Transcript THE CARBON CYCLE

13.4 - THE ATMOSPHERE
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ATMOSPHERE
It is a blanket of moisture-filled air that surrounds the earth
It consists 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1% other gases (argon,
carbon dioxide and water)
It has ozone in its upper layers which absorb harmful UV rays
from the sun
It protects us from meteors (they vaporize due to the friction with
the atmosphere) SEE ALBERTA CLIP
It keeps the earth warm enough for us to live
BRRRRRR!! DO YOU KNOW HOW COLD SPACE IS???
LAYERS OF THE ATMOSPHERE
TEMPERATURE GRADIENT
Temperature Gradient: A change in temperature over a vertical
distance
In the troposphere, the temperature gradient is -0.65° per 100
m in altitude
Q: What is the temperature at the top of an 8000 m mountain if
the temperature is 18°C at the foot of the mountain?
A. -34°C !!!
LAYERS AGAIN….
LAYERS IN ORDER…(FROM EARTH TO SPACE)
1. Troposphere – up approx 12 km
Closest to the Earth’s surface
Where all weather takes place
Air is in constant motion with both vertical and horizontal currents
Pressure decreases as altitude increases
Has very small amounts of ozone
2. Tropopause
Contains more ozone than troposphere
Is warmer than the troposphere because it absorbs UV rays from the sun
3.STRATOSPHERE
4.MESOSPHERE
12-50 km above the
Earth’s surface
Temperatures are very low
here
Higher levels of ozone
than any other layer
50 to 80 km above the earth
Very low density
Meteors from space usually
burn up in this layer due to air
friction
Temperatures are very low
here
5.THERMOSPHERE (IONOSPHERE)
80 km to 500 km from Earth’s
surface
Fewest air molecules
Also called ionosphere b/c the
Sun’s radiation causes particles to
become electrically charged ions
The Northern and Southern lights
(aurora borealis) are produced by
these ions
These charged particles also
reflect radio signals so they can
travel around the World
6. EXOSPHERE
Outer limits! SPACE
The thin, outermost layer
Very few particles (hydrogen)
spread out very far
- DISCOVERY COMMERCIAL
ATMOSPHERIC LAYERS:
SCALE DIAGRAM ACTIVITY
You will be producing a diagram of the atmospheric layers. These
layers will be proportional in thickness to each other.
Troposphere
0 – 12 km
Tropopause
12 – 16 km
Stratosphere
16 – 50 km
Mesosphere
50 – 80 km
Thermosphere
80 – 500 km
Exosphere
500 - ??? Km
Your scale will be 1 cm = 10 km
Obtain 4 or 5 strips of paper from the teacher.
Start by representing the surface of the Earth and then
proceed upwards through the layers.
Use the thickness of the layers and the given scale to
draw your diagram.
Clearly label all distances (in km) and label all
atmospheric layers in their proper location.
Represent important information about each layer.
Use color.
Be neat and tidy.