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Troposphere
- contains 75% of the atmosphere mass.
- contains almost all of its water, vapor and aerosol
- this is where friction with the Earth's surface influences air flow
- Day to day weather occurs here
- air in the troposphere is heated from ground
- up to 30 miles from ground
Stratosphere
- the stratosphere is layered in temperature because it is heated from above absorption
- It is layered by temperature with warmer layers higher up and cooler layers farther down
- 99% of air is located in the troposphere and stratosphere
- 6 mile - 30 miles from ground
Mesosphere
- Greek for middle
- Millions of meteors burn up daily
- Noctilorent clouds located here
- Atmospheric tides occur in this region
- average temp -9degC, 30 mile to 54 miles
Thermosphere
- It is the first layer exposed to sun
- Temperature can reach up to 1500degC or higher
- Scientists can't measure the temp because air is so thin up there
- Meteorites usually disintegrate in this layer.
- UV light causes ionization (electrons leave the atom causing ion to form, ions are charged atom/particles) to occur
- Auroras - ionized particles interacting with the water particles in the atmosphere.
- up to 300 miles from ground
Ionosphere
- ionized by solar radiation
- Northern lights (Auroras - ionized particles interacting with the water particles in the atmosphere.) happen in this layer
- It bounces and transmits radio signals back to earth.
- Form the inner edge of the magnetosphere - area of space outside the earth that is influenced by the magnetic field of the earth.