`Name:______Period:______Date:______
Atmospheric Structure and Composition
Directions:
1. Label your graph paper as follows: Remember that each block except for the edges are 10 squares high and 10 squares long.
a. Vertical Axis = Altitude (kilometers).
Let each small square represent 5 km. Begin at 0 km and go up to 400 km.
b. Horizontal Axis = Temperature (degrees Celsius) and Density (grams per cubic meters)
-For temperature let each small square represent 10 degrees Celsius. Begin at –200 degrees Celsius and go up to 1100 degrees Celsius.
- For Density let every large square equal a power of 10. Begin at 10-8 g/m3 and go up to 105 g/m3 . 2 DATA SETS ON ONE AXIS???? Just put one below the other as seen on the graph set up above. This way you only have to construct one graph, which makes your job easier :) That’s okay, no thanks needed
2. Plot your data onto your graph. Make sure the lines you plot for temperature and density are two different colors. (In the key you will construct, label each line and its color)
Data Table #1 Altitude vs. Temperature Date Table #2 Altitude vs. Density
Altitude / Temp. / Altitude / Temp.0 / 14 / 90 / -82
10 / -47 / 100 / -53
20 / -58 / 125 / 95
30 / -47 / 150 / 185
40 / -10 / 175 / 315
50 / 3 / 200 / 500
60 / -19 / 250 / 750
70 / -57 / 300 / 1000
80 / -93
Altitude / Density
0 / 10 3.5
20 / 10 2
40 / 10 1
60 / 10 –0.5
80 / 10 –1.5
100 / 10 -3
150 / 10 –5.5
200 / 10 -7
3. Find and color the following layers of the atmosphere:
Troposphere: 0-18 kmMesosphere:50 – 80 km
Stratosphere: 18 – 50 kmThermosphere: 80 - ~ 400 km
***Make sure to match the color to the layer in the key.
4. On your graph, draw and label the objects shown in the picture below.
5. Answer the following questions. (You may need to use your book for some of these)
1. Name the layer of the atmosphere in which you would most likely find each of the following:
a. Snow, rain, sleet, hail, and a variety of clouds
b. Reliable protection from severe burning from sunlight
c. Streamers of light called the northern lights
d. Working station for astronauts
e. Reflection of waves for worldwide radio communications (2 layers)
f. Ozone gas (2 layers)
g. Strong, steady winds, with very few weather changes
2. Why is the troposphere less thick at the poles than it is at the equator?
3. Why does temperature rise with altitude in the stratosphere layer?
4. Why does temperature rise with altitude in the thermosphere?
5. In the ionosphere, how does the air become ionized?
6. How does the ionosphere help radio stations?
7. Which type of wave is not reflected by the ionosphere?
8. Up to an altitude of 80 km, air is composed of the same percentage of gases. Make a pie chart and key representing these specific gases and their percentage by volume.
9. Above 80 km, describe what happens to the air. Consider both density and composition.
10. How much of the atmosphere's weight is found within 32 km of Earth's surface?
11. Is ozone gas beneficial or harmful to human beings? Why?
12. How can the thicknesses of the ozone layer change?