THE LAYERS OF

THE
ATMOSPHERE
GROUP 4 (PRESENTER 2):
-MA. BEATRIZ FLORES
-RICHMOND FUENTES
-JHORNIE LEY BENDOL
-BEATRIZ REXANNIE ITALIA
-HELAINA ANJELA TUANDO
IN THIS POWERPOINT PRESENTATION, WE
WILL BE DISCUSSING THE FOLLOWING:
 The Atmosphere
 Composition of Air
 Ingredients of Life
 The Atmospheric Orbit
 The Magnetosphere
 Extraterrestrial Atmospheres
 Earth, Venus and Mars
 The Six Layers of the Atmosphere
 Weather and Climate
THE ATMOSPHERE
 Earth is the only planet in the solar system with an atmosphere that can sustain
life. The blanket of gases not only contains the air that we breathe but also
protects us from the blasts of heat and radiation emanating from the sun. It
warms the planet by day and cools it at night.
 Earth's atmosphere is about 300 miles (480 kilometers) thick, but most of it is
within 10 miles (16 km) the surface. Air pressure decreases with altitude. At
sea level, air pressure is about 14.7 pounds per square inch (1 kilogram per
square centimeter). At 10,000 feet (3 km), the air pressure is 10 pounds per
square inch (0.7 kg per square cm). There is also less oxygen to breathe.
THE ATMOSPHERE
 We live at the bottom of an invisible ocean called the atmosphere, a layer of gases
surrounding our planet. Nitrogen and oxygen account for 99 percent of the gases in
dry air, with argon, carbon dioxide, helium, neon, and other gases making
up minute portions. Water vapor and dust are also part of Earth’s atmosphere.
Other planets and moons have very different atmospheres, and some have no
atmospheres at all.
 The atmosphere is so spread out that we barely notice it, yet its weight is equal to a
layer of water more than 10 meters (34 feet) deep covering the entire planet. The
bottom 30 kilometers (19 miles) of the atmosphere contains about 98 percent of
its mass. The atmosphere—air—is much thinner at high altitudes. There is no
atmosphere in space.
THE ATMOSPHERE

 Scientists say many of the gases in our atmosphere were ejected into the air by
early volcanoes. At that time, there would have been little or no free
oxygen surrounding the Earth. Free oxygen consists of oxygen molecules not
attached to another element, like carbon (to form carbon dioxide)
or hydrogen (to form water).
 Free oxygen may have been added to the atmosphere by primitiveorganisms,
probably bacteria, during photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process
a plant or other autotroph uses to make food and oxygen from carbon dioxide
and water. Later, more complex forms of plant life added more oxygen to the
atmosphere. The oxygen in today’s atmosphere probably took millions of years
to accumulate.
THE ATMOSPHERE
 The atmosphere acts as a gigantic filter, keeping out most ultraviolet
radiation while letting in the sun’s warming rays. Ultraviolet radiation is
harmful to living things, and is what causes sunburns. Solar heat, on the other
hand, is necessary for all life on Earth.
 Earth’s atmosphere has a layered structure. From the ground toward the sky,
the layers are the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere,
and exosphere. Another layer, called the ionosphere, extends from the
mesosphere to the exosphere. Beyond the exosphere is outer space. The
boundaries between atmospheric layers are not clearly defined, and change
depending on latitude and season.
THE COMPOSITION OF AIR

 Nitrogen — 78 percent
 Oxygen — 21 percent
 Argon — 0.93 percent
 Carbon dioxide — 0.04 percent
 Trace amounts of neon, helium, methane, krypton and hydrogen, as well as
water vapor
INGREDIENTS OF LIFE
 Scientists have gathered enough information about other planets in our solar system to know that
none can support life as we know it. Life is not possible without a stable atmosphere containing the
right chemical ingredients for living organisms: hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon. These
ingredients must be balanced—not too thick or too thin. Life also depends on the presence of water.
 Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune all have atmospheres made mostly of hydrogen and helium.
These planets are called gas giants, because they are mostly made of gas and do not have a solid outer
crust.
 Mercury and Mars have some of the right ingredients, but their atmospheres are far too thin to
support life. The atmosphere of Venus is too thick—the planet's surface temperature is more than 460
degrees Celsius (860 degrees Fahrenheit).
 Jupiter's moon Europa has a thin atmosphere rich with oxygen. It is likely covered by a huge ocean of
liquid water. Some astrobiologists think that if life will develop elsewhere in the solar system, it will
be near vents at the bottom of Europa's ocean.
THE ATMOSPHERIC ORBIT

Although the International Space Station orbits in the

thermosphere, most satellites orbit the Earth outside its atmosphere.
GPS satellites, for instance, are in orbit more than 20,000
kilometers (12,400 miles) above the Earth.
THE MAGNETOSPHERE

