The Atmosphere and its Layers
The Atmosphere
(Physical Science E-Book. Pearson Prentice Hall)
Modified by: Ezrel M. Alucilja
Guide Questions
How does the atmosphere affect conditions on Earth?
What is Earth's atmosphere composed of?
How do pressure and density vary with altitude?
What are the characteristics of the major layers of the atmosphere?
Important Terms atmosphere air pressure barometer troposphere weather stratosphere ozone layer mesosphere thermosphere ionosphere aurora
At 8848 meters (29,030 feet) above sea level, Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world. In 1952 Edmund Hillary, a New Zealand mountaineer, and Tenzing Norgay, a mountain guide from Nepal, became the first humans to reach the top. The climb was very dangerous for several reasons, including the extremely low temperature and low level of oxygen at the summit. When they finally made it to the top, the two men cheered and embraced. Then Hillary did something to prove a point—he took off his oxygen mask. He wanted to show that a person could stay alive while breathing naturally at that high altitude. But after a few minutes, his vision began to fail. When Hillary replaced his mask, his vision improved. Then the two men started back down the mountain.
Why did Hillary and Tenzing need to carry oxygen to the top of Mount Everest? And why was it so cold there? The answers to these questions depend on how the air around Earth changes with altitude.
Earth's Protective Layer
What you commonly call air, scientists call the atmosphere. The atmosphere (at muh sfeer) is the layer of gases that surrounds Earth. The atmosphere forms a protective boundary between Earth and space and provides conditions that are suitable for life. The atmosphere protects Earth's surface from continual pounding by meteoroids, chunks of rock and metal from space. The atmosphere also protects Earth from much of the high-energy radiation from space.
The atmosphere holds in heat and helps to moderate Earth's
(Physical Science E-Book. Pearson Prentice Hall)
Modified by: Ezrel M. Alucilja
Guide Questions
How does the atmosphere affect conditions on Earth?
What is Earth's atmosphere composed of?
How do pressure and density vary with altitude?
What are the characteristics of the major layers of the atmosphere?
Important Terms atmosphere air pressure barometer troposphere weather stratosphere ozone layer mesosphere thermosphere ionosphere aurora
At 8848 meters (29,030 feet) above sea level, Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world. In 1952 Edmund Hillary, a New Zealand mountaineer, and Tenzing Norgay, a mountain guide from Nepal, became the first humans to reach the top. The climb was very dangerous for several reasons, including the extremely low temperature and low level of oxygen at the summit. When they finally made it to the top, the two men cheered and embraced. Then Hillary did something to prove a point—he took off his oxygen mask. He wanted to show that a person could stay alive while breathing naturally at that high altitude. But after a few minutes, his vision began to fail. When Hillary replaced his mask, his vision improved. Then the two men started back down the mountain.
Why did Hillary and Tenzing need to carry oxygen to the top of Mount Everest? And why was it so cold there? The answers to these questions depend on how the air around Earth changes with altitude.
Earth's Protective Layer
What you commonly call air, scientists call the atmosphere. The atmosphere (at muh sfeer) is the layer of gases that surrounds Earth. The atmosphere forms a protective boundary between Earth and space and provides conditions that are suitable for life. The atmosphere protects Earth's surface from continual pounding by meteoroids, chunks of rock and metal from space. The atmosphere also protects Earth from much of the high-energy radiation from space.
The atmosphere holds in heat and helps to moderate Earth's