Structure:
The Earth is divided into four layers that are separate due to major temperature changes between them. The four layers are:
- troposphere
- stratosphere
- mesosphere
- thermosphere
The first layer is the
troposphere. All the weathering that happens on Earth is due to the
troposphere. It is the closest layer to the planet, it contains most of the atmospheric water vapor. Did you know
The word troposphere derives from the Greek: tropos for "change" reflecting the fact thatturbulent mixing plays an important role in the troposphere's structure and behavior. Most of the phenomena we associate with day-to-day weather occur in the troposphere, wow I did not know that. "Troposphere." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 19 May 2013. Web. 24 May
The second layer is the
stratosphere. The
stratosphere is stratified in temperature which is cooler higher up and warmer father down. The temperature increases as altitude increases, it contains nearly 19% of the atmospheric gasses. Did you know
The stratosphere is very important for the preservation of animal life on the Earth. It contains Ozone in abundant quantity at its lower level i.e., 9.3 to 22 miles (15 to 35 kilometers). Ozone layer absorbs the skin cancer causing, ultraviolet radiations and thus, protects the life on the Earth. Ozone reacts with the ultraviolet rays and gives out heat, which warms the upper layers of the stratosphere. The stratopause which lies between 31 to 34 miles (50 to 55 kilometers) above the surface of the Earth, separates the stratosphere and the mesosphere. Awesome right? Kanade, Shrinivas. Buzzle.com. Buzzle.com, 17 Dec. 2011. Web. 24 May 2013.
This picture is of a space shuttle Endeavour that appears to straddle the
stratosphere and
mesosphere, the orange layer is the
troposphere.
The third layer is the
mesosphere. The higher up you get up into the
mesosphere the colder the temperature gets. Most of the meteors from space burn up in this layer. Fun fact:
Night glow
Ever seen the sky properly at night? You will find that it never becomes completely dark. This is due to a 5 km deep sodium layer. This layer is located just below the mesopause and is made up of unbound non-ionized atoms of sodium. This sodium layer forms the nightglow. The nightglow or airglow is the light emitted from the earth's upper atmosphere, the mesosphere. Cool huh?
A, Deeptee. Buzzle.com. Buzzle.com, 12 June 2012. Web. 24 May 2013.
The forth and final layer is the
thermosphere. The
thermosphere absorbs deadly radiation from space and only allows the safe radiation energy to power life on Earth. Fun fact: it is where weather is made and it is the closest atmosphere in the whole universe.
Did you know The name thermosphere comes from the Greek word for heat, because temperatures in the thermosphere can reach more than 1,000 degrees Celsius, huh I never knew that. "Thermosphere: Importance, Facts, and Resources." The Free Resource RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2013.
The atmosphere has changed over time due to global warming and the increase of CO2.
