Layers of the Atmosphere

EXOSPHERE

THERMOSPHERE

MESOSPHERE

STRATOSPHERE

TROPOSPHERE

How to Make Atmosphere Foldable:

1) Obtain 1 sheet of copy paper2) Fold in half (hamburger-style)3) Evenly divide the paper into 5

sections4) Draw lines to divide each section5) Label each section (the

troposphere show be on bottom)6) Cut (one side) of the folded paper

along the drawn lines7) Draw any objects found in each

section on the outside8) Write any information about each

layer inside the foldable9) Be sure to include info like:

- Meaning of the beginning of word

- Distance from Earth’s surface- Objects found in the layer’- Any other distinguishing

characteristics* Foldable should look like this

when it is closed*

How to Obtain your Information:

• Go to: http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/Atmosphere/layers.html

OR• Scan this QR Code:AND• Go to:– Pages 516-517 in TB

Troposphere

• Meaning “change”

• Nearest to the Earth

• The weather layer (clouds, etc.)

• Commercial aircraft fly at very top of this layer– Some actually cruise in the lower Stratosphere

• Summit of Mount Everest is at top of this layer

• 0–10 kilometers (0–6 miles)

Stratosphere

• Meaning “stretched out layers”

• Atmosphere’s second layer

• Contains the ozone (O3) layer– Absorbs solar radiation that is harmful

• Weather balloons can be found in this layer– atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity and wind

speed

• 10–50 kilometers (6–31 miles)

Mesosphere

• Meaning “middle” or “intermediate”

• 3rd or middle layer of the atmosphere

• Most meteors burn up in this layer

• 50–90 kilometers (31–56 miles)

Thermosphere

• Meaning “heat”

• Temperatures can range from about 500° C (932° F) to 2,000° C (3,632° F) or higher– Would actually feel extremely cold because the air is extremely thin

in this layer

• Contains the Ionosphere– Charged particles (electrons, protons, and other ions) from space

collide with atoms and molecules

• Auroras (Southern and Northern Lights) occur in this layer

• 90 kilometers (56 miles) and up to the Exosphere

• Meaning “exit” or “outer”

• Outer limits of our atmosphere

• Since there is no clear boundary between outer space and the exosphere, the exosphere is sometimes considered a part of outer space

• Gas particles extremely spread out and often escape into space

• Starting at about 500–750 km (300-460 miles)

Exosphere