Notes
Slide Show
Outline
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The Atmosphere
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Definition
  • The layer of gases surrounding Earth; composed mainly of nitrogen and oxygen
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Layers
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Troposphere
  • This is where all plants and animals live and breathe
  • Where weather takes place
  • Air is mixes
  • T decreases with altitude
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Ozone Layer
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Stratosphere
  • Ozone in this layer stops many of the sun's harmful rays from reaching the earth
  • People can not breathe in this layer.
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Mesosphere
  • T decreases with altitude
  • This is where we see "falling stars" – meteors burning up as they fall to Earth
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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.
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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
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Exosphere
  • Highest layer of the atmosphere. The air is very thin here
  • Atoms and molecules escape into space
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Let’s look at an animation:
  • http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthguide/diagrams/atmosphere/index.html