Question

discuss the structure of the atmosphere along with the diagram

Answer 1

The Atmosphere is divided into layers according to major changes in temperature. Gravity pushes the layers of air down on the earth's surface. This push is called air pressure. 99% of the total mass of the atmosphere is below 32 kilometers.

Troposphere - 0 to 12 km - Contains 75% of the gases in the atmosphere. This is where you live and where weather occurs. As height increases, temperature decreases. The temperature drops about 6.5 degrees Celsius for every kilometer above the earth's surface.

Tropopause - located at the top of the troposhere. The temperature remains fairly constant here. This layer separates the troposphere from the stratosphere. We find the jet stream here. These are very strong winds that blow eastward.


Stratosphere - 12 to 50 km - in the lower part of the stratosphere. The temperature remains fairly constant (-60 degrees Celsius). This layer contains the ozone layer. Ozone acts as a shield for in the earth's surface. It absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the sun. This causes a temperature increase in the upper part of the layer.


Mesophere - 50 to 80 km - in the lower part of the stratosphere. The temperature drops in this layer to about -100 degrees Celsius. This is the coldest region of the atmosphere. This layer protects the earth from meteoroids. They burn up in this area.


Thermosphere - 80 km and up - The air is very thin. Thermosphere means "heat sphere". The temperature is very high in this layer because ultraviolet radiation is turned into heat. Temperatures often reach 2000 degrees Celsius or more.

Answer 2

The Structure of the Atmosphere - The Atmosphere can be divided into layers according to major changes in temperature. Due to the force of gravity most of the earth's gases, in fact 99% can be found in the botom 32km.

The Troposphere is 0 to 12 km and contains 75% of the gases in the atmosphere. This is the most unstable of layers and where our weather occurs. As height increases, temperature decreases. The temperature drops about 6.5 degrees celsius for every kilometer above the earth's surface. However, this is an average and significantly varies from place to place.

The Tropopause is a thin band located at the top of the troposphere that separates the troposphere from the stratosphere. The temperature remains fairly constant here. It is within the tropopause that we find the jet stream.

The stratosphere is 12 to 50 km. The temperature remains fairly constant (-60 degrees Celsius) in the lower part of stratopshere. This is largely because of ozone. Ozone absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the sun and this causes a temperature increase in the upper part of the layer.

The Stratopause is again a thin layer of homogenous atmosphere that separates the stratosphere from the mesosphere

The mesosphere is 50 to 80 km. This is the coldest region of the atmosphere as the temperature drops in this layer to about -100 degrees celsius. It is this layer of the atmosphere where meteorites burn up on entry. At the top of the mesosphere is the uniform mesopause.

The thermosphere begins at 80 km and extends to many hundreds of kilometers up. The air is very thin. Meaning "heat sphere", the temperature is very high in this layer because ultraviolet radiation is absorbed and turned into heat by ozone and other gases elements. Temperatures often reach 2000 degrees celsius or more. This layer can be further subdivided into:


The Ionosphere - This is the lower part of the thermosphere, extending from about 80 to 550 km. Gas particles absorb ultraviolet and X-ray radiation from the sun. The particles of gas become electrically charged (ions). Here, radio waves are bounced off the ions and reflect waves back to earth. This generally helps radio communication.


Exosphere - the upper part of the thermosphere. It extends from about 550 km for thousands of kilometers. The air is very thin here and this is the area where satellites orbit the earth.