Troposphere
True or False: 75% of all of the air in the atmosphere is located in the Troposphere.
True.
True or false, the Mesosphere is above the Troposphere.
False, it is the third layer from the ground of the atmosphere, not the 2nd.
True or False: Air is thinner in the stratosphere than the troposphere.
True.
True or False: There is a definite end to the Exosphere.
False. This layer is the uppermost layer of our atmosphere, and gradually fades into outer space. There is even some debate as to whether the exosphere should truly be considered part of our atmosphere, as there are so few particles of air in it.
I am the lowest layer of the atmosphere. I contain the vast majority of mass in the atmosphere.
Troposphere
True or False: Weather originates in the Troposphere, but also exists in the Stratosphere since about 24% of air exists in the stratosphere.
False. All of the water vapor in the atmosphere is located in the Troposphere, and as a result all weather phenomena occurs there... not in the stratosphere. You cannot have clouds or precipitation without water.
True or false: the Mesosphere has the coldest temperatures of any layer.
True. There are very few molecules of air in the mesosphere, and as a result nothing to absorb the Sun's energy.
True or False: The Stratosphere contains the ozone layer.
True. The stratosphere is very important to humans for this reason, as the ozone layer is critical in the absorbtion of the sun's ultraviolet rays (UV). The ozone layer is in the lower stratosphere.
The thermosphere is the layer of the atmosphere with the highest temperatures. Why is this so?
The layer receives a tremendous amount of energy from the Sun rays. Temperatures can reach above 1000 degrees Celsius.
I am the highest layer in the atmosphere. I have no definite boundaries, and am often considered to be part of outer space.
Exosphere.
Where is the Troposphere the thickest?
The troposphere is the thickest in the Equatorial regions, and thinnest at the polar regions. It is around 13 km (8 miles) thick near the equator and 10 km (6 miles) thick near the poles.
Despite not having very many air molecules, explain how our upper layers of the atmosphere are able to break up meteors before they reach Earth.
They are able to break up the meteors as a result of friction, a force which heats the meteoroids to the point that they catch fire and break apart. Only very large meteors reach the stratosphere or troposphere.
Describe what happens to the temperature of the stratosphere as you gain altitude (elevation)
Temperatures rise as you go upwards in the stratosphere. The higher from Earth, the more ultraviolet light is absorbed, resulting in higher temperatures.
True or False: The majority of meteors are burnt up in the Thermosphere.
False. While the Mesosphere is often the final place that meteoroids burn up, many meteoroids do not survive the friction generated in the thermosphere. Still, most meteors burn up in the mesosphere.
I am the hottest layer of the atmosphere, though there are so few air molecules here..
Thermosphere
As you rise up in the Troposphere, explain what happens to the temperature.
For every mile you rise up, the temperature of the troposphere drops around 10 degrees oC (18 oF).
Why is it very cold in the Mesosphere?
There are so few particles to absorb the Sun's rays, that very little energy is contained in this layer of the atmosphere.
Explain why airplanes benefit from flying in the stratosphere vs. the troposphere.
There is less friction, as the air is thinner. As a result, they are able to fly faster using less fuel.
Approximately how thick is the thermosphere?
50 - 250 miles ~ 200 miles thick.
I contain the Ozone layer. Humans rarely interact with me directly, unless they are flying in a large jet airplane.
The stratosphere.
Why does the temperature of the Troposphere vary as you move up?
The Troposphere is affected by the thermal radiation of the ground. Because the ground absorbs some of the Sun's energy, it is also able to release some of this energy as heat. This warms the air, resulting in higher temperatures depending on how much heat is being sent upwards from the ground. As you move upwards, less heat reaches you.
Approximately how thick is the Mesosphere?
20 miles: (50 - 30) miles.
Describe the Greenhouse Effect in detail, and explain how the Stratosphere plays a pivotal role in this process.
The Greenhouse Effect limits the amount of the Sun's energy than enters and is released from Earth. As a result, the Earth's surface temperature is regulated and does not become too hot or too cold. The stratosphere is important because it contains the Ozone layer, which is a thin layer of a gas (ozone - O3) that absorbs much of the Sun's UV rays.
I am the third layer of the atmosphere from the ground. I am the coldest layer, because I have so few air particles to absorb energy.
The mesosphere.