Atmospheric Layers

mi (km)
above
sea level

Exosphere

250 (400)

Thermosphere

Ionosphere

50 (80)

Mesosphere
30 (50)
Ozone Layer

Stratosphere
7 (12)

Troposphere
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Atmospheric Layers
Earths atmosphere is held in place by gravity. The atmosphere protects life
on the planet by absorbing ultraviolet radiation and by regulating temperature.
There is no exact place where Earths atmosphere ends. Instead, it just gets
gradually thinner and thinner (less dense) until it merges with outer space where it
consists mostly of interplanetary gases such as hydrogen and helium.
The troposphere is the atmospheric layer closest to the earth. It is often
referred to as the lower atmosphere. This layer holds the most dense composition
of gases and molecules. Almost all of our weather is created within the troposphere.
The stratosphere is just above the troposphere, starting at an average altitude
of about 7 miles above sea level. The air here is more dry and less dense. Only the
highest clouds can be found in this layer. Aircraft often fly in the lower stratosphere to
escape the turbulence present in the troposphere. Near the top of the stratosphere
lies the ozone layer.
The mesosphere lies just above the stratosphere, ranging from about 30 to
50 miles above sea level. This layer contains chemicals which absorb energy from
the sun. Together, the stratosphere and the mesosphere are often called the middle
atmosphere.
The thermosphere lies above the mesosphere, starting at about 50 miles
above sea level. This layer is often called the upper atmosphere. Any person traveling at an altitude of more than 50 miles above sea level is considered an astronaut.
Space shuttles and some satellites orbit the Earth within this layer. The thermosphere also is the layer in which auroras take place.
The ionosphere is a name often given to the combination of the mesosphere
and the thermosphere. In both these layers, free ionic particles can be found. The
ionosphere is important because it reflects radio waves, enabling much of our longdistance communication.
The exosphere is the outermost atmospheric layer. It has no definite outer
limit, as it merges with space. Many satellites orbit the Earth within the exosphere,
usually at altitudes of from 300 to 600 miles above sea level.

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Air Composition
Ninety-nine percent of the air surrounding the Earth is found in the
troposphere and the stratosphere. This air is made up of close to four-fifths
nitrogen gas, and the rest is mostly oxygen gas. Small amounts of other gases
and molecules are found in the air we breathe. Some of these are listed below.

Oxygen
21%

Other
1%

Nitrogen
78%

Other major components of the air:

(by descending percentage)

Argon
Carbon dioxide
Neon
Helium
Methane
Krypton
Hydrogen
Water vapor (variable percentage)
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Label the Atmospheric Layers

________________

________________
________________

________________

________________
________________

________________
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Atmosphere Basics
Name at least 4 things our atmosphere does for us:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

What would happen if our atmosphere consisted of pure oxygen?

What is special about nitrogen, and what is its main function in the atmosphere?

Name at least 4 other gases in the atmosphere besides oxygen and nitrogen:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

If the atmosphere is like a greenhouse, what parts of it function as the glass?

1.
2.
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Atmosphere Basics

KEY

Name at least 4 things our atmosphere does for us:

1. supplies oxygen
2. provides pressure appropriate for bodily functions
3. protects us from meteors
4. protects us from cosmic rays
5. maintains temperature range necessary for life

What would happen if our atmosphere consisted of pure oxygen?

fires would burn out of control...

What is special about nitrogen, and what is its main function in the atmosphere?
inactive gas (uncombined); dilutes oxygen

Name at least 4 other gases in the atmosphere besides oxygen and nitrogen:
1. radon
2. argon
3. hydrogen
4. helium
5. carbon dioxide (also: neon, methane, krypton...)

If the atmosphere is like a greenhouse, what parts of it function as the glass?

1. carbon dioxide
2. water vapor
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Layers & Gases of the Atmosphere

Match each layer with its description.

_____ exosphere

A. closest to Earth, where almost all weather is created

_____ ionosphere

B. mesosphere plus thermosphere; reflects radio waves

_____ mesosphere

C. furthest from Earth; hosts the most satellites

_____ stratosphere

D. too high for aircraft, but too low for satellites

_____ thermosphere

E. hosts a few clouds and the ozone layer

_____ troposphere

F. hosts the space shuttle and some satellites

Find the atmospheric gases in the box to the right inside the puzzle. Then use the leftover
letters, in order from left to right and top to bottom, to find the hidden message.

__ __ __ __ __ __

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ : __ __ __

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.

