Layers of Earth's Atmosphere Flashcards
What protects us from solar flares?
Magnetosphere
Layers of the Atmosphere from bottom to top
Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, and Thermosphere
Layer where weather occurs
Troposphere
Layer where Aurora Borealis occurs
Thermsphere
Ingredients for Aurora Borealis
Sun, Sunspots, Solar Flares, Solar Winds, Magnetic Shield, Magnetic Field (magnetosphere), Auroral Oval
Where does the Aurora Borealis occur?
The Auroral Oval, around both the North and South Poles
How does Aurora Borealis work?
Solar winds collide with electrons in Earth’s atmosphere, molecules are “excited”, molecules give off light to release energy and calm down
*The different air molecules give off different colors
What is the Ozone Layer?
A thin part of Earth’s atmosphere that absorbs almost all of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet light
What does the Ozone Layer protect us from?
Harmful UV radiation
What are CFCs
Chlorofluorocarbons, a refrigerant
What is Ozone Depletion?
When the chlorine in CFCs react with O3 to break it down
Where is the Ozone Hole?
Over Antartica
What prevents ozone from outside of Antarctica from replacing lost ozone?
Strong Polar Vortex winds
Where do CFCs collect?
In Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSCs)
Is the Ozone Layer recovering?
Yes, gradually
