Name: _____________________________________________________________ Period: ____________

Layers of the Atmosphere Song

⇨ Click on the Layers of the Atmosphere song link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyQlYY-5fG8. ⇨ Create a hashtag for every layer as you listen to the atmosphere song. Your hashtag should include a

special characteristic for each layer such as a feature or temperature. ⇨ Have fun with creating your original atmosphere hashtags!

___________________________________________________________________________ Troposphere

___________________________________________________________________________ Stratosphere

___________________________________________________________________________ Mesosphere

___________________________________________________________________________ Thermosphere

___________________________________________________________________________ Ionosphere

___________________________________________________________________________ Exosphere

1

Name: _____________________________________________________________ Period: ____________

Layers of the Atmosphere Reading

DIRECTIONS: Read and highlight important characteristics for each layer. Pay special attention to features

and temperature. Use in conjunction with pages 119 – 124 in your textbook (Glencoe iScience Course 1).

Background: Based on temperature changes, the Earth’s atmosphere is divided into layers. The layers include the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere. The Troposphere: You live in the inner, or lowest, layer of Earth's

atmosphere, the troposphere (TROH puh sfeer). Tropo­

means "turning" or "changing." Conditions in the

troposphere are more variable than in the other layers.

The troposphere is the layer of the atmosphere in which

Earth's weather occurs. The depth of the troposphere

varies from 16 kilometers above the equator to less than

9-kilometers above the North and South poles. Although

it is the shallowest layer, the troposphere contains almost

all of the mass of the atmosphere. As altitude increases in

the troposphere, the temperature decreases. On average,

for every 1­kilometer increase in altitude, the air gets

about 6.5°C cooler. At the top of the troposphere, the

temperature stops decreasing and stays at about ­60°C.

Water here forms thin, feathery clouds of ice. The Stratosphere: The stratosphere extends from the top of the troposphere to about 50 kilometers above Earth's surface. Strato­

means "layer" or "spread out." The stratosphere is the second layer of the atmosphere and contains the ozone

layer. The lower stratosphere is cold, about ­60°C. Surprisingly, the upper stratosphere is warmer than the

lower stratosphere. Why is this? The middle portion of the stratosphere contains a layer of air where there is

much more ozone than in the rest of the atmosphere. When the ozone absorbs energy from the sun, the energy

is converted into heat, warming the air. The ozone layer is also important because it protects Earth's living

things from dangerous ultraviolet radiation from the sun. We can also find weather balloons and Jets in the

Stratosphere. The Mesosphere: Above the stratosphere, a drop in temperature marks the beginning of the next layer, the mesosphere. Meso­

means "middle:' so the mesosphere is the middle layer of the atmosphere. The mesosphere begins 50

kilometers above Earth's surface and ends at an altitude of 80 kilometers. In the outer mesosphere,

temperatures approach ­90°C. The mesosphere is the layer of the atmosphere that protects Earth's surface

from being hit by most meteoroids. Meteoroids are chunks of stone and metal from space. What you see as a

shooting star, or meteor, is the trail of hot, glowing gases the meteoroid leaves behind in the mesosphere.

­Continue to read and highlight on the next page­

2

The Ionosphere

Scientists call the ionosphere an extension of the thermosphere. So technically, the ionosphere is not another

atmospheric layer. The ionosphere represents less than 0.1% of the total mass of the Earth's atmosphere. Even

though it is such a small part, it is extremely important! The upper atmosphere is ionized by solar radiation.

That means the Sun's energy is so strong at this level, that it breaks apart molecules. So there ends up being

electrons floating around and molecules which have lost or gained electrons. When the Sun is active, more

and more ionization happens! Different regions of the ionosphere make long distance radio communication

possible by reflecting the radio waves back to Earth. It is also home to auroras. Temperatures in the

ionosphere just keep getting hotter as you go up!

Regions of the Ionosphere

The ionosphere is broken down into the D, E and F regions. The breakdown is based on what wavelength of

solar radiation is absorbed in that region most frequently. The D region is the lowest in altitude, though it

absorbs the most energetic radiation, hard x-rays. The D region doesn't have a definite starting and stopping

point, but includes the ionization that occurs below about 90km. The E region peaks at about 105km. It

absorbs soft x-rays. The F region starts around 105km and has a maximum around 600km. It is the highest of

all of the regions. Extreme ultra-violet radiation (EUV) is absorbed there. On a more practical note, the D and

E regions reflect AM radio waves back to Earth. Radio waves with shorter lengths are reflected by the F

region. Visible light, television and FM wavelengths are all too short to be reflected by the ionosphere. So

your t.v. stations are made possible by satellite transmissions.

The Thermosphere: Near the top of the atmosphere, the air is very thin. At 80 kilometers above Earth's surface, the air is only

about 0.001 percent as dense as the air at sea level. It's as though you took a cubic meter of air at sea level and

expanded it into 100,000 cubic meters at the top of the mesosphere. The outermost layer of Earth's atmosphere

is the thermosphere. The thermosphere extends from 80 kilometers above Earth's surface outward into space.

It has no definite outer limit, but blends gradually with outer space. The thermo­ in thermosphere means

"heat." Even though the air in the thermosphere is thin, it is very hot, up to 1,800°C. This is because sunlight

strikes the thermosphere first. Nitrogen and oxygen molecules convert this energy into heat. Despite the high

temperature, you would not feel warm in the thermosphere. An ordinary thermometer would show a

temperature well below zero. Why is that? Temperature is the average amount of energy of motion of each

molecule of a substance. The gas molecules in the thermosphere move very rapidly, so the temperature is very

high. However, the molecules are spaced far apart in the thin air. There are not enough of them to collide with

a thermometer and warm it very much. Brilliant light displays also occur in the ionosphere. In the Northern

Hemisphere, these displays are called the Northern Lights, or the aurora borealis. Auroras are caused by

particles from the sun that enter the thermosphere near the poles. These particles strike atoms, causing them to

glow. The Exosphere: Exo­ means "outer," so the exosphere is the outer portion of the thermosphere. The exosphere extends from

about 400 kilometers outward for thousands of kilometers. Our space shuttles and satellites can be found in

the exosphere. Since the exosphere is the outer portion of the thermosphere, it also increases in temperature.

3

4

Procedure: 1. Complete ALL of the following steps and check them off as you finish each one. 2. On the diagram on the next page, fill in the NAME of each of the following atmosphere

layers in order: ❑ Troposphere (look it is already written on your paper!) ❑ Stratosphere ❑ Mesosphere ❑ Thermosphere/Ionosphere ❑ Exosphere 3. Fill in the temperature information on the graphic organizer. ❑ TEMPERATURE RANGE: Give the temperature range in every layer (from the graph). ❑ TEMPERATURE: Circle whether it INCREASES or DECREASES with altitude in every layer.

4. Fill in the altitude information on the graphic organizer. ❑ ALTITUDE: Give the altitude range for every layer (from the graph).

5. On the chart you will also label the following features next to the bullet points: ❑ Aurora Borealis ­ Northern Lights ❑ Clouds ❑ Planes ❑ Meteors ❑ Ozone Layer ❑ Affects Radio Waves ❑ Satellites ❑ Birds ❑ Space Shuttles ❑ Contains ions and other charged particles ❑ Weather ❑ If there are not already 4 total features in the level, list as many as necessary to complete the

bullets.

Name: _____________________________________________________________ Period: ____________

Layers of the Atmosphere Reading Graphic Organizer

5

➢ TEMPERATURE RANGE: _____°C - _____°C INCREASES OR DECREASES WITH ALTITUDE

➢ ALTITUDE RANGE: _____Km - _____Km

➢ ___________________________________________________________

➢ ___________________________________________________________

LEVEL NAME: ______________________________

➢ TEMPERATURE RANGE: _____°C - _____°C INCREASES OR DECREASES WITH ALTITUDE

➢ ALTITUDE RANGE: _____Km - _____Km

➢ ___________________________________________________________

➢ ___________________________________________________________

LEVEL NAME: ______________________________

➢ TEMPERATURE RANGE: _____°C - _____°C INCREASES OR DECREASES WITH ALTITUDE

➢ ALTITUDE RANGE: _____Km - _____Km

➢ ___________________________________________________________

➢ ___________________________________________________________

LEVEL NAME: ______________________________

➢ TEMPERATURE RANGE: _____°C - _____°C INCREASES OR DECREASES WITH ALTITUDE

➢ ALTITUDE RANGE: _____Km - _____Km

➢ ___________________________________________________________

➢ ___________________________________________________________

LEVEL NAME: ______________________________

➢ TEMPERATURE RANGE: _____°C - _____°C INCREASES OR DECREASES WITH ALTITUDE

➢ ALTITUDE RANGE: _____Km - _____Km

➢ ___________________________________________________________

➢ ___________________________________________________________

LEVEL NAME: ______________________________

➢ TEMPERATURE RANGE: _____°C - _____°C INCREASES OR DECREASES WITH ALTITUDE

➢ ALTITUDE RANGE: _____Km - _____Km

➢ ___________________________________________________________

➢ ___________________________________________________________

LEVEL NAME: TROPOSPHERE

Name: _____________________________________________________________ Period: ____________

Layers of the Atmosphere: Density Lab

Complete the following:

1. In the diagram ABOVE, color in the layers as represented in your test tube. Use colored pencils or markers. 2. Label your colored layers with the different layers of the atmosphere.

