Scribd
Upload
7 views

Notes On Atmosphere

Uploaded by

Mohau Maila
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
7 views

Notes On Atmosphere

Uploaded by

Mohau Maila
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 8

Gases in the atmosphere

 The atmosphere is the mixture of gases held around the Earth


by gravity
 This mixture is known as air and consists of:
 nitrogen (78%),
 oxygen (21%),
 carbon dioxide (less than
1%),
 and other gases, including water
vapour (1%)

Layers of the
atmosphere
 The density of the gas particles
decreases as the distance from the
Earth increases (the further away from the Earth, the thinner the air)

 The atmosphere has four layers:


 troposphere,
 stratosphere,
 mesosphere,
 thermosphere

 Each layer has a different temperature


gradient

 Temperature gradient is how much the


temperature changes with height above sea
level (altitude)

Temperature range in
the atmosphere
 Each layer has a different
temperature gradient

 Temperature gradient
is how much the
temperature changes
with height above sea
level (altitude)

Troposphere
 This layer extends from sea
level to about 10 km above
the surface of the Earth
 It contains more than 70% of the mass of the atmosphere
(particles closest together) and it has the greatest density

 The temperature decreases as the distance from the surface


increases (the further away from the Earth, the colder the air)

 Weather occurs in this layer


 All animals and plants live in this layer

Stratosphere
 This layer extends from about 10 km to about 50 km above the
Earth’s surface
 The air in the stratosphere is very thin compared to the air in the
troposphere
 Some aeroplanes fly as high as the stratosphere
 The stratosphere includes a band of ozone gas (O3) which
absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the Sun
 This absorption of ultraviolet radiation increases the
temperature of the stratosphere - as a result, the further away
from the Earth, the warmer the air becomes
 Too much ultraviolet radiation interferes with life on Earth
(human health, photosynthesis, life cycles and sizes of
populations of species)

Mesosphere
 This layer extends from about 50-80 km above
Earth’s surface

 -The air is extremely thin and very cold


 -There is still enough air in this layer to burn up small rocks
and dust entering from space

 -Burning rocks are visible from the Earth and known as


‘shooting stars’

Homework
 Check myself page 299
 Classroom Activity 1 page 302
 Classroom Activity 2 page 304
 Classroom Activity 3 page 307
 Classroom Activity 4 page 308

Vocabulary
 Atmosphere: a layer of gases that surrounds a planet such
as the Earth

 Troposphere: the layer of the atmosphere that is closest to


the surface of the Earth

 Respiration: a process in living things that is used to


produce energy from food and oxygen; carbon dioxide is
produced

 Ozone layer: a layer of ozone gas found in the stratosphere


that shields the Earth from the harmful rays of the Sun

You might also like