ATMOSPHERE

COMPOSITION:
78% - NITROGEN
20% - OXYGEN
2% - other gases
(carbon, argon, and
water vapor)
 LAYERS OF
THE EARTH’S
ATMOSPHERE
TROPOSPHERE
Nearest layer on Earth’s
surface.
Air molecules travel up and
then back down causing
formation of clouds and
eventually rain from the
moisture in the air.
These variations give
rise to weather.
Most jets and planes
would fly slightly above
the troposphere to avoid
turbulent weather.
“Tropopause”
Thin buffer zone
It has relatively
constant
temperature.
 STRATOSPHERE
The air in this layer has strong,
steady horizontal winds which is
advantageous to long-distance
flights.
At its upper region is the ozone
layer which contains a high
concentration of ozone.
The ozone layer plays a
vital role in absorbing
the ultraviolet radiation
from the sun.
Without this layer, most
life-forms would have
perished.
In the past decades, the ozone layer
has been observed to be thinning.
With further studies, it was
determined that certain sprays and
chemicals used in modern appliances
use ODS (ozone-depleting
substances) that directly destroy the
ozone molecules in the ozone layer.
Most ODS contain chlorine.
When these substances reach
the stratosphere, contact with
the ultraviolet radiation from
the sun causes the release of
chlorine w/c react w/ the
ozone molecules.
Unlike other pollutants,
ODS are invisible and
odorless; hence, they were
not immediately
recognized to be depleting
the ozone layer.
Examples of materials w/
ODS:
- Hair sprays
- Insulating foams
- Refrigerants
- Solvents
“Stratopause”
Thin buffer zone
that exists before
the next layer above
the stratosphere.
MESOSPHERE
Coldest layer
- bec.heat from the sun has been
decreased by the absorption of
thermosphere (above this layer)
and the radiative emission of
carbon dioxide in this layer.
Carbon dioxide
tends to cool the
layer by radiating
heat into space.
The mesosphere is
important in
protecting the Earth
from planetary
debris.
This is where most of the
space rocks, such as
meteors, break down into
smaller pieces such that by
the time they reach Earth,
they are already in very
small pieces.
“Mesopause”
buffer zone that exists
above mesosphere.
Coldest region of the
atmosphere.
THERMOSPHERE
Hottest layer
-bec.of the
absorption of highly
energetic solar heat.
The lower part of the
thermosphere is the
ionosphere where particles
of oxygen and nitrogen are
electrically charged by the
solar wind.
As the excited ions of the
oxygen and nitrogen go back to
their neutral state, they release
photons (light energy) w/c
cause the spectacular display
of colorful lights in the sky,
called aurora.
Hence, during an intense
solar storm, more visible
colorful lights can be seen
in the sky.
The aurora may be visible
in high latitudes on Earth.
If witnessed in northern regions..
(Arctic and Northern Canada)
- “aurora borealis” or northern lights
If witnessed in southern regions..
(Antarctica and Southern Australia)
- “aurora australis” or southern lights
“Thermopause”
Buffer zone above
thermosphere
Separates
thermosphere from
outer space.