○ HINT: THE TROPOSPHERE SHOULD BE AT THE BOTTOM 3. On the outside of your drawing place the real life “features” of every layer in the correct location as per

your diagram.

4. Answer: How does the density of the air change as you increase in altitude? (mark

out the incorrect choice)

The density of the air (increases / decreases) as you increase in altitude. This is because air

density is based on how much atmosphere you have pushing (down / up) on you at one time, or

the force due to (gravity / inertia). At (mountain / sea) level we have approximately 960 kilobars

of atmosphere pushing down on us. As we move farther and farther into the atmosphere there is

less of it pushing down on us, so the density of the air (increases / decreases).

6

Name: _____________________________________________________________ Period: ____________

Layers of the Atmosphere Notes Atmosphere

● The whole layer of air that surrounds Earth ● A mixture of gases ● Keeps Earth warm ● Protects life ● Keeps Earth warm ● Allows talking/sound ● Provides weather ● Allows flight ● Absorbs harmful radiation

Composition ● Mostly Nitrogen (78.08%) ● Can change due to natural causes (volcanoes erupting) or the

season

Layers of the Atmosphere ● Troposphere ● Stratosphere ● Mesosphere ● Thermosphere/Ionosphere ● Exosphere

Altitude ● Height above sea level

Density ● The amount of mass in a given volume ● The density of the atmosphere DECREASES with altitude ● Most of the mass

LAYER LEVEL (1

is Lowest) TEMPERATURE

VARIATION FEATURES

Troposphere 1 Decreases Weather, clouds, mountains, contains the biosphere

Stratosphere 2 Decreases, levels off, then increases

Ozone, weather balloons, planes

Mesosphere 3 Increases Meteors, polar mesospheric clouds (consisting of metal ions such as iron creates lightning called “sprites” )

Thermosphere 4 Increases, then level off

Aurora Borealis, Aurora Australis, space shuttle, International Space Station

Ionosphere 3-4 Increases Absorption of x-rays and UV radiation, ions and charged particles

Exosphere 5 Increases Fades into the vacuum of outer space, geocorona is present (sun’s radiation hitting hydrogen molecules)

Memory Mnemonic Device: They Say McDonald’s Tastes Incredibly Excellent 7

Name: _____________________________________________________________ Period: ____________

Layers of the Atmosphere Drawing

In the drawing below, complete the following (MAKE SURE TO CHECK OFF EACH ITEM AS YOU

COMPLETE IT) ❏ Name the five layers of the atmosphere. ❏ Show the ionosphere ranging from mid-way in the mesosphere to mid-way in the thermosphere. ❏ Use an arrow to indicate if the temperature is increasing or decreasing in every layer. ❏ Make dots to show the density of the air particles in each layer. HINT: More dots = more dense ❏ Draw the examples given below in the diagram to show where each of them would be located:

❏ Mount Everest

❏ Meteors ❏ Weather balloon ❏ A flock of geese ❏ Aurora Borealis ❏ Radio Waves

❏ Spacecraft orbiting

❏ Jet airplane ❏ Ozone Layer ❏ Clouds ❏ Space Shuttle ❏ UV Radiation

8

Name: _____________________________________________________________ Period: ____________

Guiding Questions

DIRECTIONS: Answer the questions by completing the chart. Be as specific as possible!

1. What are the atmosphere layers in order from the ground to the sky? (*Place the ionosphere between

the mesosphere and the thermosphere.)

2. What are 2 special (unique) features of each layer?

3. What is the temperaturre range in the layer? (*Be very specific with what happens in the stratosphere.) HIGHEST (“Outer Space”) LOWEST (Ground Level)

ATMOSPHERIC LAYER

FEATURES OF THIS LAYER (GIVE 2)

TEMPERATURE RANGE (°C)

ALTITUDE (Km)

4. How does the air density change as you move from one layer to the next?

As you move upward (away) from the center of the Earth, the air density ________________. This is a

result of the weaker _____________ due to _______________ that is pulling on the air molecules.

5. It is important to remember that gravity is a downward acceleration, there for it can create a

gravitational force on anything that has mass. Air is made up of molecules, therefore it has _________.