Earths magnetosphere is not considered part of the atmosphere. The

magnetosphere, formed by the Earths magnetic fields, protects the
atmosphere by preventing it from being blown away by powerful
solar wind.
EXTRATERRESTRIAL ATMOSPHERES

 All the planets in our solar system have atmospheres. Most of these atmospheres are radically
different from Earth’s, although they contain many of the same elements.
 The solar system has two major types of planets: terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth,
and Mars) and gas giants (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune).
 The atmospheres of the terrestrial planets are somewhat similar to Earth’s. Mercury’s
atmosphere contains only a thin exosphere dominated by hydrogen, helium, and oxygen.
Venus’ atmosphere is much thicker than Earth’s, preventing a clear view of the planet. Its
atmosphere is dominated by carbon dioxide, and features swirling clouds of sulfuric acid. The
atmosphere on Mars is also dominated by carbon dioxide, although unlike Venus, it is quite
thin.
EXTRATERRESTRIAL ATMOSPHERES
 Gas giants are composed of gases. Their atmospheres are almost entirely hydrogen and helium.
The presence of methane in the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune give the planets their
bright blue color.
 In the lower atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn, clouds of water, ammonia, and hydrogen
sulfide form clear bands. Fast winds separate light-colored bands, called zones, from dark-
colored bands, called belts. Other weather phenomena, such as cyclones and lightning, create
patterns in the zones and belts. Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is a centuries-old cyclone that is the
largest storm in the solar system.
 The moons of some planets have their own atmospheres. Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, has a
thick atmosphere made mostly of nitrogen and methane. The way sunlight breaks up methane
in Titan’s ionosphere helps give the moon an orange color.
EXTRATERRESTRIAL ATMOSPHERES
 Most celestial bodies, including all the asteroids in the asteroid belt and our own moon, do not
have atmospheres. The lack of an atmosphere on the Moon means it does not experience
weather. With no wind or water to erode them, many craters on the Moon have been there for
hundreds and even thousands of years.
 The way a celestial body’s atmosphere is structured and what it’s made of allow astrobiologists
to speculate what kind of life the planet or moon may be able to support. Atmospheres, then,
are important markers in space exploration.
 A planet or moon’s atmosphere must contain specific chemicals to support life as we know it.
These chemicals include hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon. Although Venus, Mars, and
Titan have similar atmospheric gases, there is nowhere in the solar system besides Earth with
an atmosphere able to support life. Venus’ atmosphere is far too thick, Mars’ far too thin, and
Titan’s far too cold.
EARTH, VENUS AND MARS
 To better understand the formation and composition of Earth, scientists
sometimes compare our planet with Venus and Mars. All three of these planets
are rocky in nature and are part of the inner solar system, meaning that they are
in between the sun and the asteroid belt.
 Venus has an almost fully carbon dioxide atmosphere, with traces of nitrogen
and sulfuric acid. The planet, however, also has a runaway greenhouse effect
on its surface. Spacecraft have to be heavily reinforced to survive the crushing
pressure (90 times heavier than Earth), and the oven-like temperatures (872
Fahrenheit or 467 Celsius), found at its surface. The clouds are also so thick
that the surface is invisible in visible light. Because not much sun reaches the
surface, this means that Venus has no significant seasonal temperature
changes.
EARTH, VENUS AND MARS
 Mars also has a mostly carbon dioxide atmosphere, with traces of nitrogen, argon, oxygen,
carbon monoxide and some other gases. On this planet, the atmosphere is about 100 times
thinner than Earth's — a very different situation from the ancient past, when geological
evidence shows that water used to flow on the surface more than 4.5 billion years ago.
Scientists suggest that the Martian atmosphere may have thinned over time, either because the
sun stripped away the lighter molecules in the atmosphere, or because a huge impact by an
asteroid or comet catastrophically stripped the atmosphere. Mars undergoes temperature
swings influenced by how much sunlight reaches the surface, which also affects its polar ice
caps (another great influence on the atmosphere.)
 Scientists routinely compare small, rocky exoplanets to Earth, Venus and Mars to get a better
sense of their habitability. The routinely accepted definition of "habitability" is that a planet is
close enough to the star for liquid water to exist on its surface. Too far, and the water turns icy;
too close, and the water evaporates. However, habitability not only depends on the star-planet
distance, but also the planet's atmosphere, the star's variability, and other factors.
SIX LAYERS OF THE ATMOSPHERE:
Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere
Ionosphere
Exosphere
SIX LAYERS OF THE ATMOSPHERE:
 Troposphere
The troposphere starts at the Earth's surface and extends 8 to 14.5 kilometers high
(5 to 9 miles). This part of the atmosphere is the most dense. Almost all weather is
in this region.
 Stratosphere
The stratosphere starts just above the troposphere and extends to 50 kilometers (31
miles) high. The ozone layer, which absorbs and scatters the solar ultraviolet
radiation, is in this layer.
 Mesosphere
The mesosphere starts just above the stratosphere and extends to 85 kilometers (53
miles) high. Meteors burn up in this layer
SIX LAYERS OF THE ATMOSPHERE:
 Thermosphere
The thermosphere starts just above the mesosphere and extends to 600 kilometers
(372 miles) high. Aurora and satellites occur in this layer.
 Ionosphere
The ionosphere is an abundant layer of electrons and ionized atoms and molecules
that stretches from about 48 kilometers (30 miles) above the surface to the edge of
space at about 965 km (600 mi), overlapping into the mesosphere and thermosphere.
This dynamic region grows and shrinks based on solar conditions and divides
further into the sub-regions: D, E and F; based on what wavelength of solar
radiation is absorbed. The ionosphere is a critical link in the chain of Sun-Earth
interactions. This region is what makes radio communications possible.
 Exosphere
This is the upper limit of our atmosphere. It extends from the top of the
thermosphere up to 10,000 km (6,200 mi).
VIDEO PRESENTATION:

