INTRODUCTION
Without our atmosphere, there would be no life on earth. Two gases make up the bulk of the earth's atmosphere: nitrogen (78%), and oxygen (21%). Argon, carbon dioxide and various trace gases make up the remainder.
Scientists divided the atmosphere into four layers according to temperature: troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere. The temperature drops as we go up through the troposphere, but it rises as we move through the next layer, the stratosphere. The farther away from earth, the thinner the atmosphere gets.
| Label the Earth's Atmosphere Label the layers of the Earth's atmosphere using the terms below. |
More Astronomy Activities More on the Atmosphere |
| Exosphere - the outermost layer of the Earth's atmosphere, where atmospheric pressure and temperature are low. Ionosphere - the atmospheric layer between the mesosphere and the exosphere; it is part of the thermosphere. Mesosphere - the atmospheric layer between the stratosphere and the ionosphere. Stratosphere - the atmospheric layer between the troposphere and the mesosphere. The stratosphere is characterized by a slight temperature increase with altitude and by the absence of clouds. Thermosphere - the layer of the atmosphere located above part of the ionosphere (starting at the coldest part of the atmosphere) and below outer space; it consists of the exosphere and part of the ionosphere. Troposphere - the lowest layer of the Earth's atmosphere. The weather and clouds occur in the troposphere. |
At the end of this you will create your own visual chart showing the layers of the atmosphere.
You will be guided by some websites for you to accomplish the task.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/earth/Atmosphere.shtml
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/science/atmosphere-layers2.html
http://ds9.ssl.berkeley.edu/LWS_GEMS/3/layers.htm
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/activities/label/atmosphere/
| Points | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Graph |
All information on the graph/table is accurate |
There are 1-2 errors in the graph/table |
There are up to 3-4 errors in the graph/table |
There are 5-6 erros in the graph/table |
There are 7-9 errors in the graph/table |
There are 10+ erros in the graph/table |
| Graph |
All information on the graph/table is fully complete |
There are 1-2 empty blanks in the graph/table |
There are up to 3-4 blanks in the graph/table |
There are 5-6 blanks in the graph/table |
There are 7-9 blanks in the graph/table |
There are 10+ blanks on the graph/table |
| Journal |
All 5 Journal Questions are answered fully |
4 Questions are answered fully |
3 Questions are answered fully | 2 Questions are answered fully | 1 Question is answered fully | 0 Questions are answered fully |
| Journal |
All responses are correct, relevent, and show the student has mastered the content |
1 Question is answered with incorrect, invalid information |
2 Questions are answered with incorrect, invalid information | 3 Questions are answered with incorrect, invalid information | 4 Questions are answered with incorrect, invalid information | All 5 Questions are answered with incorrect, invalid information |
| Timeliness |
Assignment is turned in on time |
Assignment is 1 day late |
Assignment is 2 days late | Assignment is 3 days late | Assignment is 4 days late | Assignment is 5+ days late |
Layers of the Atmosphere
Troposphere
The troposphere starts at the Earth's surface and extends 8 to 14.5 kilometers high (5 to 9 miles). This part of the atmosphere is the most dense. Almost all weather is in this region.
Stratosphere
The stratosphere starts just above the troposphere and extends to 50 kilometers (31 miles) high. The ozone layer, which absorbs and scatters the solar ultraviolet radiation, is in this layer.
Mesosphere
The mesosphere starts just above the stratosphere and extends to 85 kilometers (53 miles) high. Meteors burn up in this layer
Thermosphere
The thermosphere starts just above the mesosphere and extends to 600 kilometers (372 miles) high. Aurora and satellites occur in this layer.
Ionosphere
The ionosphere is an abundant layer of electrons and ionized atoms and molecules that stretches from about 48 kilometers (30 miles) above the surface to the edge of space at about 965 km (600 mi), overlapping into the mesosphere and thermosphere. This dynamic region grows and shrinks based on solar conditions and divides further into the sub-regions: D, E and F; based on what wavelength of solar radiation is absorbed. The ionosphere is a critical link in the chain of Sun-Earth interactions. This region is what makes radio communications possible.
Exosphere
This is the upper limit of our atmosphere. It extends from the top of the thermosphere up to 10,000 km (6,200 mi).
You may watch this video :) Click the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlDqJUjh38Q
This webquest was created by Jean R. Hernandez a fourth year Bachelor of Secondary Education with the help of our Instructor Mrs. Catherine O. Dudas, for the fulfillment of the requirements in our subject Educational Technology II.
Thank you for visiting, I hoped you enjoy :)