Composition and Layers of the Atmosphere

Description: Research atmospheric exploration and create a timeline of the major discoveries in atmospheric research. Include the various technologies that humans have used to study Earth’s atmosphere and foreign atmospheres. 

The formation of the atmosphere occurred around 4.6 billion years ago and transformed to its current conditions starting about 290 million years ago.

Various tools have been invented and used to study the atmosphere such as the barometer, weather balloons, satellites, and the international space station

Description: Compare and contrast Earth’s atmosphere with the atmosphere on another planetary body. Also, explain how scientists know about the composition of the foreign atmosphere and compare that to how scientists study Earth’s atmosphere.

Other planets such as Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Venus, Saturn, and Neptune have an atmosphere but none contribute to making a suitable environment for the planets to support life like Earth's Atmosphere.

Earth's atmosphere is a mixture of gases that help support and protect life on Earth.

Description: Create a project showing the five layers of Earth’s atmosphere. You should include typical altitudes, unique features, and 2 events that occur in each layer.

Earth's layers are distinct and defined from one another based off their temperature.

Temperature gradient can vary, for example the stratosphere is warmer at the top then it is at the bottom.

Air pressure at each layer decreases, just like if you were to climb a mountain. The higher the altitude, the lower the air pressure.

Most weather occurs in the first layer, the Troposphere. Clouds are also found in this layer, which trap heat causing warmer temperatures.

Description: Research global warming and climate change and how it is affecting Earth's atmosphere. Be sure to include which of Earth's atmosphere layers are impacted. You may also include changes we can make to reduce our impact on global warming.

The layer of Earth's atmosphere that protects us from UV radiation is the second layer, the Stratosphere

Carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas causes the heating of Earth's atmosphere, which is playing a part in global warming.

Due to global warming the ozone layer, found in Earth's Stratosphere, is being depleted.