The Atmosphere

Question 1

Atmosphere composition/properties

Answer 1

78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, the remaining 1% is composed of argon, carbon dioxide, other gases, and water vapour

Question 2

Over 50% of the air in the atmosphere is found within the first ——— kilometres

Answer 2

5 kms

Question 3

About 99% of the earths atmospheric mass is concentrated in the ———

Answer 3

Troposphere

Question 4

The major layers of the atmosphere are:

Answer 4

Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere
Exosphere

Question 5

Does the atmosphere only cool at higher altitudes?

Answer 5

It cools to the troposphere, then starts warming up at the ozone layer in the stratosphere, then cools in the mesosphere, then starts warming up in the thermosphere at the mesopause

Question 6

Troposphere

Answer 6

The atmospheric layer closest to the planet. Most of the weather takes place here. Here is much denser here than at higher atmospheric layers. On average it decreases by 1.98°C per 1000 feet.

Question 7

Tropopause

Answer 7

This is the boundary layer between the troposphere and the stratosphere. Average temperature is -56°C.

Question 8

Stratosphere

Answer 8

Is 50,000 feet thick above the tropopause. It extends 50 km to 180,000 feet in height.

Question 9

Mesosphere

Answer 9

This layer is from 50 km to 180,000 feet and extends up to 80 km or 275,000 feet. The temperature decreases in the mesosphere.

Question 10

Thermosphere

Answer 10

Starts at 100 km and is located above the mesosphere separated from it by the mesopause transition layer
The temperature in the thermosphere generally increases with altitude up to, 727-1227°C or 1000 -1500°K

Question 11

Exosphere

Answer 11

Is the most distant atmospheric region from the earths surface starting at 500 km. Pressure is a little more than a vacuum.