Earth's Atmospheric Shield: Composition, Layers, and Energy Balance

Environmental Science Grades High School 10:42 Video
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Lesson Description

Explore the composition and layers of Earth's atmosphere, track the journey of solar radiation, and understand the greenhouse effect's role in maintaining life on Earth.

Video Resource

What Does the Atmosphere Do? Crash Course Geography #6

CrashCourse

Duration: 10:42
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Atmospheric composition and layers (troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere)
  • Electromagnetic radiation and the Earth's energy budget
  • The greenhouse effect and its impact on Earth's temperature

Learning Objectives

  • Identify and describe the different layers of the atmosphere and their characteristics.
  • Explain how solar radiation interacts with the atmosphere, including absorption, scattering, and reflection.
  • Evaluate the role of the greenhouse effect and its impact on Earth's climate, including the effects of increased greenhouse gasses.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by engaging students with a question about what they know about the atmosphere. Show the introduction of the video to introduce the concept of the atmosphere as a protective boundary.
  • Atmospheric Layers (10 mins)
    Play the video segment discussing the layers of the atmosphere (troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere). After the segment, create a diagramming activity for the students to complete.
  • Energy Transfer and the Earth's Energy Budget (15 mins)
    Play the video segment explaining electromagnetic radiation, insolation, and the Earth's energy budget (radiation, convection, conduction, albedo). Discuss the concept of albedo and its effects on temperature.
  • The Greenhouse Effect (10 mins)
    Play the video segment explaining the greenhouse effect and the role of greenhouse gases. Discuss the importance of the greenhouse effect for life on Earth and the impact of increased greenhouse gas concentrations due to human activities.
  • Conclusion (5 mins)
    Summarize the key concepts covered in the lesson and emphasize the importance of understanding the atmosphere for addressing environmental challenges.

Interactive Exercises

  • Atmospheric Layer Diagram
    Students will draw and label a diagram of the Earth's atmosphere, including the different layers and their characteristics (temperature, altitude, key features like the ozone layer).
  • Albedo Experiment
    Students will conduct a simple experiment to demonstrate the concept of albedo. They will use different colored materials (e.g., white, black) to measure the amount of heat absorbed from a light source.

Discussion Questions

  • How would Earth be different without an atmosphere?
  • What are some ways that human activities are altering the Earth's energy budget?

Skills Developed

  • Data analysis and interpretation
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving
  • Scientific communication (diagramming, discussion)

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer?

Correct Answer: Stratosphere

Question 2:

What is the primary function of the atmosphere?

Correct Answer: All of the above

Question 3:

Which of the following gases makes up the largest percentage of Earth's atmosphere?

Correct Answer: Nitrogen

Question 4:

What is albedo?

Correct Answer: The amount of solar radiation reflected by a surface

Question 5:

Which of the following is NOT a greenhouse gas?

Correct Answer: Nitrogen

Question 6:

What is the process by which heat is transferred through direct contact?

Correct Answer: Conduction

Question 7:

In which atmospheric layer does weather occur?

Correct Answer: Troposphere

Question 8:

What type of energy transfer involves electromagnetic waves?

Correct Answer: Radiation

Question 9:

What is insolation?

Correct Answer: Incoming solar radiation

Question 10:

How does the atmosphere emphasize energy imbalance?

Correct Answer: By allowing more solar radiation to reach the equator than the poles

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

The layer of the atmosphere closest to the Earth's surface is the ___________.

Correct Answer: troposphere

Question 2:

The process of heat transfer through the movement of fluids is called ___________.

Correct Answer: convection

Question 3:

___________ radiation has shorter wavelengths and comes from the sun, while ___________ radiation has longer wavelengths and is emitted from the earth.

Correct Answer: Solar, Terrestrial

Question 4:

The natural ___________ effect keeps Earth warm enough to support life.

Correct Answer: greenhouse

Question 5:

___________ is the measure of how much solar radiation a surface reflects.

Correct Answer: Albedo

Question 6:

Ozone in the stratosphere absorbs harmful ___________ radiation.

Correct Answer: ultraviolet

Question 7:

The atmosphere is mostly composed of ___________ and ___________.

Correct Answer: nitrogen, oxygen

Question 8:

Heat transfer by direct contact is called ___________.

Correct Answer: conduction

Question 9:

The atmospheric layer with the highest concentration of ozone is the ___________.

Correct Answer: stratosphere

Question 10:

Gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor that trap heat in the atmosphere are called ___________ gases.

Correct Answer: greenhouse

Educational Standards

EN.ESS2.4:Analyze and interpret data to explore how variations in the flow of energy into and out of Earth’s systems causes changes to the atmosphere and climate. EN.ESS2.6:Develop a quantitative model to describe the cycling of carbon among the hydrosphere, atmosphere, geosphere, and biosphere. EN.ESS3.4:Evaluate design solutions for a major global or local environmental problem that reduces or stabilizes the impacts of human activities on natural systems.*

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