The Atmosphere: Section 1

_____ - thin layer of air that protects the Earth's surface from extreme temperatures and harmful Sun rays.

Atmospheric makeup - mixture of gases, _____, and liquids.

Early atmosphere was much different than today.

Volcanoes produced nitrogen and carbon dioxide, but little _____.

Early atmosphere was much different than today.

More than 2 billion years ago, _____ _____ began producing oxygen.

Early atmosphere was much different than today.

Eventually oxygen formed an _____ layer that protected Earth from harmful rays.

Early atmosphere was much different than today.

_____ plants and diverse life forms developed.

Atmospheric _____ include nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), carbon dioxide, water vapor, and argon.

The atmosphere is changing with the introduction of _____:  increasing human energy use is increasing the amount of _____ _____.

_____ mix with oxygen and other chemicals to form _____.

_____ include dust, salt, and pollen.

_____ include water droplets and droplets from volcanoes.

There are _____ main layers of the atmosphere.

Lower Layers

Lowest layer, where humans live, is the _____, which extends about 10 km up, and contains most of the _____ _____ and _____.

Lower Layers

Extending from 10 km to 50 km above Earth, the _____ contains ozone.

Upper Layers

_____, which has the coldest air temperature, extends from 50 km to 85 km and is the layer in which meteors are visible.

Upper Layers

Thickest part of atmosphere is from 85 km to 500 km and is called the _____ for its high temperatures.

Upper Layers

Within the mesosphere and thermosphere is a layer of charged particles called the _____ that can help carry radio waves.

Upper Layers

_____ is the outer layer of atmosphere in which the space shuttle flies;  it has very few molecules.

_____ _____ - molecules closer to the surface are more densely packed (at higher pressure) than those higher in the atmosphere because of the mass of gases pressing down from higher in the atmosphere.

Temperature in atmospheric layers.

The troposphere is warmed primarily by the Earth's surface;  temperature _____ as altitude increases in this layer.

Temperature in atmospheric layers.

Temperatures _____ as altitude increases in the stratosphere, particularly the upper portion because ozone absorbs energy from the Sun

Temperature in atmospheric layers.

Temperatures _____ with altitude in the mesosphere.

Temperature in atmospheric layers.

Thermosphere and exosphere are the first to receive the Sun's rays, so they are very _____.

The _____ _____ is about 19 km to 48 km above Earth in the stratosphere.  This layer of 3-atom oxygen molecules (0₃) protects the Earth from the Sun's harmful _____ _____.

Ozone Layer

Life on Earth, as we know it, _____ on it.

Ozone Layer

Pollutants called __________ (CFCs) are destroying the ozone layer.

Ozone Layer

CFCs are used in _____, air conditioners, aerosol sprays, and foam packaging.

Ozone Layer

If these products develop a leak, CFCs can enter the _____.

The ozone layer has a large hole over _____ and a small one over the _____ _____.