CLASS SET DO NOT WRITE ON THIS SHEET
Earth’s Amazing Atmosphere
Complete this worksheet after you finish rereading page 449-453, “Characteristics ofthe Atmosphere.” You may not refer to the book once you are finished reading, but may use notes you take while reading.
The Earth’s atmosphere is divided into four layers. Choose the correct description for each term on your paper and write it on the line next to the term. Then, carefully follow the directions below to label the diagram of the Earth’s atmosphere.
1. the layer of the Earth’s atmosphere we live in
2. the coldest layer of the Earth’s atmosphere; lies directly below the uppermost layer
3. the uppermost layer of the atmosphere; hottest layer of the atmosphere
4. the layer that contains most of the atmosphere’s ozone; above the layer that you live in. Colder at the bottom, hotter at the top
5. Label the four layers of the atmosphere on the diagram on the next page.
6. There is no clear boundary between the uppermost layer of the atmosphere and space. The atmosphere becomes thinner and thinner and blends into space. At the very top of the diagram, write the word space with an arrow pointing up.
7. The ozone layer is the upper part of the atmospheric layer that contains most of the atmosphere’s ozone. Using the key, find the symbol for ozone. Draw several symbolsacross the page to represent the ozone layer on the diagram.
8. The ozone layer is important because it absorbs ultraviolet radiation. Draw a wavy line coming from space down to the ozone layer. Label this line UV radiation to represent the UV radiation that is absorbed by the ozone layer.
9. The jetstream is a river of wind that blows horizontally through the upper layers of the troposphere, generally from west to east, at an altitude of about 11 kilometers up. Draw a line of tiny arrows from west to east across the troposphere to represent the jet stream. Try to estimate the height of 11 kilometers.
10. The troposphere is the densest layer of the atmosphere, much denser than the other layers. Color this layer with a gray crayon.
11. The stratosphere is very thin. Shade this area lighter gray than the troposphere by shading with your pencil.
12. The mesosphere is even less dense than the stratosphere, so pencil shade this layer even lighter gray than the stratosphere.
13. Draw an airplane in the layer of the atmosphere planes fly in.
14. Draw a cloud with lightning in the layer of the atmosphere that has weather.
15. Draw five falling stars in the layer of the atmosphere that burns up meteoroids coming to Earth.
16. Write the correct temperature ranges in each layer of the atmosphere: 15°C to -55°C, -55°C to -3°C, -3°C to -100°C, -100°C to 1500°C
17. In each layer you will draw either a red or blue arrow. Draw a red arrow pointing up if the temperature increases as you go up in that layer. Draw a blue arrow pointing down if the temperature decreases as you go up in that layer.
18. To the right of the diagram, draw a green line from the top of the atmosphere to the bottom of the atmosphere. Add an arrow to one end of the green line,showing which direction pressure increases in the atmosphere.
Name ______Class ______
Term: Definition:
- Troposphere -______
- Stratosphere - ______
- Mesosphere - ______
- Thermosphere - ______