Ch.13 - The Atmosphere
Standards covered in this chapter:
7.ESS3.1 - Graphically represent the composition of the atmosphere as a mixture of gasses and discuss the potential for atmospheric change.
Important Vocabulary:
Weather - the condition of Earth's atmosphere at a particular time and place.
Atmosphere - the relatively thin layer of gases that form Earth's outer most layer.
Air pressure - the pressure caused by the weight of a column of air pushing down on an area.
Altitude - elevation above sea level.
Troposphere - the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere.
Stratosphere - the second-lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere.
Mesosphere - the layer of Earth's atmosphere immediately above the stratosphere.
Thermosphere - the outermost layer of Earth's atmosphere.
Ionosphere - the lower part of the thermosphere.
Exosphere - the outer layer of the thermosphere.
Summary
Events in one part of the atmosphere affect other parts of the atmosphere. Air pressure decreases as altitude increases. As air pressure decreases, so does density. Scientists divide Earth's atmosphere into 4 main layers according to changes in temperature. The sun's energy travels to Earth as visible light, infrared radiation, and ultraviolet radiation. Heat is transferred in three ways, convection, conduction, and radiation. Heat is transferred mostly by convection within the troposphere.
Air temperature is usually measured with a thermometer.
The atmosphere is the relatively thin layer of gases that form Earth's outer most layer.