Layers of Atmosphere
Layers_Of_Atmosphere_The_Dr_Binocs_Show_Educational_Videos
_For_Kids[Mp3Converter.net].mp4
Earth’s Atmosphere
Earths_atmosphere[Mp3Converter.net].mp4
TROPOSPHERE
 The layer we call home
 Closest to the surface of Earth, we have
the troposphere. “Tropos” means change. This
layer gets its name from the weather that is
constantly changing and mixing up the gases in
this part of our atmosphere.
 The troposphere is between 5 and 9 miles (8 and
14 kilometers) thick depending on where you are
on Earth. It’s thinnest at the North and South
Pole.
 This layer has the air we breathe and the clouds
in the sky. The air is densest in this lowest layer.
In fact, the troposphere contains three-quarters of
the mass of the entire atmosphere. The air here is
78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. The last 1% is
made of argon, water vapor, and carbon dioxide.
 When you feel the wind on your face, see clouds
in the sky, and watch a bird flap its wings in
flight, you’re experiencing the troposphere. It’s a
pretty nice layer to call home.
TROPOSPHERE
 The troposphere is the lowest layer of Earth's
atmosphere. Most of the mass (about 75-80%) of
the atmosphere is in the troposphere. Most types
of clouds are found in the troposphere, and
almost all weather occurs within this layer.
 The bottom of the troposphere is at Earth's
surface. The troposphere extends upward to
about 10 km (6.2 miles or about 33,000 feet)
above sea level. The height of the top of the
troposphere varies with latitude (it is lowest over
the poles and highest at the equator) and by
season (it is lower in winter and higher in
summer). It can be as high as 20 km (12 miles or
65,000 feet) near the equator, and as low as 7 km
(4 miles or 23,000 feet) over the poles in winter.
 Air is warmest at the bottom of the troposphere
near ground level. Air gets colder as one rises
through the troposphere. That's why the peaks of
tall mountains can be snow-covered even in the
summertime.
 Air pressure and the density of the air also
decrease with altitude. That's why the cabins of
high-flying jet aircraft are pressurized.
 The layer immediately above the troposphere is
called the stratosphere. The boundary between
the troposphere and the stratosphere is called the
"tropopause".
STRATOSPHERE
 The layer made of layers
 Above the troposphere and below the mesosphere,
we have the stratosphere. “Strat” means layer.
This layer of our atmosphere has its own set of
layers. There are no storms or turbulence here to
mix up the air, so cold, heavy air is at the bottom
and warm, light air is at the top. That’s the opposite
of how the layers work in the troposphere, where
we live. If you were to climb a mountain in the
stratosphere you would have to take off your warm
clothes as you got closer to the top rather than
putting them on like we usually do. But there are no
mountains high enough to reach the stratosphere, so
you don’t have to worry about that.
 This layer is 22 miles (35 kilometers) thick. The
stratosphere is where you’ll find the very
important ozone layer. The ozone layer helps protect us
from ultraviolet radiation (UV) from the sun. In fact, the
ozone layer absorbs most of the UV radiation the sun
sends to us. Life as we know it wouldn’t be possible
without this layer of protection.
 The bottom of the stratosphere is around 10 km (6.2
miles or about 33,000 feet) above the ground at middle
latitudes. The top of the stratosphere occurs at an altitude
of 50 km (31 miles). The height of the bottom of the
stratosphere varies with latitude and with the seasons.
The lower boundary of the stratosphere can be as high as
20 km (12 miles or 65,000 feet) near the equator and as
low as 7 km (4 miles or 23,000 feet) at the poles in
winter. The lower boundary of the stratosphere is called
the tropopause; the upper boundary is called the
stratopause.
STRATOSPHERE
 Ozone, an unusual type of oxygen molecule that is
relatively abundant in the stratosphere, heats this layer
as it absorbs energy from incoming ultraviolet
radiation from the Sun. Temperatures rise as one
moves upward through the stratosphere. This is exactly
the opposite of the behavior in the troposphere in
which we live, where temperatures drop with
increasing altitude. Because of this temperature
stratification, there is little convection and mixing in
the stratosphere, so the layers of air there are quite
stable. Commercial jet aircraft fly in the lower
stratosphere to avoid the turbulence which is common
in the troposphere below.
 The stratosphere is very dry; air there contains little
water vapor. Because of this, few clouds are found in
this layer; almost all clouds occur in the lower, more
humid troposphere.
 Polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) are the exception.
PSCs appear in the lower stratosphere near the
poles in winter. They are found at altitudes of 15 to
25 km (9.3 to 15.5 miles) and form only when
