Name the regions of the atmosphere. What property is used to distinguish between different regions of the atmosphere?

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Identify the main regions of the Earth's atmosphere: troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere.

Understand that the primary property used to distinguish between these regions is the temperature gradient or temperature change with altitude.

Recognize that in the troposphere, temperature decreases with altitude, which is why weather phenomena occur here.

Note that in the stratosphere, temperature increases with altitude due to the absorption of ultraviolet radiation by the ozone layer.

Acknowledge that in the mesosphere, temperature again decreases with altitude, and in the thermosphere, temperature increases with altitude due to solar activity.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Atmospheric Layers

The atmosphere is divided into several layers based on temperature gradients and altitude. The main layers include the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere. Each layer has distinct characteristics, such as temperature changes and the presence of specific gases, which influence weather patterns and climate.

Temperature Gradient

The temperature gradient refers to the change in temperature with altitude in the atmosphere. This gradient is crucial for distinguishing between the different atmospheric layers, as each layer exhibits unique temperature behaviors. For instance, the troposphere generally cools with altitude, while the stratosphere warms due to ozone absorption of UV radiation.

Pressure Variation

Atmospheric pressure decreases with increasing altitude, which is another property used to differentiate the layers of the atmosphere. As one ascends through the layers, the density of air molecules decreases, leading to lower pressure. This variation in pressure is essential for understanding weather phenomena and the behavior of gases in the atmosphere.

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Textbook Question

The Earth's atmosphere has a mass of approximately 5.15 * 1015 kg. If the average molar mass of air is 28.8 g/mol, how many moles of gas make up the atmosphere? What is the volume of the atmosphere in liters under conditions of STP? (Note: The average molar mass of air is the weighted average of the molar mass of nitrogen and oxygen. 0.20132.0 g>mol2 + 0.80128.0 g>mol2 = 28.8 g>mol.)

Textbook Question

The troposphere contains about three quarters of the mass of the entire atmosphere. The troposphere is only 12 km thick while the whole atmosphere is about 120 km thick. Explain why the troposphere contains such a large fraction of the total mass.

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Textbook Question

The percent by volume of oxygen (20.95%) is constant throughout the troposphere. (a) Express this percentage as a mole fraction.