Atmosphere Basics Notes

What is the Atmosphere?

Combination of gases, dust, water droplets,

and ice crystals
Surrounds the Earth
Extends from the Earths surface to outer
space

What is in the Atmosphere?

Earths atmosphere consists mainly of nitrogen (78

percent) and oxygen (21 percent).
The amounts of nitrogen and oxygen in the
atmosphere are fairly constant

The amount of water vapor, ozone, and carbon

dioxide vary significantly from place to place

Atmosphere Particles- Contains variable amounts of

solids in the form of tiny particles, such as dust,
salt, and ice
Fungi and bacteria are often attached to these
particles
What are the layers of the Atmosphere?

Troposphere
Closest to the Earths surface
Contains most of the atmospheres mass
Weather occurs in this layer

Air temperature decreases with altitude

Top is called tropopause
Stratosphere
Above tropopause
Contains the ozone layer
Air temperature increases with altitude since
the ozone layer absorbs the suns energy
Ends at the stratopause
Mesosphere
Above the stratopause
Air temperature decreases with altitude since
very little solar radiation is absorbed
Meteors burn up here
Ends at mesopause
Thermosphere
Low air density so temperature rises (can be
over 1000C)
Contains the ionosphere (made up of
charged particles) aurora borealis
Ends at thermopause
Exosphere
Outermost layer
Transitional region between the Earths
atmosphere and outer space (Satellites)

Review of Thermal Energy and Heat

Remember all matter is made of particles in
constant, random motion!
These moving particles contain kinetic
energy.
The total kinetic energy of the moving
particles is called thermal energy.
Review of Thermal Energy and Heat
Heat is the transfer of thermal energy from
regions of higher temperature to regions of
lower temperature
Energy Transfer in the Atmosphere
In the atmosphere thermal energy is
transferred by:
Radiation
Conduction
Convection
Radiation
Transfer of thermal energy by
electromagnetic waves
Thermal energy is transferred from the Sun
to Earth by radiation
Absorption and Reflection

Incoming solar radiation is either reflected

back into space or absorbed by Earths
atmosphere or its surface.

30% reflected
20% absorbed
by atmosphere
and clouds
50% absorbed
by Earths surface
Rate of Absorption
Depends on physical characteristics of the
surface and the amount of solar radiation
Examples water heats and cools more
slowly; dark colors absorb energy faster
Conduction
Transfer of thermal energy when objects at
two different temperatures are in contact
Occurs between the Earths surface and
lowest part of the atmosphere