temperatures at those heights dip below -78° C.
They appear to help cause the formation of the
infamous holes in the ozone layer by "encouraging"
certain chemical reactions that destroy ozone. PSCs
are also called nacreous clouds.
 Air is roughly a thousand times thinner at the top of
the stratosphere than it is at sea level. Because of
this, jet aircraft and weather balloons reach their
maximum operational altitudes within the
stratosphere.
STRATOSPHERE
 Due to the lack of vertical convection in the
stratosphere, materials that get into the stratosphere
can stay there for long times. Such is the case for
the ozone-destroying chemicals called CFCs
(chlorofluorocarbons). Large volcanic eruptions and
major meteorite impacts can fling aerosol particles
up into the stratosphere where they may linger for
months or years, sometimes altering Earth's global
climate. Rocket launches inject exhaust gases into
the stratosphere, producing uncertain consequences.
 Various types of waves and tides in the atmosphere
influence the stratosphere. Some of these waves and
tides carry energy from the troposphere upward into
the stratosphere; others convey energy from the
stratosphere up into the mesosphere. The waves and
tides influence the flows of air in the stratosphere
and can also cause regional heating of this layer of
the atmosphere.
 A rare type of electrical discharge, somewhat akin
to lightning, occurs in the stratosphere. These "blue
jets" appear above thunderstorms, and extend from
the bottom of the stratosphere up to altitudes of 40
or 50 km (25 to 31 miles).
MESOSPHERE
 The middle layer
 The mesosphere lies between
the thermosphere and
the stratosphere. “Meso” means middle, and this is
the highest layer of the atmosphere in which the
gases are all mixed up rather than being layered by
their mass.
 The boundary between the mesosphere and the
thermosphere above it is called the mesopause. At
the bottom of the mesosphere is the stratopause, the
boundary between the mesosphere and the
stratosphere below.
 The mesosphere is 22 miles (35 kilometers) thick.
The air is still thin, so you wouldn’t be able to
breathe up in the mesosphere. But there is more gas
in this layer than there is out in the thermosphere.
 Have you ever seen a meteor shower, where
meteors burn up and streak across the sky? Some
people call them shooting stars. Those meteors are
burning up in the mesosphere. The meteors make it
through the exosphere and thermosphere without
much trouble because those layers don’t have much
air. But when they hit the mesosphere, there are
enough gases to cause friction and create heat.
MESOSPHERE
 The mesosphere is difficult to study, so less is known about this layer
of the atmosphere than other layers. Weather balloons and other aircraft
cannot fly high enough to reach the mesosphere. Satellites orbit above
the mesosphere and cannot directly measure traits of this layer.
Scientists use instruments on sounding rockets to sample the
mesosphere directly, but such flights are brief and infrequent. Since it
is difficult to take measurements of the mesosphere directly using
instruments, much about the mesosphere is still mysterious.
 Most meteors vaporize in the mesosphere. Some material from meteors
lingers in the mesosphere, causing this layer to have a relatively high
concentration of iron and other metal atoms. Very strange, high altitude
clouds called "noctilucent clouds" or "polar mesospheric clouds"
sometime form in the mesosphere near the poles. These peculiar clouds
form much, much higher up than other types of clouds. Odd electrical
discharges akin to lightning, called "sprites" and "ELVES",
occasionally appear in the mesosphere dozens of kilometers (miles)
above thunderclouds in the troposphere below.
 The stratosphere and mesosphere together
are sometimes referred to as the middle
atmosphere. At the mesopause (the top of the
mesosphere) and below, gases made of
different types of atoms and molecules are
thoroughly mixed together by turbulence in
the atmosphere. Above the mesosphere, in
the thermosphere and beyond, gas particles
collide so infrequently that the gases become
somewhat separated based on the types of
chemical elements they contain.
 Various types of waves and tides in the
atmosphere influence the mesosphere. These
waves and tides carry energy from the
troposphere and the stratosphere upward into
the mesosphere, driving most of its global
circulation.
THERMOSPHERE
 The heat that won't keep you warm
 The thermosphere lies between
the exosphere and
the mesosphere. “Thermo” means heat, and the
temperature in this layer can reach up to 4,500
degrees Fahrenheit. If you were to hang out in
the thermosphere, though, you would be very
cold because there aren’t enough gas molecules
to transfer the heat to you. This also means there
aren’t enough molecules for sound waves to
travel through.
 This layer of Earth’s atmosphere is about 319
miles (513 kilometers) thick. That’s much thicker
