Atmosphere Flashcards
Troposphere
The lowest layer of Earth’s atmosphere.Rain, snow & storms occur
Stratosphere
The second lowest layer of the Earth’s atmosphere. Contains the Ozone Layer. This layer protects Earth from meteors
Mesosphere
The third lowest layer of the Earth’s atmosphere. It is immediately above the Stratosphere. It is where most meteoroids burn up
Thermosphere
The outermost layer of Earth’s atmosphere. It begins 80 km above the surface and extends to about 400 km. It’s divided into 2 layers: Ionosphere & Exosphere
Ionosphere:Define, plus 3 facts
The lower part of the Thermosphere. The Aurora Borealis occurs here.Radio waves bounce off the ions and back to Earth’s surface.*Ions form in this layer
Exosphere
Outer portion of the Thermosphere. It extends from 400 km outwards for thousands of km’s
Ozone (Layer)
Protects earth from Ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Converts the energy from the sun into heat.
Compare the Stratosphere & the Mesosphere:
In the Mesosphere the temperature drops as altitude increasesIn the Stratosphere temperature generally increases as altitude increases
Why is the Mesosphere colder than the Stratosphere?
It contains few ozone molecules to absorb solar radiation
Why is the Thermosphere very hot?
The sun strikes this layer first
Characteristics of the Thermosphere:What do you notice about the point where each layer begins?
It is near the point where the direction of temperature change levels off or reverses
Characteristics of the Troposphere:
*Tropo means “Changing” and conditions change more here than in any other layer. As altitude increases, temperature decreases.
Characteristics of the Stratosphere:
Temperature increases with altitudeThe middle part contains ozone that absorbs energy from the sun and converts it to heat
Why is the ozone layer important to Earth?
It protects living things from dangerous ultraviolet radiation