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ARGON

METHANE

CARBON
DIOXIDE

NEON

HELIUM
HYDROGEN
KRYPTON

NITROGEN
OXYGEN
WATER
VAPOR

MESSAGE:
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ -

__ __ __ __

__ __ __ __

__ __ __

__ __ __ __
__ __ __ __ __ __ __.

KEY

Layers & Gases of the Atmosphere

Match each layer with its description.

exosphere

A. closest to Earth, where almost all weather is created

ionosphere

B. mesosphere plus thermosphere; reflects radio waves

mesosphere

C. furthest from Earth; hosts the most satellites

stratosphere

D. too high for aircraft, but too low for satellites

thermosphere

E. hosts a few clouds and the ozone layer

troposphere

F. hosts the space shuttle and some satellites

Find the atmospheric gases in the box to the right inside the puzzle. Then use the leftover
letters, in order from left to right and top to bottom, to find the hidden message.

A
H

U
M

H
A

E
E

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ARGON

METHANE

CARBON
DIOXIDE

NEON
NITROGEN

HELIUM

OXYGEN

HYDROGEN
KRYPTON

WATER
VAPOR

MESSAGE:
The mesosphere has
a nickname: the
ignorosphere.
It is the most
unknown.

The Puzzling Atmosphere

How well do you know your atmosphere?
Use the clues below to help fill in the puzzle.
1

8
9

10
11

12

13

ACROSS
5. This gas makes up close to onefourth of the air surrounding Earth.
8. There is a high concentration of this
and other metals in the mesosphere.
9. This is the third most abundant gas in
the atmosphere.
11. The churning air in the troposphere
helps determine the ____ of a place.
12. The atmosphere is composed of
five ____ .
13. The ____ layer is near the top of
the stratosphere.
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DOWN
1. This force holds Earths atmosphere
in its place.
2. This layer holds almost all of the
water vapor in the atmosphere, as
well as almost 3/4 of its mass.
3. The air in the stratosphere is less
dense and more ____ than in the
troposphere.
4. One way in which the atmosphere
helps us is by absorbing solar ____ .
6. This is the most abundant gas in air.
7. These are seen in the thermosphere.
10. This type of wave is reflected by
particles in the ionosphere.

The Puzzling Atmosphere

KEY

How well do you know your atmosphere?

Use the clues below to help fill in the puzzle.
1

G
R

V
8

R
X

N
9

10

H
M

T
11

12

I
13

ACROSS
5. This gas makes up close to onefourth of the air surrounding Earth.
8. There is a high concentration of this
and other metals in the mesosphere.
9. This is the third most abundant gas in
the atmosphere.
11. The churning air in the troposphere
helps determine the ____ of a place.
12. The atmosphere is composed of
five ____ .
13. The ____ layer is near the top of
the stratosphere.
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DOWN
1. This force holds Earths atmosphere
in its place.
2. This layer holds almost all of the
water vapor in the atmosphere, as
well as almost 3/4 of its mass.
3. The air in the stratosphere is less
dense and more ____ than in the
troposphere.
4. One way in which the atmosphere
helps us is by absorbing solar ____ .
6. This is the most abundant gas in air.
7. These are seen in the thermosphere.
10. This type of wave is reflected by
particles in the ionosphere.

Layers of the Atmosphere Diagram

For younger students:
1. Give each student a copy of the following two pages.
2. Lay out 9 wide construction paper of various colors, plus rulers, scissors,
and pencils.
3. Instruct students to measure and cut the following five 9 strips of paper, each in a
different color:
#1 (Troposphere) = 1/2 inch wide
#2 (Stratosphere) = 1 inch wide
#3 (Mesosphere) = 1 inch wide
#4 (Thermosphere) = 2 1/2 inches wide
#5 (Exosphere) = 1 inch wide
4. Instruct students to glue the strips in the above order (Troposphere on the bottom)
inside the black box under the title Layers of the Atmosphere.
5. Have students cut out the items on the second page, gluing them inside the
appropriate layers, on top of the colored strips:
Glue the name of the layer near the center of each strip
Glue either the mile markers or kilometer markers near the left
edge of each pair of strips (overlapping two strips)
Glue the temperature arrows near the right edge of each strip,
paying close attention to the colors (red=hotter, blue=colder)
Glue the jet, clouds, and other objects onto the correct layers:
- satellites (Exo and/or Thermo)
- jet (bottom of Strato)
- helicopter, bird, clouds, and hot air balloon (Tropo)

For older students:

Give each student a copy of the last page and instruct to:
Write the name of each layer in the box near the middle of each layer
Write the approximate height (mi. or km) in the boxes to the left
Color the boxes to the right for temperature, using a blue and a red
colored pencil and blending from hotter (red) to colder (blue)
(look at colored arrows on item page for the general idea)

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Layers of the Atmosphere

Layers of the Atmosphere Diagram

Troposphere

12 km

Stratosphere

Cut:

one 1/2 inch strip

Mesosphere

three 1 inch strips

Thermosphere

one 2 1/2 inch strip

50 km
80 km
400 km

Exosphere

7 mi.
30 mi.
50 mi.
Tr

St

Me

Th

250 mi.

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Layers of the Atmosphere