Layers of the Atmosphere Chapter 1 Section 4 4 Layers of the Atmosphere

These fours layers are classified (organized) according to changes in temperature: 1. Troposphere 2. Stratosphere 3. Mesosphere 4. Thermosphere The Troposphere

● Inner or lowest layer of the Earth’s atmosphere (we live here) ● Conditions in the troposphere are more variable (variety) than in the other layers ● Earth’s weather happens here ● Contains almost all the mass of the atmosphere ● Pressure in the air decreases as you travel up. The Stratosphere

● The lower stratosphere is colder ● The upper stratosphere contains the

Ozone layer made of O3 (3 atoms of oxygen) ● Ozone absorbs energy from the sun and the energy is converted into heat. This makes the upper stratosphere warmer The Mesosphere

● The beginning of the mesosphere starts with a drop in temperature ● The middle layer of the atmosphere ● The upper or outer part of the mesosphere is the coldest part of the atmosphere at -90C The Thermosphere

● The air is very thin and hot ● The temperature is high because the sun strikes this layer first. Nitrogen and oxygen molecules convert energy from the sun into heat. ● The thermosphere blends with outer space ● You would not feel warm in the thermosphere though, this is because the gas molecules in this layer are moving very fast but they so far apart from each other (Temperature is the measurement of molecules in motion) The Thermosphere cont...

● Divided into 2 layers 1. Ionosphere - lower layer; energy from the sun causes gas particles to be electrically charged (ions) The aurora borealis is nitrogen and oxygen atoms glowing. 2. Exosphere - outer layer; where satellites for TV and radio are orbiting around in this layer. Satellites are also used for watching weather and to carry telescopes that look deep into space