troposphere
What is the troposphere?
It's the layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth where all the weather happens.
What is the most important thing in the stratosphere?
The stratosphere contains the very important ozone layer. This layer acts like a protective shield, soaking up most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.
What does the mesosphere do for us?
The mesosphere is like a shield for Earth because it burns up most of the meteors (or "shooting stars") that enter our atmosphere, stopping them from hitting the ground.
Why is the thermosphere called "thermo"?
The word "thermo" means heat. The thermosphere is the hottest layer of the Earth's atmosphere, with temperatures that can reach over 2,000 degrees Celsius (3,600 degrees Fahrenheit).
What is the exosphere?
The exosphere is the outermost layer of Earth's atmosphere, the very edge of the air around our planet that blends into outer space.
Why is the troposphere important?
It's important because it has the air we breathe, holds all the water for the water cycle, and is where weather takes place.
How does the temperature change in the stratosphere?
As you go higher up in the stratosphere, the temperature gets warmer, not colder. This happens because the ozone layer absorbs the Sun's heat.
Where is the mesosphere located?
The mesosphere is the third layer of Earth's atmosphere, found above the stratosphere (where planes fly) and below the thermosphere.
How hot does it actually get in the thermosphere?
It can get very hot, with temperatures rising to about 1,500 degrees Celsius (2,700 degrees Fahrenheit) or more.
What is the exosphere made of?
It's mostly made of very light gases like hydrogen and helium, but they are spread out so far apart that it's mostly empty space.
What kind of weather happens in the troposphere?
Clouds, wind, rain, snow, and even storms like thunderstorms and hurricanes happen in the troposphere.
What is the stratosphere and where is it located?
The stratosphere is the second layer of Earth's atmosphere, sitting above the troposphere (where weather happens) and below the mesosphere. It's the layer where airplanes fly.
Is the mesosphere hot or cold?
It's actually the coldest layer of the atmosphere! The temperature gets colder the higher you go in the mesosphere, and it can get as low as -130°F or -90°C.
What is special about the air in the thermosphere?
Even though it's hot, the air molecules in the thermosphere are very far apart, like they're a kilometer apart. Because there are so few molecules, you would actually feel very cold if you were in the thermosphere.
Why is the exosphere important for satellites?
Satellites, like those used for phones and TV, orbit in the exosphere because there's very little air to push against them, which helps them keep moving without slowing down too much.
What gases are in the troposphere?
The most common gases are nitrogen and oxygen, plus small amounts of other gases.
What is special about the stratosphere's temperature?
Unlike the troposphere, the stratosphere gets warmer the higher you go. This happens because the ozone layer in the stratosphere absorbs energy from the sun.
What is a cool thing that happens in the mesosphere?
Sometimes, special "noctilucent" or "night-shining" clouds can be seen in the mesosphere, especially near the North and South Poles.
What is a cool thing that happens in the thermosphere?
The thermosphere is where we see the beautiful aurora borealis (Northern Lights) and aurora australis (Southern Lights)!
Is the exosphere hot or cold?
Even though the exosphere is the first layer to feel the sun's heat, you would feel cold there because it's so thin. There are so few gas particles that there's nothing to hold the heat, and there's no air to breathe.
Where is the troposphere the thickest?
It's thickest over the equator and thinnest at the poles.
What is the ozone layer and why is it important?
The ozone layer is a part of the stratosphere that is made of ozone gas. It's super important because it acts like a shield, blocking most of the harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and protecting life on Earth.
What makes a "shooting star" happen in the mesosphere?
When a meteor enters the mesosphere, the gases in the air create friction, which causes the meteor to burn up and create the bright streak we call a "shooting star".
What kind of objects orbit the Earth in the thermosphere?
Satellites that orbit the Earth, which we use for things like phone signals and weather forecasting, are found in the thermosphere and its upper layer, the exosphere.
Where does the exosphere end?
The exosphere doesn't have a sharp, clear end. It's the part of the atmosphere that just fades away into outer space.