Bring Science Alive! Earth's Atmosphere ISN

T H E AT M O S P H E R E A N D E N E R G Y

N O T E B O O K

Earth’s Atmosphere OBSERVING PHENOMENA

Phenomenon: Breathable air exists only in the lowest 5 km of Earth’s atmosphere.

1. What questions do you have about this phenomenon?

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N O T E B O O K I N V E S T I G AT I O N 1

1. Identify the key parts of the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. Then, write 1–2 sentences describing how sunlight interacts with each system.

Earth System

Key Parts

System Interactions That Influence Weather

Geosphere

Hydrosphere

Atmosphere

Biosphere

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N O T E B O O K

2. For each Weather Scenario, describe the weather and list the visible elements of weather. Then, describe where you can see each of the four spheres in the picture and how they relate to the elements of weather.

Scenario

Weather Description

Elements of Weather

Earth Systems Description

1

2

3

4

5

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N O T E B O O K 1 - Weather in the Earth System

1. What are the four main parts that make up the Earth system? Describe each in a sentence.

2. How do Earth’s four spheres make a system?

3. How does energy from the sun cause Earth’s weather?

2 - The Composition of Earth’s Atmosphere

1. What are aerosols?

2. Describe the composition of Earth’s atmosphere, including the major gases and their relative abundances.

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N O T E B O O K I N V E S T I G AT I O N 2

1. For each layer of the atmosphere, check the rocket sensors for atmospheric temperature and density. Record the data below.

Atmospheric Layer

Altitude Above Sea Level (km)

Exosphere

1,000

Temperature (°C)

Density (kg/m³)

690 120 Thermosphere

110 100 90 85

Mesosphere

70 60 50

Stratosphere

32 20 11

Troposphere

5 0

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N O T E B O O K

2. Plot your data on the graph for both temperature and density for all layers of the atmosphere except the exosphere (The exosphere’s measurements are so extreme, they don’t fit on the graph). Then, use different colors to connect the temperature and density data points.

3. In which layer(s) of the atmosphere does temperature steadily decrease with altitude? In which layer(s) does it increase?

Layers Where Temperature Decreases with Increasing Altitude

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Layers Where Temperature Increases with Increasing Altitude

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N O T E B O O K

4. Describe the trend that the density data shows. What causes this trend in the data?

5. Even though you recorded no density data past an altitude of 120 km, how might density change with altitude above that point? Explain why density changes with altitude.

6. Write your proposal for the balloon ride. Be sure your proposal answers the following questions: • How high should the balloon go? Explain.

• What conditions will exist in each layer as the travelers ascend?

• What will travelers need to travel safely through each atmospheric layer?

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N O T E B O O K 3 - The Structure of Earth’s Atmosphere

1. Identify each of the major layers of Earth’s atmosphere, from the ground up.

2. Which three factors do scientists use to determine the layers of the atmosphere?

3. Which of the layers of the atmosphere is the thinnest? Which is the thickest?

4. In which layer does most of Earth’s weather occur?

4 - Elements of Weather

1. What is weather?

2. What are five measurable factors that determine the weather?

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N O T E B O O K I N V E S T I G AT I O N 3

1. Use the library or internet to discover additional facts about each layer of the atmosphere.

Atmospheric Layer

Additional Fact or Quote

Source

Exosphere

Thermosphere

Mesosphere

Stratosphere

Troposphere

2. How do you know these sources are reliable?

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N O T E B O O K MAKING SENSE OF PHENOMENA

Phenomenon: Breathable air exists only in the lowest 5 km of Earth’s atmosphere.

1. Use what you have learned to explain this phenomenon.

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