Air _______________ is the weight of a column of air on any object below it. Since air density

_______________ as altitude increases, air pressure _________________ as altitude increases. This is

why a sports team that is going to play against the Colorado Rockies or the Denver Broncos must train

in similar high altitude areas.

9

Energy from the Sun (pages 128 – 133)

Energy from the sun travels to the Earth in the form of electromagnetic waves. The process of these waves

moving across space is called radiation. Ninety-nine percent of this radiant energy is visible light, UV light,

and infrared radiation. Visible light is the light you can see. When it reaches the ground, it is changed into

thermal energy.

Fate of Incoming Solar Radiation

50% reaches the surface and is absorbed

25% reflected by clouds and particles

20% absorbed by oxygen, ozone, and water vapor in air

5% reflected by land and surface water

RADIATION BALANCE

Remember, we discussed in class how water is a very unique substance. It expands when cooled unlike other

substances that contract when cooled. Water is also the only substance that exists naturally as a solid, liquid,

and gas at the temperature ranges found on Earth. Water covers 70% of the Earth’s surface. When water

changes state transfers what is called latent heat between the Earth and the atmosphere.

10

Thermal Energy (Heat) Transfer in Earth’s Atmosphere: Convection, Conduction, and Radiation

The sun serves as Earth's source of energy. This energy must be transferred throughout all of Earth’s systems

by some method.

Energy is transferred between the sun, Earth's atmosphere and its surface in one of three ways. When energy is

transfered from a hotter object to a cooler one it is referred to as thermal energy, or heat. Energy is transferred

by one of three ways: radiation, convection, or conduction.

Radiation

Convection

Conduction

11

Radiation is the direct transfer of energy from the sun by

electromagnetic waves. Radiation can transmit heat through a

vacuum. This is important because there is virtually no air in space

from which the sun's energy must travel through to energize our

planet.

Energy travels from the sun to the Earth by means of

electromagnetic waves. The shorter the wavelength, the higher the

energy associated with it.

Convection is the transfer of thermal energy through liquids or gases.

In the atmosphere, convection includes rising and sinking of air masses and smaller air

parcels. These vertical motions effectively distribute heat and moisture throughout the

atmospheric column and contribute to cloud and storm development (where rising motion

occurs) and dissipation (where sinking motion occurs).

To understand the convection cells that distribute heat over the whole earth, let's consider a

simplified, smooth earth with no land/sea interactions and a slow rotation. Under these

conditions, the equator is warmed by the sun more than the poles. The warm, light air at

the equator rises and spreads northward and southward, and the cool dense air at the poles

sinks and spreads toward the equator. As a result, two convection cells are formed.

Conduction is the transfer of thermal energy that results from the collision of particles. Let's

imagine you have just baked a pan of chocolate chip cookies. Before pulling the cookies out of the

oven you would want to have something to put between your hand and the hot cookie sheet. Using

potholders or oven mitts will save your fingers and hand from being burned.

Some solids, such as metals, are good conductors of heat while others, such as wood, are poor

conductors. The closer together molecules are in a substance, the more effectively the can conduct

heat. Molecules that are heated have more energy. Molecules that are cold move slower and have

less energy. The faster moving molecules are transferred into slower moving molecules. Air is a

poor conductor, most energy transfer by conduction occurs right at the Earth's surface. At night, the

ground cools and the cold ground conducts heat away from the adjacent air. During the day, solar

radiation heats the ground, which heats the air next to it by conduction. The Earth's rotation

results in the Coriolis Effect; this rotation makes winds in the Northern Hemisphere curve

to the right and winds in the Southern Hemisphere curve to the left.

Atmospheric _____________________ describes whether the circulating air motion will be strong or weak.

During unstable conditions, ground-level air is much warmer than _________________________ air. Air rises

____________________________, cools, and produces large, tall clouds. ___________________________

released as water vapor, changes from a _________________________ to a _________________________,

adds to the instability, and produces a violent storm.

Temperature ___________________ occur in the troposphere when temperature increases as altitude increases.

These prevent air from mixing and trap pollution below them.

12

Atmospheric Density Lab Atmospheric Density Lab Atmospheric Density Lab Atmospheric Density Lab

Atmospheric Density Lab Atmospheric Density Lab Atmospheric Density Lab Atmospheric Density Lab

Atmospheric Density Lab Atmospheric Density Lab Atmospheric Density Lab Atmospheric Density Lab

Atmospheric Density Lab Atmospheric Density Lab Atmospheric Density Lab Atmospheric Density Lab