Atmospheres

Question 0

Describe the troposphere

Answer 0

0-30 km

Temp changes from hot to cold with increasing altitude

Weather and clouds

Question 1

What are three functions of the Earth’s atmosphere?

Answer 1

1. Insulates the Earth from extreme temperatures
2. Keeps heat inside the atmosphere
3. Blocks earth from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation

Question 2

Describe the stratosphere

Answer 2

17-50 km
Temp changes from cold to hot with increasing altitude
The ozone is found here

Question 3

Describe the mesosphere

Answer 3

50-80 km

Temp changes from hot to cold with increasing altitude

Question 4

Describe the ionosphere

Answer 4

70-80 km
Ions and plasma (free electrons) are found in this layer
These particles are formed when sunlight hits atoms and tears off electrons

Question 5

Describe the thermosphere

Answer 5

86-115 km
So little air that variations in temperature have little significance
Since gases are so spread out, although each molecule would have high kinetic energy, there are so few molecules that they wouldn’t be hot to touch

Question 6

Describe the exosphere

Answer 6

Uppermost region of the Earth’s atmosphere
Satellites in orbit here
No clear boundary between the exosphere and space

Question 7

How was the Earth’s atmosphere created?

Answer 7

Outgassing

Question 8

What has caused changes in the composition in the earth’s atmosphere over time?

Answer 8

Life forms

Question 9

Mercury’s atmosphere

Answer 9

Helium, sodium, oxygen

Too little atmosphere for any weather bc it’s so close to the sun

Question 10

Venus’s atmosphere

Answer 10

96% carbon dioxide
3.5% nitrogen gas
Pressure is 90x that of earth's
Slow winds, no violent storms, acid rain 
Sulfuric acid clouds

Question 11

Mars’s atmosphere

Answer 11

95% carbon dioxide
2.7% nitrogen gas
1.6% argon
Winds, dust storms
H2O and CO2 clouds
Very thin air, very low pressure
Seasons like Earth bc of similar axis tilt

Question 12

Jupiter’s atmosphere

Answer 12

Made up of almost entirely hydrogen and helium
Hydrogen compounds condense to form clouds and are responsible for Jupiter’s various colors
Thermosphere: made of heated low density gas
Stratosphere: solar UV photons are absorbed into the atmosphere
Troposphere: increased density and temp. Winds, turbulence
Home of Great Red Spot