The

Atmosphere
 Definition
The layer of gases surrounding Earth;
composed mainly of nitrogen and
oxygen
 Layers

http://www.fi.edu/wright/again/wings.avkids.com/wings.avkids.com/Book/Atmosphere/Images/atmos_layers.gif
 Troposphere
• This is where all
plants and animals
live and breathe
• Where weather takes
place
• Air is mixes
• T decreases with
altitude

http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/kingworc/departments/geography/nottingham/atmosphere/pages/gfx/troposphere.jpg
 Ozone Layer
•Pale blue gas with a strong odor.

•90% of all ozone is found in the

stratosphere

•10% is found in the troposphere

•Ozone is extremely important

because it is the only gas that
absorbs ultraviolet radiation
from the Sun and protects the
surface of the Earth and people
from the damaging effects of UV
rays

http://ess.geology.ufl.edu/ess/Notes/090-Ozone_Depletion/depl2.jpg
 Stratosphere
• Ozone in this layer stops many of the
sun's harmful rays from reaching the earth
• People can not breathe in this layer.
 Mesosphere
• T decreases with altitude
• This is where we see "falling stars" –
meteors burning up as they fall to Earth
 Thermosphere
• Layer of the atmosphere which is first
exposed to the Sun's radiation and so is
first heated by the Sun.

• The air is very thin

• The temperature dependent on solar

activity.
 Ionosphere
• An extension or a part of the
thermosphere. So technically, the
ionosphere is not another atmospheric
layer.
• Free electrons and ions tend to recombine
http://science-education.pppl.gov/SummerInst/aurora%20borealis.jpg
 Exosphere
• Highest layer of the atmosphere. The air is
very thin here
• Atoms and molecules escape into space
Let’s look at an animation:

http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthgu
ide/diagrams/atmosphere/index.ht
ml