than the inner layers of the atmosphere, but not
nearly as thick as the exosphere.
 The thermosphere is home to the International
Space Station as it orbits Earth. This is also
where you’ll find low Earth orbit satellites.
There’s a lot going on in the thermosphere!
THERMOSPHERE
 Temperatures climb sharply in the lower
thermosphere (below 200 to 300 km altitude),
then level off and hold fairly steady with
increasing altitude above that height. Solar
activity strongly influences temperature in the
thermosphere. The thermosphere is typically
about 200° C (360° F) hotter in the daytime than
at night, and roughly 500° C (900° F) hotter
when the Sun is very active than at other times.
Temperatures in the upper thermosphere can
range from about 500° C (932° F) to 2,000° C
(3,632° F) or higher.
 The boundary between the thermosphere and the
exosphere above it is called the thermopause. At
the bottom of the thermosphere is the
mesopause, the boundary between the
thermosphere and the mesosphere below.
 Although the thermosphere is considered part of
Earth's atmosphere, the air density is so low in
this layer that most of the thermosphere is what
we normally think of as outer space. In fact, the
most common definition says that space begins
at an altitude of 100 km (62 miles), slightly
above the mesopause at the bottom of the
thermosphere. The space shuttle and the
International Space Station both orbit Earth
within the thermosphere!
THERMOSPHERE
 Much of the X-ray and UV radiation from the Sun
 Below the thermosphere, gases made of different
is absorbed in the thermosphere. When the Sun is
types of atoms and molecules are thoroughly mixed
very active and emitting more high energy
together by turbulence in the atmosphere. Air in the
radiation, the thermosphere gets hotter and expands
lower atmosphere is mainly composed of the
or "puffs up". Because of this, the height of the top
familiar blend of about 80% nitrogen molecules
of the thermosphere (the thermopause) varies. The
(N2) and about 20% oxygen molecules (O2). In the
thermopause is found at an altitude between 500 km
thermosphere and above, gas particles collide so
and 1,000 km or higher. Since many satellites orbit
infrequently that the gases become somewhat
within the thermosphere, changes in the density of
separated based on the types of chemical elements
(the very, very thin) air at orbital altitudes brought
they contain. Energetic ultraviolet and X-ray
on by heating and expansion of the thermosphere
photons from the Sun also break apart molecules in
generates a drag force on satellites. Engineers must
the thermosphere. In the upper thermosphere,
take this varying drag into account when calculating
atomic oxygen (O), atomic nitrogen (N), and helium
orbits, and satellites occasionally need to be boosted
(He) are the main components of air.
higher to offset the effects of the drag force.
THERMOSPHERE
 High-energy solar photons also tear electrons away
from gas particles in the thermosphere, creating
electrically-charged ions of atoms and molecules.
Earth's ionosphere, composed of several regions of
such ionized particles in the atmosphere, overlaps  Finally, the aurora (the Southern and Northern
with and shares the same space with the electrically Lights) primarily occur in the thermosphere.
neutral thermosphere. Charged particles (electrons, protons, and other
ions) from space collide with atoms and molecules
 Like the oceans, Earth's atmosphere has waves and in the thermosphere at high latitudes, exciting them
tides within it. These waves and tides help move into higher energy states. Those atoms and
energy around within the atmosphere, including the molecules shed this excess energy by emitting
thermosphere. Winds and the overall circulation in photons of light, which we see as colorful auroral
the thermosphere are largely driven by these tides displays.
and waves. Moving ions, dragged along by
collisions with the electrically neutral gases,
produce powerful electrical currents in some parts
of the thermosphere.
IONOSPHERE
 The active, changing layer
 An interesting layer called
the ionosphere overlaps
the mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere.
It’s a very active part of the atmosphere, and it
grows and shrinks depending on the energy it
absorbs from the sun. Its name comes from the
fact that gases in these layers are excited by solar
radiation to form “ions,” which have an
electrical charge.
 Parts of the ionosphere overlap with
Earth’s magnetosphere. That’s the area around
Earth where charged particles feel Earth’s
magnetic field.
 In the ionosphere, charged particles are affected
by the magnetic fields of both Earth and the sun.
This is where auroras happen. Those are the
bright, beautiful bands of light that you
sometimes see near Earth’s poles. They’re
caused by high-energy particles from the sun
interacting with the atoms in this layer of our
atmosphere.
IONOSPHERE

