1. THE ATMOSPHERE
Elizabeth Makgakga (201203550)

2. COMPOSITION OF THE ATMOSPHERE

3. Layers of the
Atmosphere

4. Layers of the Atmosphere

The atmosphere is the layer of gases that surrounds the
planet and makes conditions on Earth suitable for living
things.

5. Layers of the Atmosphere
Space
Exosphere
Thermosphere
Mesosphere
Stratosphere (Ozone Layer)
Troposphere (Weather, Life)
Earth’s Surface

6. Layers of the Atmosphere

The troposphere is where all the weather occurs.

It is the closest layer to Earth’s surface.

It is the layer we live in.

7. Layers of the Atmosphere

The stratosphere is located directly above the
troposphere.

This is where the ozone layer is.

8. Layers of the atmosphere
In the Mesosphere:

This is the COLDEST layer in the
atmosphere.
Altitude
Temperature

9. Layers of the atmosphere
In the thermosphere:

Even though the air is thin in the
thermosphere, it is very HOT.
Altitude
Temperature

10. Layers of the atmosphere

Ionosphere or Termosphere


Aurora borealis and aurora australis (Northern and
Southern lights) are produced here
Exosphere

The last layer
 Very
very few air molecules in this
layer
 No
clear boundary between this layer
and space

13. Atmospheric pressure

The pressure air exerts on a surface.

Where is it higher, at sea level or at the top of a mountain?

14. Low and high pressure areas

15. Air moves from high pressures
areas to low pressure areas

16.  Climate:
 is the average weather in a place over many years.

While the weather can change in just a few hours, climate takes hundreds,
thousands, even millions of years to change.

17. Factors affecting climate are:

Latitude. How far North or South a place is from the equator.
Longitude. The East or west position of a point on the Earth´s surface.

18. 
Distance from the sea. Coastal areas have milder weather than inland
areas.

Ocean currents.

19. Meteorological instruments
 Thermometer:
 measures
A
the air temperature.
BAROMETER:
 measures
air pressure.
 It tells you whether or not the pressure is rising or
falling.
 A rising barometer means sunny and dry conditions,
while a falling barometer means stormy and wet
conditions.
 An Italian scientist named Torricelli built the first
barometer in 1643.

21. 
Anemometer

measures wind speed.
Weather vane/ Wind vane:

determines the direction from which
the wind is blowing.

22. 
Hygrometer



measures the water vapor content of air.
The humidity.
Pluviometer

the amount of rain that has fallen over a
specific time period.

23. Atmospheric Gases
Nitrogen 78.1% & Oxygen 12.9%

These are the two most common gases found in the
atmosphere.

They can be found throughout all the layers.

24. Atmospheric Gases
Ozone

Ozone is a form of oxygen

It is only found in the stratosphere

25. Atmospheric Gases
Water Vapor & Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

These are important gases for weather conditions.

They are found in the troposphere where weather occurs.
Trace Gases

These gases are unimportant and found in small amounts throughout
the layers of the atmosphere.

Example: argon

26. Solar Energy

Energy from the Sun is known as Solar Energy.

Solar energy is the driving energy source for heating
Earth, and circulation in Earth’s atmosphere.

27. Solar Energy

Some of the Sun’s energy coming through Earth’s
atmosphere is reflected by gases and/or clouds in the
atmosphere.

28. Solar Energy

The land heats up and releases its heat fairly quickly.

Water needs to absorb lots of solar energy to warm up.

It is the water on Earth that helps to regulate the
temperature range of Earth’s atmosphere.

29. Solar Energy

Solar energy that is absorbed by Earth’s land and water
surfaces is changed to heat that moves/radiates back
into the atmosphere (troposphere) where the heat
cannot be transmitted through the atmosphere so it is
trapped, a process known as the greenhouse effect.

30. references

This presentation is a mashup of three different sources:

Jones ,m .(2013).Layers of the atmosphere.
http
://www.slideshare.net/CPGroupMike/layers-of-the-atmosphere-14376795?qid=5d4c50a2-01bc-4e14-ac40-58bfd
from_search=4 assessed on 07/03/2014
Mihayedo , S. p.(2013).The atmosphere.
http://www.slideshare.net/mihayedo/the-atmosphere-1-eso?qid=56e20225-b63c419b-a47c-43c2461d51ba&v=qf1&b=&from_search=3 assessed on 07/03/2014
Mixhlela, G.O.(2013).Layer of the atmosphere.
http://www.slideshare.net/mixhiela/layer-of-the-atmosphere?qid=56e20225b63c-419b-a47c-43c2461d51ba&v=qf1&b=&from_search=31 assessed on
07/03/2014