As we travel upward through the atmosphere, at about 10 km As we travel upward through the atmosphere, at about 10 km we cross through the tropopause and enter the next layer of the we cross through the tropopause and enter the next layer of the atmosphere called the STRATOSPHERE.atmosphere called the STRATOSPHERE.

Horizontal winds and lack of storms help with Horizontal winds and lack of storms help with air travelair travel

Atmosphere Cont.Atmosphere Cont.

The stratosphere is a The stratosphere is a layer that is layer that is approximately 20 km approximately 20 km thick and contains an thick and contains an important gas called important gas called OZONE.OZONE.

Ozone is a gas that Ozone is a gas that protects Earth from protects Earth from harmful ultraviolet harmful ultraviolet radiation.radiation.

The ozone absorbs the The ozone absorbs the ultraviolet radiation. ultraviolet radiation. Due to the absorption Due to the absorption the temperature in the the temperature in the stratosphere increases.stratosphere increases.

The ozone layer is being The ozone layer is being reduced by human reduced by human emissions of chlorine emissions of chlorine and fluorine, creating and fluorine, creating “Ozone Holes”.“Ozone Holes”.

Top Image 2000 and Top Image 2000 and Bottom Image 2006Bottom Image 2006

Atmosphere Cont.Atmosphere Cont.

As we continue our journey upward and leave the stratosphere As we continue our journey upward and leave the stratosphere we cross through the stratopause and enter the we cross through the stratopause and enter the MESOSPHERE.MESOSPHERE.

The MESOSPHERE is approximately 30 km thick and is the The MESOSPHERE is approximately 30 km thick and is the middle layer (meso means middle) of the atmosphere. This middle layer (meso means middle) of the atmosphere. This where meteors burn up creating shooting stars.where meteors burn up creating shooting stars.

A we leave the mesosphere A we leave the mesosphere behind and cross through behind and cross through the mesopause we enter the the mesopause we enter the THERMOSPHERE.THERMOSPHERE.

The thermosphere is a layer The thermosphere is a layer of the atmosphere of very of the atmosphere of very high temperatures and is high temperatures and is approximately 50 km thick.approximately 50 km thick.

Thermosphere is where the Thermosphere is where the aurora occurs.aurora occurs.

Things to remember about the atmosphereThings to remember about the atmosphere

Almost everything Almost everything you need to know you need to know about the about the atmosphere is in the atmosphere is in the ESRT page 14.ESRT page 14.

Example: Order of Example: Order of layers, temperature layers, temperature changes within the changes within the layers, density of layers, density of the layers, air the layers, air pressure, water pressure, water vapor concentration.vapor concentration.

Atmosphere VideoAtmosphere Video

ESRT Question on AtmosphereESRT Question on Atmosphere

In what layer of the atmosphere is the In what layer of the atmosphere is the temperature at it’s lowest?temperature at it’s lowest?

As you increase in altitude from sea level, As you increase in altitude from sea level, what happens to the atmospheric pressure?what happens to the atmospheric pressure?

What is the temperature at the tropopause?What is the temperature at the tropopause?

HydrosphereHydrosphere

The next sphere of the Earth is the The next sphere of the Earth is the hydrosphere, or the water layer. hydrosphere, or the water layer.

The hydrosphere lies between the atmosphere The hydrosphere lies between the atmosphere and the upper layer of the Earth’s interior.and the upper layer of the Earth’s interior.

The hydrosphere covers approximately 70 The hydrosphere covers approximately 70 percent of the earth. It includes the oceans, percent of the earth. It includes the oceans, rivers, lakes and streams. Both freshwater and rivers, lakes and streams. Both freshwater and saltwater make up the hydrosphere. saltwater make up the hydrosphere.

Hydrosphere cont.Hydrosphere cont.

The hydrosphere is relatively thin, averaging The hydrosphere is relatively thin, averaging about 3.8 km in thickness.about 3.8 km in thickness.

Composed of mostly hydrogen and oxygen, Composed of mostly hydrogen and oxygen, with some varying amounts of dissolved gases with some varying amounts of dissolved gases and suspended solids.and suspended solids.

LithosphereLithosphere The lithosphere is the rock layer of the Earth.The lithosphere is the rock layer of the Earth. Is the solid outer shell at the top of the Earth’s Is the solid outer shell at the top of the Earth’s

interior.interior. Found below the atmosphere and the Found below the atmosphere and the

hydrosphere.hydrosphere. The lithosphere is about 100 km thick and is The lithosphere is about 100 km thick and is

divided into different plates.divided into different plates. The upper portion is called the crust.The upper portion is called the crust. ESRT LinkESRT Link