 There are three main regions of the ionosphere,

 High-energy X-rays and ultraviolet (UV) "light"
called the D layer, the E layer, and the F layer.
from the Sun are constantly colliding with gas
These regions do not have sharp boundaries, and the
molecules and atoms in Earth's upper atmosphere.
altitudes at which they occur vary during the course
Some of these collisions knock electrons free from
of a day and from season to season. The D region is
the atoms and molecules, creating electrically
the lowest, starting about 60 or 70 km (37 or 43
charged ions (atoms or molecules with missing
miles) above the ground and extending upward to
electrons) and free electrons. These electrically
about 90 km (56 miles). Next higher is the E region,
charged ions and electrons move and behave
starting at about 90 or 100 km (56 or 62 miles) up
differently than normal, electrically neutral atoms
and extending to 120 or 150 km (75 or 93 miles).
and molecules. Regions with higher concentrations
The uppermost part of the ionosphere, the F region,
of ions and free electrons occur at several different
starts about 150 km (93 miles) and extends far
altitudes and are known, as a group, as the
upward, sometimes as high as 500 km (311 miles)
ionosphere.
above the surface of our home planet.
IONOSPHERE
 The height, fraction of ionized particles, and even the
 The regions of the ionosphere are not
considered separate layers, such as the
more familiar troposphere and stratosphere.
Instead, they are ionized regions embedded
within the standard atmospheric layers. The
D region usually forms in the upper part of
the mesosphere, while the E region
typically appears in the
lower thermosphere and the F region is
found in the upper reaches of the
thermosphere.
existence of the different regions of the ionosphere varies
over time. The ionosphere is very different in the
daytime versus night. During the day, X-rays an UV light
from the Sun continuously provides the energy that
knocks electrons free from atoms and molecules,
producing a continuous supply of ions and free electrons.
At the same time, some of the ions and electrons collide
and re-combine to form normal, electrically neutral
atoms and molecules. During the day, more ions are
created than are destroyed, so the number of ions in the
three regions increases. At night, the recombination
process takes over in the absence of sunlight, and the
number of ions drops. Over the course of most nights,
the D region disappears entirely and the E region
weakens as the number of ions in that layer plummets.
Each morning, as solar X-rays and UV light return, the D
and E regions are repopulated with ions. The highest
altitude F region sticks around throughout the night, but
generally splits into an upper F2 layer and a lower
F1 layer during the day.
IONOSPHERE
 Before communication via satellites became common,
the operators of radio communication systems often
used the ionosphere to extend the range of their
transmissions. Radio waves generally travel in straight
lines, so unless a tall transmission tower can "see" the
top of a receiver tower, the curvature of the Earth
limits the range of radio transmissions to stations that
are not over the horizon. However, some frequencies
of radio waves bounce or reflect off of the electrically
charged particles in certain ionosphere layers. Pre-
satellite radio communications often took advantage of
this phenomenon, bouncing radio waves off of the
"sky" to extend the range of the signals. Radio
operators had to account for the constant changes in
the ionosphere, particularly the shifts or disappearance
of the layers between day and night, to effectively take
advantage of these mirror-like reflections of radio
waves.
 The ionosphere regions can absorb or dampen radio
signals, or they can bend radio waves, as well as
reflecting the signals as described above. The
specific behavior depends on both the frequency of
the radio signal as well as the characteristics of the
ionosphere region involved. Since Global
Positioning System (GPS) satellites use radio
signals to determine locations, the accuracy of GPS
can be severely reduced when those signals bend as
they pass through ionosphere regions. Similarly,
some radio communications can be disrupted if the
frequency used is one that an ionosphere layer
dampens or absorbs entirely, resulting in a
weakened signal or even total loss of
communications. Scientists constantly measure and
produce computer models of the ever-changing
ionosphere so that people in charge of radio
communications can anticipate disruptions.
 IONOSPHERE
 Scientists use radio waves in various ways to probe and
monitor the otherwise invisible ionosphere. Various radio
antennas and radar systems, on the ground and on
satellites, are used to monitor the constantly evolving
ionosphere. Radio antennas "listen" for radio signals
generated by the ionosphere itself, radar systems bounce
signals of the different layers, and pairs of transmitters
and receivers shoot signals through the ionosphere to
determine how much those signals are dampened or
redirected.
 Along with the daily fluctuations in the ionosphere, there
are also seasonal and longer-term variations in this
complex set of regions. Different latitudes warm and cool
with the seasons as the intensity of sunlight varies from
place to place due to the tilt of Earth's axis. Similarly, the
ionosphere varies seasonally as the location of the peak
intensity of solar X-rays and UV light, which drive the
rate of formation of ions, moves around on the globe.
 Seasonal changes in the chemistry of the
atmosphere also play a role, influencing the rate of
recombination events which remove ions from the
atmosphere. Longer term, the 11-year sunspot
cycle has a strong influence on the upper reaches of
