Transcript The Atmosphere

The Atmosphere
Objectives:
1.
Describe the composition of the Earth’s
atmosphere
2.
Describe the layers of the Earth’s
atmosphere.
3.
Explain three mechanisms of heat transfer
in the atmosphere.
4.
Explain the greenhouse effect.
The Atmosphere
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One of the four parts
that make up the Earth.
Atmosphere – the
mixture of gases
surrounding the Earth.
The atmosphere
insulates the Earth.
The Composition of the
Atmosphere
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Made mainly of nitrogen,
oxygen, carbon dioxide and
dust.

The amounts of gases
changes due to
 Animals
 Plants
 Vehicles
 Volcanoes - nitrogen
The Four Layers of the
Atmosphere
1. Troposphere –
*closest to surface
*from 0-18 km (11 miles) up
*densest layer
*planes fly at about 9 km (6
miles)
*weather occurs here
*the higher you go, the colder
(-50F) and less
oxygenated the air is.
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Highest place on Earth
- Mt. Everest in the
Himalayan Mountains
(about 9 km or 5 miles
high)

http://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=CNTyL6uap
jM
The Four Layers of the
Atmosphere
2. Stratosphere
*from 18- 50 km (11 to 30
miles) up
*temperature is warmer than
the troposphere because
the ozone layer is located
here.
Bottom = -50F
Top = -15F
*Felix Baumgartner spacedived from the
stratosphere (24 miles up)
in October of 2012.
http://www.redbullstratos.com/
gallery/videos/all-tags/1
The Four Layers of the
Atmosphere
3. Mesosphere
*from 50-80 km (30 to 50
miles) up
*temperature is the coldest
of all the layers (-90 F)
*meteors entering the
atmosphere vaporize in
this layer
The Four Layers of the
Atmosphere
4. Thermosphere
*from 80- 550 km (50 to
350 miles) up
*temperature is the
warmest of all the
layers (3600 F)
*space shuttles orbit here
Energy in the Atmosphere
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Energy from the
sun moves
through the
atmosphere in
three ways:
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Radiation
Conduction
Convection
Energy in the Atmosphere
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Radiation – the
transfer of
energy across
space
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From the fire to
the pan
From the sun to
the earth
When you stand
in front of a fire
and feel warm
Energy in the Atmosphere
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Conduction – flow
of heat from a
warmer object to a
colder object when
they are touching

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Your hand feels
warm when
touching the pot
handle
Warming your hands
with a hot cup of
coffee
Energy in the Atmosphere
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Convection – the
transfer of heat
that occurs when
hot air rises and
cold air sinks.
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The “rolling” of
boiling water
Heat waves rising
from the sidewalk
Steam rising from a
hot drink
A lava lamp
Weather
Energy in the Atmosphere
The Greenhouse Effect
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Gases such as carbon
dioxide, methane and
water vapor in the
atmosphere the Sun’s
energy and heat the earth.
If this didn’t happen, the
earth would be too cold for
life.
When we add carbon
dioxide to the atmosphere
through pollution, the
atmosphere traps more
heat than normal and
temperatures rise!
The Greenhouse Effect
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Other examples of
the greenhouse
effect
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A greenhouse
The inside of a car
on a sunny day