Vocabulary
The _________ is a mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth.
atmosphere
Name 3 gases in the atmosphere
nitrogen / oxygen / carbon dioxide
What is the name of the uppermost layer of the atmosphere?
Thermosphere
The measure of the force with which air molecules push on a surface is called ____ __________.
air pressure
What layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer?
stratosphere
Why does it feel cold in the thermosphere, even though the temperature might be very high?
Due to the density of particles that transfer energy as heat is very low
troposphere / mesosphere / thermosphere / stratosphere
As altitude increases, air pressure __________.
decreases
What would happen to life on Earth if the ozone layer was not present?
Life (as we know it) would no longer exist because there is no longer protection from harmful solar radiation and no greenhouse effect to keep the Earth warm.
Earth is protected from harmful solar radiation by the ______ _______.
ozone layer
What layer of the atmosphere contains almost 80% of the atmosphere's total mass?
troposphere
What would the Earth be like without the atmosphere?
It would be cold due to a lack of greenhouse gases and every living thing would cease to exist.
The _____________ _________ is the process by which gases in the atmosphere absorb and reradiate heat.
greenhouse effect
How and why does air pressure change with altitude in the atmosphere?
Why would increased levels of greenhouse gases contribute to higher temperatures on Earth?
Greenhouse gases absorb energy, which is radiated through the atmosphere to warm Earth; if the amount of greenhouse gases increases, this would cause increased warming of Earth.