• Atmosphere- Gas layer of Earth. (Air)
• Lithosphere- Solid Layer of Earth. (Rocks)
• Hydrosphere- Liquid Layer of Earth. (Water)
The Atmosphere
•Made up of: nitrogen 78%, Oxygen 21% and Carbon Dioxide, water and other trace gases 1%
• Weather- The condition of Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place.
• Climate-The average, year after year conditions of temperature, precipitation, winds and clouds in the area.
The atmosphere supports life because:
• Contains oxygen and other gases that living things need.
• Traps energy from the sun which keeps the surface warm and water in its liquid form.
• Protects Earth from radiation and meteoroids.
The Layers of the Atmosphere
The Atmosphere is divided into four main layers according to changes in temperature
• Troposphere- Lowest layer, where you live, where weather occurs.
• Stratosphere- Second Layer, contains ozone which protects from UV radiation
• Mesosphere- Third layer, protects from meteoroids.
• Thermosphere- Outmost layer.
The Atmosphere Absorbs Heat
Greenhouse Effect
• Greenhouse gases- Absorb heat . It’s a natural process that keeps the temperature comfortable for most living things.
• The most important ones are Carbon Dioxide, Methane and Water Vapor.
• Others- Nitrogen Oxides and Ozone.
Vocabulary
• Fossil Fuel- Energy resource formed from the remains of dead plants and animals.
For Examples-Coal, oil, natural gas
• Global Warming- A gradual increase in the average temperature of Earth’s atmosphere.
Greenhouse Gases
• Carbon Dioxide- Animal Respiration, Burning Fossil Fuels.
• Water Vapor- Deforestation, Draining Swamps.
• Methane-Farming and Landfills.
Properties of Air
• Air has mass.
• It also has properties such as density and pressure.
• Altitude- Distance above sea level.
• http://www.middleschoolchemistry.com/multimedia/chapter1/lesson5#solid_liquid_and_gas
Pressure
• Pressure is the force pushing on an area.
• Air pressure is the result of a column of air pushing down on an area. It is measured with a barometer. The unit is the millibar.
• Air pressure decreases as altitude increases.
Density
• As the altitude increases, the density decreases.• As air pressure decreases so does the density
Temperature
• Average amount of energy of motion of each particle of a substance.
• Measured with a thermometer.
• Measured in degrees.
• Scales commonly used are: Celsius, Farenheit and Kelvin.
Heat Transfer in the Troposphere
• Radiation- transfer of heat. (no touching)
• Conduction-direct transfer of heat. (touching)
• Convection-transfer of thermal energy by the movement of a fluid.