Lithosphere

(land)
Hydrosphere
(water)
Biosphere
(living things)
Atmosphere
(air)
 Composition
Composition and
andof
Layers Layers
the
of the
Atmosphere
Atmosphere
 Composition of the Atmosphere
Gas Atmospheric
Composition (%)
Nitrogen 78
Oxygen 21
Argon 0.3
Carbon dioxide 0.03
Other gases 0.07
 Troposphere
- The troposphere is the lowest layer of
Earth's atmosphere.
- Almost all weather occurs within this layer.
- Air is warmest at the bottom of the troposphere
near ground level. Higher up, it gets colder.
- Nearly all of the water vapor and dust particles in
the atmosphere are in the troposphere.
That is why most clouds are found in this lowest layer, too.
 Stratosphere
- It is the second layer of the atmosphere as you
go upward.
- Ozone layer can be found here. It absorbs
energy from incoming ultraviolet radiation
from the Sun.
- Temperatures rise as one moves upward
through the stratosphere.
- The stratosphere is very dry; contains little
water vapor; few clouds are found in this layer.
 Mesosphere
- The coldest temperatures in Earth's
atmosphere, about -90° C (-130° F), are found
near the top of this layer.
- The mesosphere is difficult to study, so less is
known about this layer of the atmosphere than
other layers.
- Satellites orbit above the mesosphere and
cannot directly measure traits of this layer.
- Most meteors vaporize in the mesosphere.
 Thermosphere
- Solar activity strongly influences temperature in the
thermosphere.
- Typically about 200° C (360° F) hotter in the daytime
than at night, and roughly 500° C (900° F) hotter when the
Sun is very active than at other times.
- the air density is so low in this layer that most of the
thermosphere is what we normally think of as outer
space.
- The space shuttle and the International Space Station
both orbit Earth within the thermosphere.
- Much of the X-ray and UV radiation from the Sun is
absorbed in the thermosphere.
 Exosphere
- Air in the exosphere is extremely thin.
- in many ways it is almost the same as the airless void of
outer space.
- Many satellites, including the International Space
Station (ISS), orbit within the exosphere or below.
Classification
of
Cyclones
 Tropical Disturbance
The birth of a hurricane, having only a
slight circulation with no
closed isobars around an area of low pressure.
Tropical disturbances commonly exist in the
tropical trade winds at any one time and are
often accompanied by clouds and
precipitation.
 Tropical Depression: 61kph
If sustained winds increase to at least 20 knots,
a disturbance is upgraded to a tropical depression.
Surface wind speeds vary between 20 and 34 knots
and a tropical depression has at least one
closed isobar that accompanies a drop
in pressure in the center of the storm.
 Tropical Storm: 62-88 kph

If sustained wind speeds increase to at least 35

knots, a tropical depression is upgraded to a
tropical storm. Surface wind speeds vary between
35 and 64 knots and the storm becomes more
organized. Tropical storms resemble the
appearance of hurricanes due to the intensified
circulation.
Severe Tropical Storm – 89-117 kph
 Typhoon 118-220 kph
A violent wind that has a circular
movement, found in the West Pacific
Ocean.
 A Super Typhoon – >220 kph

The equivalent of a Category 4 or 5

hurricane, meaning it has maximum sustained
winds of 150mph or more. It's basically a really
intense typhoon, with the ability to produce high
storm surges and torrential downpours, in addition
to powerful winds.