Troposphere
The troposphere is the lowest layer of the Earth's atmosphere, extending from the Earth's surface up to an average height of about 8-15 kilometers (5-9 miles).
Characteristics of the Troposphere
- Temperature: The temperature in the troposphere generally decreases with altitude, at an average rate of 6.5°C per kilometer (or 3.5°F per 1,000 feet). This temperature gradient is known as the environmental lapse rate.
- Weather: Most of the Earth's weather occurs in the troposphere, including clouds, precipitation, and atmospheric phenomena such as thunderstorms and tornadoes.
- Composition: The troposphere contains about 80% of the mass of the atmosphere and almost all of the water vapor and aerosols. It also contains the majority of the atmosphere's gases, including nitrogen, oxygen, and trace amounts of other gases.
Importance of the Troposphere
The troposphere plays a crucial role in supporting life on Earth. It helps regulate the planet's temperature, allows for weather patterns to develop, and is the layer where most of the atmospheric processes that affect human life occur.
Study Tips
- Understand the concept of the environmental lapse rate and how it influences temperature changes in the troposphere.
- Learn about the different atmospheric phenomena that occur in the troposphere, such as cloud formation and precipitation.
- Explore the composition of the troposphere and the role of various gases and particles in the atmosphere.
- Consider the importance of the troposphere in sustaining life on Earth and its impact on human activities.
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Worksheet/Answer keyWorksheet/Answer keyVocabulary/Answer keyVocabulary/Answer keyVocabulary/Answer keyThe resources above cover the following skills:
Earth/Space Science: Students will use scientific skills and processes to explain the chemical and physical interactions (i.e., natural forces and cycles, transfer of energy) of the environment, Earth, and the universe that occur over time.
Earth History: Explain how sedimentary rock is formed periodically, embedding plant and animal remains and leaving a record of the sequence in which the plants and animals appeared and disappeared.
Explain how sedimentary rock buried deep enough may be reformed by pressure and heat and these reformed rock layers may be forced up again to become land surface and even mountains.