Earth's Atmosphere

Summary

This video explores the five layers of Earth's atmosphere, beginning with the Troposphere, which supports life and weather. It then dives into the Stratosphere, home to the ozone layer, and the Mesosphere, where meteors burn up. The Thermosphere, known for extreme temperatures and the auroras, follows, and lastly, the Exosphere, a thin layer merging with outer space. The atmosphere is primarily made of nitrogen and oxygen, and fascinating facts about phenomena like auroras and the Ionosphere are shared. This engaging explanation sheds light on the science behind the Earth's atmosphere.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Earth's atmosphere is composed of 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, 1% Argon, 0.04% Carbon Dioxide, and small amounts of Neon, Helium, Methane, Krypton, Hydrogen, and Water Vapor.
• 😀 The Earth’s atmosphere has five distinct layers: the Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, and Exosphere.
• 😀 The Troposphere is the layer closest to Earth's surface, about 4 to 12 miles thick, and contains half of the atmosphere's mass. It supports life and weather patterns.
• 😀 As you go higher in the Troposphere, the temperature decreases, and water vapor and dust are trapped, aiding cloud formation.
• 😀 The Stratosphere, extending up to 31 miles, contains the ozone layer, which absorbs harmful UV radiation from the Sun.
• 😀 The Stratosphere is very dry, with air about 1000 times thinner than at sea level, which allows jet aircraft to fly through it.
• 😀 The Mesosphere, starting at 31 miles and ending at about 53 miles, is the coldest layer of the atmosphere, with temperatures dropping to nearly minus 130°F.
• 😀 Meteors burn up in the Mesosphere due to friction and momentum, creating the light seen as shooting stars.
• 😀 The Thermosphere begins at around 56 miles and can reach temperatures of up to 4500°F, making it significantly hotter than the Mesosphere.
• 😀 The Thermosphere hosts the International Space Station and is known for the Auroras Borealis and Australis, which are caused by solar particle collisions with atoms in the atmosphere.
• 😀 The Exosphere, the outermost layer, is the thinnest and merges into space, composed mainly of hydrogen and helium. It has very low air density, making it inhospitable for humans.

Q & A

What percentage of Earth's atmosphere is nitrogen?

78% of Earth's atmosphere is nitrogen.

Which layer of Earth's atmosphere is closest to the surface?

The Troposphere is the layer closest to Earth's surface.

What is the main purpose of the ozone layer in the Stratosphere?

The ozone layer absorbs harmful radiation from the sun, protecting the Earth's surface.

Why is the Mesosphere so difficult to study?

The Mesosphere is hard to study because jets cannot travel that high and satellites or space shuttles cannot stay in that layer for long.

At what temperature can the Mesopause reach in the Mesosphere?

The Mesopause in the Mesosphere can reach temperatures as low as minus 130 degrees Fahrenheit.

What phenomenon occurs in the Thermosphere, and how is it created?

The Auroras Borealis and Australis occur in the Thermosphere, created when particles and atoms in space collide and release energy in the form of light.

What is the main component of the Exosphere?

The Exosphere mainly consists of hydrogen and helium.

Why can't humans breathe in the Exosphere?

In the Exosphere, the air density is so low that it is not considered gaseous, and even if you could, the freezing temperatures would make it impossible for humans to breathe.

What is the Ionosphere, and how is it created?

The Ionosphere is a layer that overlaps the Mesosphere, Thermosphere, and Exosphere. It is made up of electrically charged ions created by the interaction of the sun's solar radiation with the gases in this layer.

How thick is the Troposphere?

The Troposphere is between four to 12 miles thick.