The document describes the four main layers of Earth's atmosphere - the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere. It provides details on the temperature and characteristics of each layer, including how temperature varies with altitude and key phenomena that occur within each atmospheric region. The troposphere extends to around 9 miles high and contains most of the atmosphere. Above this is the stratosphere, where temperature increases with altitude due to ozone absorption of solar radiation. Higher up are the mesosphere, where temperature decreases, and the thermosphere, where temperature again increases with the beautiful colors of the northern lights occurring in this layer.

1. THE EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE:
Atmospheric Layers
SOL 6.6

2. Onions have layers. Ogres have
layers.
• The Earth’s
atmosphere has
LAYERS!
• Earth’s
atmosphere is
made up of
layers that have
distinct
characteristics.

3. These layers are the…
• troposphere,
• the stratosphere,
• the mesosphere,
• and the thermosphere.

4. Let’s find out where these layers
are located in relation to the
Earth’s surface and how they
are affected by temperature.

5. Troposphere
• The
troposphere is
the lowest layer
of the
atmosphere that
lies next to the
Earth’s surface.

6. Troposphere
• Most of the
air that
makes up
the
atmosphere
is found in
the
troposphere.

7. Troposphere
• It extends to about
14 kilometers
(around 9 miles)
above the Earth
• and is where
virtually all weather
takes place.

8. Troposphere
• As you move up
into the
troposphere the
temperature
decreases.
• At the top of this
layer the air
temperature is
about - 60°C
(-76° F).

9. Stratosphere
• The
stratosphere
begins at the
top of the
troposphere
(14 km/
9 miles) and
extends to
about 50
kilometers (31
miles) above
the surface of
the Earth.

10. Stratosphere
• As you move up
into the
stratosphere the
air temperature
actually
increases.

11. Stratosphere
• This occurs because
of ozone.
• Ozone is a gas that
absorbs solar
radiation and releases
it as heat.
• The stratospheric or
"good" ozone protects
life on Earth from the
sun's harmful
ultraviolet (UV) rays.

13. Stratosphere
• The ozone
layer/
ozonosphere
is located at
the bottom of
the
stratosphere.

14. Mesosphere
• The mesosphere
begins at about 50
kilometers (31 miles)
above the Earth’s
surface and extends
to 80 kilometers (50
miles).

15. Mesosphere
• As you move up into
the mesosphere, the
air temperature
decreases.
• Temperatures at the
top of this layer can
drop to -90°C
(- 130°F ).

16. Mesosphere
• Interestingly, this
layer also protects the
Earth.
• Meteoroids entering
Earth’s atmosphere
usually burn up in the
mesosphere.

17. Thermosphere
• The
thermosphere
is the
outermost layer
of the Earth’s
atmosphere.

18. Thermosphere
• It begins at 80
km (50 miles)
above the Earth
and extends
outward into
space.
• Sometimes the
thermosphere
and exosphere
are listed as
separate
layers.

19. Thermosphere
• The higher you move
in this layer, the
higher the
temperature.
• Temperatures in the
thermosphere can
reach 1,800°C
(3,300°F)!

20. Thermosphere
• The beautiful colors of
the aurora borealis or
northern lights occur
in this atmospheric
layer.

21. Thermosphere
• This is
also
where the
space
shuttle
orbits the
Earth!

22. Thermosphere

23. Thermosphere
• The ionosphere is found at the bottom of
the thermosphere (close to the
mesosphere).
• The exosphere is located at the top of the
thermosphere.

28. Mr. Lee’s Layers of the Atmosphere Song

29. • The Earth’s Atmosphere: Atmospheric Layers
• Earth’s atmosphere is made up of layers that have distinct characteristics. These layers are the
troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, and the thermosphere. Let’s find out where
these layers are located in relation to the Earth’s surface and how they are affected by
temperature.
• The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere that lies next to the Earth’s surface. Most
of the air that makes up the atmosphere is found in the troposphere. It extends to about 14
kilometers above the Earth and is where virtually all weather takes place. As you move up into
the troposphere the temperature decreases. At the top of this layer the air temperature is about -
60°C.
• The stratosphere begins at the top of the troposphere and extends to about 50 kilometers above
the surface of the Earth. As you move up into the stratosphere the air temperature actually
increases. This occurs because of ozone. Ozone is a gas that absorbs solar radiation and
releases it as heat.
• The mesosphere begins at about 50 kilometers above the Earth’s surface and extends to 80
kilometers. As you move up into the mesosphere, the air temperature decreases. Temperatures
at the top of this layer can drop to -90°C. Interestingly, this layer also protects the Earth.
Meteoroids entering Earth’s atmosphere usually burn up in the mesosphere.
• The thermosphere is the outermost layer of the Earth’s atmosphere. It begins at 80 kilometers
above the Earth and extends outward into space. The higher you move in this layer, the higher
the temperature. Temperatures in the thermosphere can reach 1,800°C! The beautiful colors of
the aurora borealis or northern lights occur in this atmospheric layer. This is also where the
space shuttle orbits the Earth!

31. Onions have layers. Ogres have
layers.
• The Earth’s
atmosphere has
LAYERS!
• Earth’s atmosphere is
made up of layers
that have distinct
characteristics.