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Chapter 20: Problem 1

Describe the regions of Earth's atmosphere.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The Earth's atmosphere has five major regions: the troposphere, which houses weather systems and breathable air; the stratosphere with the protective ozone layer; the mesosphere where meteors burn up upon entering atmosphere; the thermosphere which displays Northern and Southern Lights and absorbs highly energetic solar radiation; and the exosphere that fades into outer space and is mainly composed of hydrogen and helium.

Step by step solution

01

Identify and Describe the Troposphere

The troposphere is the closest layer to the Earth's surface, ranging from ground level to about 8-15 km height. It contains most of the Earth's weather systems and the air we breathe which is rich in oxygen and nitrogen. Temperature generally decreases as altitude increases in this region.
02

Describe the Stratosphere

The stratosphere rises above the troposphere up to around 50 km. Temperature in this layer generally increases with altitude due to the absorption of solar radiation by ozone molecules. The ozone layer, which absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation, is located within this region.
03

Identify and Describe the Mesosphere

The mesosphere is situated above the stratosphere, spreading up to about 85 km above Earth. The temperature in this layer decreases as altitude increases. This is the layer where most meteors burn up on entering the Earth's atmosphere.
04

Explain the Thermosphere

The thermosphere begins at about 85 km above the Earth and extends up to 600 km. In this layer, temperature increases with altitude due to the absorption of highly energetic solar radiation. It's the layer where the Northern and Southern Lights occur.
05

Describe the Exosphere

The exosphere is the outermost region of the Earth's atmosphere, extending from the thermosphere up to 10,000 km. It's mainly composed of hydrogen and helium with extremely low density. This layer gradually fades into outer space.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Discuss ways to curb acid rain.

Which of the following settings is the most suitable for photochemical smog formation: (a) Gobi desert at noon in June, (b) New York City at \(1 \mathrm{p} \cdot \mathrm{m} .\) in July, (c) Boston at noon in January? Explain your choice.

As mentioned in the chapter, spraying the stratosphere with hydrocarbons such as ethane and propane should eliminate \(\mathrm{Cl}\) atoms. What is the drawback of this procedure if used on a large scale for an extended period of time?

Explain why, for maximum performance, supersonic airplanes need to fly at a high altitude (in the stratosphere).

Instead of monitoring carbon dioxide, suggest another gas that scientists could study to substantiate the fact that \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) concentration is steadily increasing in the atmosphere.
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