the atmosphere, including the ionosphere. The
brightness of the Sun, in visible light wavelengths
that we can see, varies by less than 1/10th of one
percent between the high point and the low point of
the sunspot cycle. However, the X-ray and UV
output of the Sun varies much more throughout the
solar cycle, fluctuating by a factor of 10 or more.
Since these X-rays and UV radiation control the rate
of ion formation that produces the ionosphere, large
variations in these types of radiation lead to big
changes in the ion densities in the ionosphere
regions. Also, large geomagnetic storms triggered
by solar flares and coronal mass ejections from the
Sun can create severe temporary disruptions in the
ionosphere.
EXOSPHERE
 The outermost layer
 The exosphere is the outermost layer of our
atmosphere. “Exo”means outside and is the
same prefix used to describe insects like
grasshoppers that have a hard shell or
“exoskeleton” on the outside of their body.
 The exosphere is the uppermost region of Earth's
atmosphere as it gradually fades into the vacuum
of space. Air in the exosphere is extremely thin -
in many ways it is almost the same as the airless
void of outer space.
 The exosphere is the very edge of our
atmosphere. This layer separates the rest of the
atmosphere from outer space. It’s about 6,200
miles (10,000 kilometers) thick. That’s almost as
wide as Earth itself. The exosphere is really,
really big. That means that to get to outer space,
you have to be really far from Earth.
 The exosphere has gases like hydrogen and
helium, but they are very spread out. There is a
lot of empty space in between. There is no air to
breathe, and it’s very cold.
EXOSPHERE
 The layer directly below the exosphere is
the thermosphere; the boundary between the two is
called the thermopause. The bottom of the
exosphere is sometimes also referred to as the
exobase. The altitude of the lower boundary of the
exosphere varies. When the Sun is active around the
peak of the sunspot cycle, X-rays and ultraviolet
radiation from the Sun heat and "puff up" the
thermosphere - raising the altitude of the
thermopause to heights around 1,000 km (620
miles) above Earth's surface. When the Sun is less
active during the low point of the sunspot cycle,
solar radiation is less intense and the thermopause
recedes to within about 500 km (310 miles) of
Earth's surface.
 Not all scientists agree that the exosphere is really a
part of the atmosphere. Some scientists consider the
thermosphere the uppermost part of Earth's
atmosphere, and think that the exosphere is really just
part of space. However, other scientists do consider the
exosphere part of our planet's atmosphere.
 Since the exosphere gradually fades into outer space,
there is no clear upper boundary of this layer. One
definition of the outermost limit of the exosphere
places the uppermost edge of Earth's atmosphere
around 190,000 km (120,000 miles), about halfway to
the Moon. At this distance, radiation pressure from
sunlight exerts more force on hydrogen atoms than
does the pull of Earth's gravity. A faint glow of
ultraviolet radiation scattered by hydrogen atoms in the
uppermost atmosphere has been detected at heights of
100,000 km (62,000 miles) by satellites. This region of
UV glow is called the geocorona.
EXOSPHERE
 Although the exosphere is technically part of Earth's
 Below the exosphere, molecules and atoms of
atmospheric gases constantly collide with each
other. However, air in the exosphere is so thin that
such collisions are very rare. Gas atoms and
molecules in the exosphere move along "ballistic
trajectories", reminiscent of the arcing flight of a
thrown ball (or shot cannonball!) as it gradually
curves back towards Earth under the pull of gravity.
Most gas particles in the exosphere zoom along
curved paths without ever hitting another atom or
molecule, eventually arcing back down into the
lower atmosphere due to the pull of gravity.
However, some of the faster-moving particles don't
return to Earth - they fly off into space instead! A
small portion of our atmosphere "leaks" away into
space each year in this way.
atmosphere, in many ways it is part of outer space.
Many satellites, including the International Space
Station (ISS), orbit within the exosphere or below.
For example, the average altitude of the ISS is
about 330 km (205 miles), placing it in the
thermosphere below the exosphere! Although the
atmosphere is very, very thin in the thermosphere
and exosphere, there is still enough air to cause a
slight amount of drag force on satellites that orbit
within these layers. This drag force gradually slows
the spacecraft in their orbits, so that they eventually
would fall out of orbit and burn up as they re-
entered the atmosphere unless something is done to
boost them back upwards. The ISS loses about 2 km
(1.2 miles) in altitude each month to such "orbital
decay", and must periodically be given an upward
boost by rocket engines to keep it in orbit.
WEATHER AND CLIMATE
 Earth is able to support a wide variety of living beings because of its diverse
regional climates, which range from extreme cold at the poles to tropical heat at the
Equator. Regional climate is often described as the average weather in a place over
more than 30 years. A region's climate is often described, for example, as sunny,
windy, dry, or humid. These can also describe the weather in a certain place, but
while the weather can change in just a few hours, climate changes over a longer span
of time.
 Earth's global climate is an average of regional climates. The global climate has
cooled and warmed throughout history. Today, we are seeing unusually rapid
warming. The scientific consensus is that greenhouse gases, which are increasing
because of human activities, are trapping heat in the atmosphere.
BONUS!!!

