Earth's atmosphere Flashcards
The layer of gases surrounding earth: made up of nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other gases, as well as particles of liquids and solids
Atmosphere
water in its gaseous form
Water vapor
forms when lightning interacts with oxygen in the air and creates a molecule of THREE oxygen atoms
ozone
What does atmosphere protect us from?
meteoroids and some dangerous radiation waves from the sun
Order of the layers in the atmosphere (lowest to highest)
Troposphere Stratosphere Mesosphere Thermosphere (Ionosphere) (exosphere)
layer closest to Earth’s surface which extends from the surface to altitudes of 8 (N & S poles)-15 (equator) km; layer in which earth’s weather occurs
Troposphere
layer directly above troposphere which extends to about 50 km and contains the ozone layer which protects Earth from ultraviolet (UV) rays that can kill plants, animals and cause skin cancer in humans
Stratosphere
beginning at 50 km and ending around 80 km, this layer protects Earth’s surface from being hit by most meteoroids, which burn up from frictions with the atmosphere
Mesosphere
layer that is divided into two layers
Thermosphere
lower layer of the thermosphere which begins at 80 km and extends to about 500 km and contains irons, or charged particles allowing radio waves to bounce off the auroras to occur
Ionosphere
outer layer of thermosphere
exosphere
As altitude increases, air pressure ______, which also decreases density
decreases
The result of the weight of a column of air pushing down on an areas; measured by an instrument called a barometer
air pressure
What layer in the atmosphere?:
World recorded in 2014, highest parachute jump
Stratosphere
In what layer of the atmosphere does weather occur?
Troposphere
