ATMOSPHERE

EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE

The atmosphere of Earth is a layer of gases surrounding the planet Earth that is retained by Earth's gravity. The atmosphere protects life on Earth by absorbing ultraviolet solar radiation, warming the surface through heat retention (greenhouse effect), and reducing temperature extremes between day and night (the diurnal temperature variation). (Wikipedia Definition - more information here)

STRUCTURE OF THE ATMOSPHERE

In general, air pressure and density decrease in the atmosphere as height increases. In this way, Earth's atmosphere can be divided into five main layers. From highest to lowest, these layers are:

1. The troposphere is the first layer above the surface and contains half of the Earth's atmosphere. Weather occurs in this layer. 
2. Many jet aircrafts fly in the stratosphere because it is very stable. Also, the ozone layer absorbs harmful rays from the Sun. 
3. Meteors or rock fragments burn up in the mesosphere. 
4. The thermosphere is a layer with auroras. It is also where the space shuttle orbits. 
5. The atmosphere merges into space in the extremely thin exosphere. This is the upper limit of our atmosphere.

The Composition of Our Atmosphere – What Is In The Air

The most abundant gases found in our atmosphere are nitrogen and oxygen. Nitrogen makes up around 78% of the total atmosphere, while oxygen makes up 21%. The remaining 1% is made up mostly of a gas called argon. This means that with each breath you take you are breathing 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% argon, with trace amounts of other gases, such as methane, hydrogen, helium, neon, krypton, carbon dioxide, and a form of oxygen known as ozone.

The Three Layers of the Earth

The Earth is made up of:

THE ATMOSPHERE

THE HYDROSPHERE

THE GEOSPHERE

EARTH SCIENCE

The Composition of Our Atmosphere – What Is In The Air

The most abundant gases found in our atmosphere are nitrogen and oxygen. Nitrogen makes up around 78% of the total atmosphere, while oxygen makes up 21%. The remaining 1% is made up mostly of a gas called argon. This means that with each breath you take you are breathing 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% argon, with trace amounts of other gases, such as methane, hydrogen, helium, neon, krypton, carbon dioxide, and a form of oxygen known as ozone.

THE LAYERS OF THE ATMOSPHERE

1. The troposphere is the first layer above the surface and contains half of the Earth's atmosphere. Weather occurs in this layer. 
2. Many jet aircrafts fly in the stratosphere because it is very stable. Also, the ozone layer absorbs harmful rays from the Sun. 
3. Meteors or rock fragments burn up in the mesosphere. 
4. The thermosphere is a layer with auroras. It is also where the space shuttle orbits. 
5. The atmosphere merges into space in the extremely thin exosphere. This is the upper limit of our atmosphere.

PLATE TECTONICS

VOLCANO

This week we start a new Science topic: VOLCANO

We study Volcanoes as a part of EARTH SCIENCE called GEOLOGY

THE VOLCANO SONG

What's it like when volcanoes blow?

This is something you ought to know:

pressure builds without interruption

and then explodes in a volcanic eruption.

When volcanoes erupt, here's what they do:

the pressure makes ash and lava spew.

Boulders can get thrown through the air.

Move back -don't stand and stare!

It's letting off pressure.

It's not going to wait.

It is going to get to that balance state

where forces are equal: equilibrium.

Then the pressure starts building up again.

What's it like when volcanoes blow?

This is something you ought to know:

pressure builds without interruption

and then explodes in a volcanic eruption.

Remember this from your science classes?

A volcano's forces are magma and gases

the underground pressure gets too high

and the volcano blows up in the sky.

What's it like when volcanoes blow?

This is something you ought to know:

pressure builds without interruption

and then explodes in a volcanic eruption.

PARTS OF A VOLCANO

HOW DO VOLCANOES FORM? PLATE TECTONICS

VOLCANO EXPERIMENTS

Hydrosphere

WATER CYCLE

Water

The importance of water

Air

Air is mainly composed of nitrogen, oxygen, and argon, which together constitute the major gases of the atmosphere.

• Nitrogen - 78%
• Oxygen - 21%
• Argon, Carbon Dioxide and other gases - 1%

Structure of the Atmosphere

In general, air pressure and density decrease in the atmosphere as height increases. In this way, Earth's atmosphere can be divided into five main layers. From highest to lowest, these layers are:

The Atmosphere of Earth

The atmosphere of Earth is a layer of gases surrounding the planet Earth that is retained by Earth's gravity. The atmosphere protects life on Earth by absorbing ultraviolet solar radiation, warming the surface through heat retention (greenhouse effect), and reducing temperature extremes between day and night (the diurnal temperature variation). (Wikipedia Definition - more information here)

Earth's Atmosphere

How do volcanoes form? PLATE TECTONICS

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