Chapter 15 - The Atmosphere

Learning Targets:

  • I can describe the composition and layers of Earth's atmosphere
  • I can state how the atmosphere is important to living things
  • I can identify some properties of air
  • I can explain how increasing altitude affects air pressure and density
  • I can identify the four main layers of the atmosphere
  • I can describe the characteristics of each of Earth's atmospheric layers

Chapter 15-3 Notes

These notes were given in class with more visual content.  This is the  basic outline of information that will be required understanding for the test/quiz.  If you missed the in class lecture, please download the handout below and complete it as you view the notes.
chapter_15-3_student_handout.pdf
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Earth's Atmosphere

A First Look: Air Cochran,  1999 . Full Video.
Discovery Education. Web. 5 October 2012. <http://www.discoveryeducation.com/>.

Greatest Discoveries with Bill Nye:  
Troposphere and Stratosphere

Greatest Discoveries with Bill Nye: Earth Science Science Channel,  2005 . Full Video.
Discovery Education. Web. 18 October 2012. <http://www.discoveryeducation.com/>.

And while we are talking about the atmosphere...

Click here to check out the video of Felix Baumgartner's record-breaking jump from 120,000 feet (the stratosphere) where he reached supersonic speeds, breaking the speed of sound in free fall.  You can also click here to visit the Red Bull Stratos website and learn more about this record-breaking project.

Assignment:

Take a moment to think about how the weather affects you in your daily life.  From the home page of our class website, please find and click on the Meteorology Videos page.  With your earbuds plugged into the computer, please view the “Greatest Discoveries with Bill Nye - Troposphere and Stratosphere” video segment.  Complete the following assignment upon completion of the video:

    Post-viewing question for Greatest Discoveries with Bill Nye: Troposphere and Stratosphere

StudyJams! Weather & Climate

Click on the image to the left to get a nice review on the topic of weather and climate.  Take the quiz after viewing this video to check your understanding.