How the world works

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Earth's Atmosphere Interactive

The percentage of gases that make up the atmosphere doesn't change as you move through the layers, but the atmospheric pressure changes considerably. This interactive allows you to explore the upper, middle, and lower layers of the thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, and troposphere. Temperatures vary greatly as you pass through the layers, with the coldest temperatures in the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere. Planes fly in the troposphere, while spaceships orbit in the thermosphere. The mesosphere is where meteors burn up.URL: http://www.sepuplhs.org

Earth's Atmosphere

Here on Earth, we are surrounded by a many different layers of gasses. These gases allow us to breathe, and keep the temperature of the planet at a comfortable range. The Earth’s atmosphere has three layers, the lowest of which is the troposphere. We live in the troposphere where the gases are oxygen and nitrogen. There is no defining line in the upper atmosphere, it simply fades into what we consider outer space. Click on the links in the illustration to learn more. URL: https://www.dkfindout.com

Layers of the Earth's Atmosphere

Reaching five to ten miles above the surface, the troposphere contains winds and air currents. The temperature in the troposphere varies from that right above the ground down to -70 degrees at the tropopause. The atmospheric ozone layer is in the stratosphere. The temperature drops again in the mesosphere before it rises in the thermosphere. The air is so thin in the exosphere that molecules travel the radius of the Earth before colliding. Learn more about the layers of the atmosphere. URL: http://www.factmonster.com

The Earth's Atmosphere

The atmosphere that surrounds Earth protects us from dangerous ultraviolet radiation. The atmosphere is made of nitrogen, oxygen, and other gases which become thinner as they gradually reach space. The atmosphere is divided into five layers. The troposphere is near the surface and is where weather occurs. The stratosphere is where planes fly and where the ozone layer is. The mesosphere is where meteors burn up and is very cold. The thermosphere includes the ionosphere and can be hot due to solar activity. The exosphere is the top of the atmosphere where atoms escape into space.URL: http://www.windows2universe.org

A Cozy Blanket Around the Earth

The atmosphere looks like a cozy blanket wrapped around the Earth. Scientists discovered different layers of the atmosphere that are made up of a variety of elements. The layers that are discussed in this exciting article are the thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, and troposphere. Two separate diagrams demonstrate the positions of each layer in relation to space and the Earth. More fun facts about the atmosphere can be found by following any of the labeled arrows.URL: http://www.geography4kids.com

The Earth's Atmosphere There is a lot of information on the Earth's atmosphere packed into just one article! You will learn all about air pressure, the seven layers of the atmosphere, and how the Earth's atmosphere was formed. Once you think you know all about the Earth's atmosphere you can print out a sheet that has blanks for you to label each of the layers. There is also a link to a site from NASA that contains even more information on the atmosphere.URL: http://www.enchantedlearning.com

Earth's Atmosphere

Compare the atmosphere of the Earth to a big, thick blanket. This blanket it made of gases but it does keep the Earth, and us, warm. The atmosphere can even stop most meteors. The atmosphere is divided into five layers. Each has a specific purpose and location above the Earth. The temperature of the thermosphere ranges from 2000 degrees to negative 112 degrees. The troposphere contains clouds, air, and weather. See if you can remember which layer is where people see meteor showers and which layer is where people see the Aurora Borealis. URL: http://studyjams.scholastic.com

The Atmosphere

Both the structure and the composition of Earth's atmosphere are explained at this web site. Learn about the four different layers of the atmosphere. There is both an explanation of and an image of the layers. Find out why temperature and pressure decrease with height. Read about the different gases found in the atmosphere and see which gas is the most abundant. Two graphs show the concentration of the different atmospheric gases. Greenhouse gases are also discussed. URL: http://climate.ncsu.edu

Windows to the Universe - The Troposphere

The troposphere is the layer of the atmosphere which is closest to the Earth. The higher you go up, the colder the temperature becomes. The air in the troposphere is heated from the surface of the Earth. The Earth warms up faster than the air. Weather, such as rain, snow, clouds, wind, and storms, happens in the troposphere. The atmosphere at this level is slightly unstable. The more unstable it is, the more severe the weather can be. URL: http://www.windows2universe.org

Ozone in the Troposphere

Ozone is found in both the stratosphere and the troposphere. There is a problem in the stratosphere because the ozone that is supposed to be there is being damaged. In the troposphere, there is a problem because there is too much ozone. This bad ozone is caused by burning coal and oil; it can negatively affect people's health. Find out why we can't blast this ozone into the stratosphere and what we can do to reduce it. URL: http://www.windows2universe.org

The Stratosphere

The stratosphere is found above the troposphere. It is the second layer in the atmosphere. The troposphere gets cooler as the altitude increases, but the stratosphere gets warmer as the altitude increases. This is because of the layer of ozone found at an altitude of about 25 kilometers. The ozone absorbs high-energy ultraviolet rays which warm the stratosphere. The region between in tropopause and the level of maximum warming due to ozone is called the terrestrial stratosphere.URL: http://www.windows2universe.org

What is the Stratophere?

The stratosphere is the next major atmospheric level above the troposphere. It starts at about eight miles high and goes to about 30 miles high. Air temperature slowly gets warmer higher in the stratosphere because the ozone layer absorbs sunlight. The ozone is actually formed by the radiation that it protects us from. The stratosphere has no clouds because weather stops at the top of the troposphere. An anvil thunderstorm cloud flattens at the top as it hits the bottom of the stratosphere. URL: http://www.weatherquestions.com

The Exosphere

Atoms and molecules escape into space from the outer layer of the Earth's atmosphere. It is called the exosphere and is far above the clouds. The exosphere is beyond the thermosphere, where the temperature changes with solar activity. The air is very thin in the exosphere and the sky is dark blue because it touches the black of space. From space, you can see the clouds of the troposphere and a satellite orbiting the Earth.URL: http://www.windows2universe.org

The Mesosphere

You may know what the atmosphere is or have heard of the mesosphere, but have you ever seen what the Earth's atmospheric layers look like? You can view an image of the Earth and its atmosphere, find where the mesosphere is located, and enlarge that image to see it up close. Then you can find some interesting facts about the mesosphere such as where it is located compared to Earth's other layers, what the temperature is like in this part of the atmosphere, and how you can see it. Not only will you know the facts about the mesosphere, but you will also be able to say that you have seen the mesosphere.URL: http://www.windows2universe.org