Chapter Twelve: Earth’s Atmosphere Lesson 1: Describing ...

Chapter Twelve: Earth's Atmosphere Lesson 1: Describing Earth's Atmosphere

Atmosphere: a thin layer of gases surrounding Earth Thickness of atmosphere to Earth is as thick as an apple skin to an apple Contains oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water necessary for LIFE o Keeps the temperature on Earth within a range for living organisms to survive Protects these organisms from the Sun's harmful rays

Water vapor: water in its gaseous form

Atmosphere is made up of indivisible gases of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide

Nitrogen makes up 78%, Oxygen is 21%, and the remainder contains argon, carbon dioxide, and water vapor

Solid and liquid particles make up the atmosphere: Solid: pollen, dust, salt, and volcanic ash Liquid: water droplets

Troposphere: the atmospheric layer closest to Earth's surface Most people spend their entire lives within the troposphere

Stratosphere: the atmospheric layer above the troposphere It contains the ozone layer: the area that contains high concentration of ozone (O3) Ozone protects Earth from UV rays that could kill plants, animals, and other organisms

Ionosphere: region within the mesosphere and thermosphere that contains ions Helps radio waves travel long distances in the atmosphere Where auroras occur ? colored lights seen best during the night sky

Gravity is the force that pulls all objects toward Earth Air pressure: the pressure that a column of air exerts on anything below it o Gravity's pull on air increases it density o Higher altitudes ? air is less dense

Temperature and altitude:

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