The Structure of Earth's Atmosphere

Discover Earth's atmosphere! Explore layers, density, pressure, and temperature with a virtual lab and engaging questions.

The Structure of Earth's Atmosphere Click on the following link to access the virtual lab on the structure of earth's atmosphere. Record in the table the atmospheric data - density, pressure, and temperature at sea level (0 km).2. Drag the red slider along the altitude measurement bar and select another altitude. If you select an altitude less than 30 km above sea level, a balloon will appear. If you select an altitude greater than 30 km above sea level, a rocket will appear. Rockets are used to collect atmospheric data at altitudes greater than 30 km above sea level because the low atmospheric pressure at high altitudes causes balloons to burst.3. Click the Launch button to launch the balloon or rocket.4. Observe the balloon or rocket being launched into Earth's atmosphere, peaking at the selected altitude, and then returning to Earth by parachute. Record the atmospheric data in the table.5. If the Show Phenomenon button is enabled, click it to learn about a meteorological or astronomical phenomenon that occurs at or near the selected altitude. To see the phenomenon again, click its label.6. Repeat the virtual lab until you have collected data in the table for each of the eleven altitudes. As you collect data, watch for trends in atmospheric pressure, density, and temperature within the four layers of Earth's atmosphere. Altitude(km) Density(% of Sea Level Density) Pressure(Pa) Temperature(Celsius) 0 100 101300 15 5 60.7 54048 -18 10 33.6 26499 -50 25 3.2 2599 -52 50 .09 90 -2 60 .02 22 -26 75 .0044 2.7 -102 100 .000023 .0174 -65 150 .00000025 .00107 557 200 .000000034 .000195 957 400 .0000000011 .0000098 1230 How come after 30 km you can no longer use a balloon to collect atmospheric data? Which layer of the atmosphere do you live in? What kinds of meteorological phenomena can be found in this layer? If a rocket were launched to a height of 210 kilometers above sea level, which layer of the atmosphere would it rise to? What kinds of meteorological and astronomical phenomena might the rocket encounter in that layer? What is the ozone layer? In which layer of the atmosphere is it found? What is the importance of the ozone layer to life on Earth? Describe the pattern of air density changes within layers of the atmosphere. Describe the pattern of air pressure changes within layers of the atmosphere. Explain how air density determines air pressure? Describe the pattern of temperature changes within the layers of the atmosphere. Classify each atmospheric phenomena into the atmospheric layer in which they can be found. Troposphere Weather Stratosphere Jet Stream Ozone Layer Mesosphere Noctilucent Clouds Thermosphere Auroras