THE

ATMOSPHERE
ATMOSPHERE
-is a blanket of air that surrounds the earth
• Earth's atmosphere is made of a
mixture of gases called air.

Nitrogen

Oxygen

*greenhouse gases: carbon

dioxide, water vapor,

methane, etc.
Nitrogen gas makes up about 78% of
Earth's atmosphere.

The second most abundant gas is OXYGEN,

which makes up 21% of Earth's atmosphere.

The third Argon (Ar, 0.9%). Trace gases 1%

Carbon Dioxide (CO, 0.03%).

LAYERS OF ATMOSPHERE
•EXOSPHERE 05

•THERMOSPHERE

•MESOSPHERE

•STRATOSPHERE

•TROPOSPHERE
TROPOSPHERE
• the bottom layer of the atmosphere
• stretches to about 11 km

• temperature decreases with altitude

• where weather conditions happen

• contains 75% of the air

•mostly N, and O₂
STRATOSPHERE
• the second layer of the atmosphere

• up to about 50 km

• temperature increases with altitude

• contains the ozone (O) layer in the upper region

• where most jet planes travel through

•contains about 24% of the air

MESOSPHERE
•the third layer of the atmosphere

•up to about 80 km

•temperature decreases with altitude

•the coldest layer

•where most meteors burn up

THERMOSPHERE
•The fourth layer of the atmosphere

to about 1000 km

•The hottest layer (due to ions, H+ and He, that d

irectly absorb the sun's radiation)

•temperature increases with altitude

•has 2 layers
(Ionosphere)
•Lower layer of the Thermosphere

•Reaches from about 80 km to 400 km above Earth's

surface

•Energy from the sun causes gas molecules here to

become electrically charged particles

•Radio waves bounce off ions back to Earth (makes

signals travel much farther at night)

•Auroras happen near the poles because of the

ionosphere - these are brilliant streaks of light in
night skies
EXOSPHERE
•Exo means outer

•Is the outer portion of the thermosphere

•Reaches from about 400 km outward for

thousands of kilometers

•Space shuttles and satellites orbit Earth here

✓Provides the necessary gases for living
things to survive

✓ regulates the heat from the sun to just the right temperature for life on Earth
✓plays an important role in the water cycle
✓ the ozone layer protects the Earth from the sun's harmful UV rays
✓protects the Earth from small meteors
THANK
YOU