Atmosphere Quiz

Troposphere

• Lowest Layer

• “Human Layer”

• weather takes place

• Here, a low ozone layer is BAD (red haze in densely populated areas like Shanghai)

• 80% of total mass of atmosphere

• Temp AND density decreases with altitude (molecules to heavy to go up)

  • Temp drops about 7 degrees Celsius for every 1 kilometer you go up

Stratosphere

• Clear, dry layer above TropoPAUSE

• “Cruising altitude” Above the clouds, so no weather takes place

• Cold at the top of Tropopause, but warms as it ascends

• OZONE IS HERE and it ABSORBS UV LIGHT (favorite food per se), some energy released as heat

Mesosphere

• 3rd Layer

• Meteor Showers here

• temp drops again with increase in altitude

Thermosphere (and Isosphere)

• 4th layer (almost outer space!)

• Upper, thin part of thermosphere

• Northern Lights here → ions interact with different gases, creating stunning displays of natural light known as auroras.

• very few (ionized) atoms here, so they get a TON of solar radiation, temps can be up to 1000 degrees Celsius.

  • Sun spots (eruptions on the surface of the sun) send out radiation that charges atoms → ions

• Gas Layers separated based off DENSITY (least to most)

  • Hydrogen

  • Helium

  • Oxygen

  • Nitrogen

Radiation - Energy transfer thru space; doesn’t require a medium

• Entire electromagnetic spectrum

Conduction - Energy transfer thru contact

• Think of stepping on a hot blacktop or touching a hot pan

2 MAIN GASSES In the Troposphere

• (78%) Nitrogen: Playing a crucial role in weather patterns and climate.

• (21%) Oxygen: Makes up about 21% of the troposphere, essential for respiration in living organisms.

Other Gasses

• (1%) Argon and Carbon Dioxide

Trace Gasses

• Helium

• Hydrogen

• Neon

The atmosphere has LOTS of water vapor at the SURFACE, but less as you go up. This change occurs at the 80 kilometers point if you were to travel up a mountain

Particles in the Atmosphere

• Salt crystals

• Soot from fires

• Pollen

• rock grains

• dirt

There is less Carbon dioxide in the summer because plants absorb more of it for photosynthesis, hence contributing to a decrease in overall atmospheric levels during this time. This is reversed in the winter because plants are dormant and photosynthesis rates decrease, leading to an accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.