Earth's Atmosphere

Front

What is the stratosphere?

Back

The stratosphere is the second layer of Earth's atmosphere, located above the troposphere and below the mesosphere. It is characterized by an increase in temperature with altitude due to the presence of ozone.

Front

What is the main component that causes temperature to increase in the stratosphere?

Back

Ozone is the main component that causes the temperature to increase in the stratosphere as it absorbs ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-3

Front

What layer of the atmosphere do jet airplanes typically fly in?

Back

Jet airplanes typically fly in the stratosphere, where the temperature generally increases with altitude.

Front

In which layer of Earth's atmosphere does most weather occur?

Back

Most weather occurs in the troposphere, which is the lowest layer of the atmosphere.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Front

What is the troposphere known for?

Back

The troposphere is known for having the greatest density of air and is where most weather phenomena occur.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Front

What is the greenhouse effect?

Back

The greenhouse effect is the process by which certain gases in Earth's atmosphere trap heat, preventing it from escaping into space and thereby warming the planet.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-4

NGSS.HS-ESS2-6

NGSS.HS-ESS3-5

Front

What characteristic do greenhouse gases share?

Back

Greenhouse gases share the ability to trap heat in the atmosphere.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-5

Front

What is the mesosphere?

Back

The mesosphere is the layer of Earth's atmosphere located above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere, characterized by decreasing temperatures with altitude.

Front

What happens to temperature in the thermosphere?

Back

In the thermosphere, temperature increases significantly with altitude due to the absorption of high-energy solar radiation.

Front

What is the role of the ozone layer?

Back

The ozone layer, located within the stratosphere, protects life on Earth by absorbing the majority of the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.