The Atmosphere Song

Atmosphere_Song[Mp3Converter.net].mp4
Layers of the Atmosphere Rap
Mr_Lee_-_Layers_of_the_Atmosphere_rap[Mp3Converter.net].mp4
Drops of Atmosphere Song
Drops_of_Atmosphere_Song[Mp3Converter.net].mp4
TRIVIA

25 Facts About Earth’s Atmosphere That Are Truly Majestic

Earths_atmosphere[Mp3Converter.net] (1).mp4
SOURCES/REFERENCES/CONTRIBUTORS:

 For slides 3,4,5,6,7,8&9…  For slides 10,11,12,13,14,15&46…

https://www.space.com/17683-earth-atmosphere.html https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/atmo
(November 13, 2017) sphere/ (November 13, 2017)
Additional reporting by Elizabeth Howell Articles & Profiles
Space.com contributor NASA: Earth’s Atmosphere
Writers Websites
• Melissa McDaniel NOAA Environmental Visualization Laboratory:
• Erin Sprout Rivers in the Atmosphere
• Diane Boudreau National Geographic Science: Earth—Earth’s
• Andrew Turgeon Atmosphere
NASA: MODIS Atmosphere
SOURCES/REFERENCES/CONTRIBUTORS:

 For slides 4,5&7…

 For slide 6…
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/scien
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sg9sCOXFIk
ce/atmosphere-layers2.html (November 4, 2017)
&t=110s (November 4, 2017)
Credit: NASA/Goddard
Source: YouTube
Last Updated: Aug. 4, 2017
Page: Peekaboo Kidz
Editor: Holly Zell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbwEF6xvlVg
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (November 4, 2017)
NASA Official: Brian Dunbar Source: YouTube
Page: Veronica Kimes
SOURCES/REFERENCES/CONTRIBUTORS:

 For slides 11,12,13&14…

 For slides 8,9&10…
https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/stratosphere/en/ (November
https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/troposphere/en/ (November 4, 2017)
4, 2017)
NASA Official: Kristen Erickson
NASA Official: Kristen Erickson
Webmaster: Nancy Leon
Webmaster: Nancy Leon
Contact NASA Space Place
Contact NASA Space Place
Last Updated: October 31st, 2017
Last Updated: October 31st, 2017
https://scied.ucar.edu/shortcontent/stratosphere-
https://scied.ucar.edu/shortcontent/troposphere- overview (November 4, 2017)
overview (November 4, 2017)
© 2011 UCAR with portions adapted from Windows
© 2011 UCAR
to the Universe (© 2009 NESTA)
SOURCES/REFERENCES/CONTRIBUTORS:
 For slides 15,16&17…
https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/mesosphere/en/
(November 4, 2017)
NASA Official: Kristen Erickson
Webmaster: Nancy Leon
Contact NASA Space Place
Last Updated: October 31st, 2017
https://scied.ucar.edu/shortcontent/mesosphere-
overview (November 4, 2017)
© 2008 UCAR
 For slides 18,19,20,21&22…
https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/thermosphere/en/
(November 4, 2017)
NASA Official: Kristen Erickson
Webmaster: Nancy Leon
Contact NASA Space Place
Last Updated: October 31st, 2017
https://scied.ucar.edu/shortcontent/thermosphere-
overview (November 4, 2017)
© 2008 NESTA with modifications by UCAR
SOURCES/REFERENCES/CONTRIBUTORS:
 For slides 29,30,31&32…
 For slides 23,24,25,26,27&28…
https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/exosphere/en/
https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/ionosphere/en/ (November 4, 2017)
(November 4, 2017)
NASA Official: Kristen Erickson
NASA Official: Kristen Erickson
Webmaster: Nancy Leon
Webmaster: Nancy Leon
Contact NASA Space Place
Contact NASA Space Place
Last Updated: October 31st, 2017
Last Updated: October 31st, 2017
https://scied.ucar.edu/shortcontent/exosphere-
https://scied.ucar.edu/ionosphere (November 4, overview (November 4, 2017)
2017)
© 2011 UCAR
© 2014 UCAR
SOURCES/REFERENCES/CONTRIBUTORS:
 For slide 33…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQPyNY2WIdw
(November 4, 2017)
Source: YouTube  For slide 34…

Page: ParrMr https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JC3wmtlqks

(November 4, 2017)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkaY1dvZer4
(November 4, 2017) Source: YouTube

Source: YouTube Page: list25

Page: tfashady410
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyQlYY-5fG8
(November 4, 2017)
Source: YouTube
Page: ParrMr