Earth's Atmosphere
Troposphere
the lowest region of the atmosphere, extending from the earth's surface to a height of about 3.7–6.2 miles (6–10 km), which is the lower boundary of the stratosphere.
Temperature: DECREASES , 6.5 degrees Celsius per Km to about -60 degrees Celsius
Characteristics:
1. most weather occurs here where we live
2. Convection currents
Temperature: DECREASES , 6.5 degrees Celsius per Km to about -60 degrees Celsius
Characteristics:
1. most weather occurs here where we live
2. Convection currents
Ozonosphere
a layer in the earth's stratosphere at an altitude of about 6.2 miles (10 km) containing a high concentration of ozone, which absorbs most of the ultraviolet radiation reaching the earth from the sun.
Characteristics:
1. ozone is made of 3 oxygen atoms
2. protects the surface from Sun's UV rays
3. humans are causing ozone depletion
Characteristics:
1. ozone is made of 3 oxygen atoms
2. protects the surface from Sun's UV rays
3. humans are causing ozone depletion
Stratosphere
the layer of the earth's atmosphere above the troposphere, extending to about 32 miles (50 km) above the earth's surface (the lower boundary of the mesosphere)
Temperature: INCREASES, to about -20 degrees Celsius
Characteristics:
1. contains most of the atmosphere's ozone
2. where jets and manned balloons have gone
Temperature: INCREASES, to about -20 degrees Celsius
Characteristics:
1. contains most of the atmosphere's ozone
2. where jets and manned balloons have gone
Mesosphere
the region of the earth's atmosphere above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere, between about 30 and 50 miles (50 and 80 km) in altitude.
Temperature: DECREASES, -100 degrees Celsius at the top
Characteristics:
1. protects Earth from meteors
2. coldest region of atmosphere
Temperature: DECREASES, -100 degrees Celsius at the top
Characteristics:
1. protects Earth from meteors
2. coldest region of atmosphere
Ionosphere
the layer of the earth's atmosphere that contains a high concentration of ions and free electrons and is able to reflect radio waves. It lies above the mesosphere and extends from about 50 to 600 miles (80 to 1,000 km) above the earth's surface.
Characteristics:
1. lower part of thermosphere
2. radio waves bounce back to Earth's surface
Characteristics:
1. lower part of thermosphere
2. radio waves bounce back to Earth's surface
Thermosphere
the region of the atmosphere above the mesosphere and below the height at which the atmosphere ceases to have the properties of a continuous medium. The thermosphere is characterized throughout by an increase in temperature with height.
Temperature: INCREASES, 2,000 degrees Celsius at the top
Characteristics:
1. temps. get up to 2,000 degrees Celsius
2. air molecules are 1 Km apart
Temperature: INCREASES, 2,000 degrees Celsius at the top
Characteristics:
1. temps. get up to 2,000 degrees Celsius
2. air molecules are 1 Km apart
Exosphere
the outermost region of a planet's atmosphere.
Characteristics:
1. upper part of the thermosphere
2. artificial satellites orbit here
Characteristics:
1. upper part of the thermosphere
2. artificial satellites orbit here
Magnetosphere
the region surrounding the earth or another astronomical body in which its magnetic field is the predominant effective magnetic field.
Characteristics:
1. Earth's magnetic field
2. causes Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights)
Characteristics:
1. Earth's magnetic field
2. causes Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights)