2007-09-21 07:02:44 · 6 answers · asked by buttkicker247 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Atmosphere.
2007-09-21 07:05:09 · answer #1 · answered by Steve C 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Collectively, the envelope of gas that surrounds the Earth is known as the atmosphere. Layer by layer:
The lowest layer is called the troposphere. Virtually all of our weather occurs within this layer.
Above the troposphere is the stratosphere. It contains a high concentration of ozone, which helps to shield the Earth's surface from damaging UV radiation.
Next is the mesosphere. This is where most of the meteors you see at night burn up.
Next, the thermosphere, so-called because temperatures here can rise above 1000 degrees Celsius. You wouldn't feel it as hot, however, because the air molecules are so thinly spread that they wouldn't convey much energy to you.
The ionosphere is generally considered to be an extension of the thermosphere. It is the layer of the atmosphere in which the Sun's radiation causes gas molecules to ionize. It plays an important role in long-distance radio broadcasts, and it is also the layer in which the aurora originate.
The exosphere is the outermost layer, the layer that gradually fades into space. The density of this region approaches that of a vacuum. Gas molecules in this region may escape into space.
2007-09-21 14:13:35 · answer #2 · answered by Lucas C 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
"Spheres, spheres, spheres, spheres, spheres! The universe is full of spheres! A marble is a sphere. A basketball is a sphere. A balloon is a sphere--well, almost. The Sun is a great, big, giant, super-colossal, boiling hot sphere!Image of a dinosaur with a basketball.
Even Earth is a huge sphere. In fact, you can think of Earth as a whole bunch of spheres, one inside the other, something like the colored layers inside a jawbreaker. From the inside out, Earth's spheres are:
The Lithosphere ("rock sphere") is the ground you are standing on and the whole inside of Earth.
The Hydrosphere ("water sphere") includes all of the rivers, lakes and oceans of Earth.
The Cryosphere ("icy cold sphere") is the frozen part of Earth: the glaciers, icebergs at sea, and the huge icecaps in Greenland and Antarctica.
The Biosphere ("Life sphere") includes all living things: the trees in the park, the birds in the air, the fly on your wall, the viruses that make you sick, your pets, and even you and all your friends!
The Atmosphere ("Air Sphere") is the envelope of air that surrounds the whole Earth.
The Exo- or Celestial Sphere ("Outside or heavenly sphere") includes the whole universe beyond the top of the atmosphere--the Sun, Moon, and stars, as well as the asteroids and the little bits of dust that make meteors when they hit the atmosphere.
Cheers *Niketh*
2007-09-21 14:09:57 · answer #3 · answered by Niketh Raj 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Earth's atmosphere is divided into numerous regions which have different characteristics. The boundaries between the regions are not distinct. Some regions overlap and others are made up of a number of sub-regions. The first region is troposhere, then stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, ionosphere, and lastly exosphere.
2007-09-21 14:13:23 · answer #4 · answered by HoneyBunny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The various layers of the atmosphere (stratosphere, etc.). And that big honkin' electromagnetic field. That's all I can think of.
2007-09-21 14:06:18 · answer #5 · answered by badkitty1969 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, ionosphere, exosphere
2007-09-21 14:14:49 · answer #6 · answered by Joe C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