Each of the planets in our solar system has an uniquely structured atmosphere. The atmosphere of Mercury is extremely thin and is not very different from the vacuum of space. All four giant planets in our solar system - Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune - have very thick, deep atmospheres. The smaller, rocky planets - Earth, Venus and Mars - have much thinner atmospheres hovering above their solid surfaces.
The atmospheres on moons in our solar sytem are typically quite thin. Saturn's moon Titan is an exception - air pressure at the surface of Titan is higher than on Earth! Of the five officially recognized dwarf planets, Pluto has a thin, seasonal atmosphere containing nitrogen , methane and carbon monoxide , and Ceres may have an extremely thin atmosphere of water vapor. But only Earth's atmosphere has the layered structure that allows enough light energy to enter and be trapped for warmth, but also shields us from too much harmful radiation.
This important balance is necessary to maintain life on Earth. Skip to main content. Read more about the Atmosphere. The temperature continues to rise in the thermosphere and beyond, increasing for an indefinite distance into space. The exosphere is the very outer limit of the atmosphere.
The bottom of this layer is found at kilometres above the Earth's surface. The pressure drops to little more than a vacuum. Auroras form in the exosphere. The atmosphere: contains the air we breathe; protects life from harmful radiation from the Sun; helps keep the planet's heat from the Sun from escaping back into space; is a major element of the water cycle; keeps the climate on Earth moderate compared to that of other planets.
The Troposphere This is the lowest layer of the atmosphere, closest to the surface of the earth. The troposphere varies in height in different parts of the world, from about 8km above sea level at the poles, to 16km at the equator.
Within the troposphere, the temperature drops rapidly the higher you go. The Stratosphere For a distance of about 18km above the tropopause, there is a layer called the stratosphere. The Mesosphere The mesosphere reaches up to about 80km above the surface of the earth.
This is the coldest layer of the atmosphere, where the temperature drops rapidly with altitude. You cannot download interactives. An atmosphere is the layers of gases surrounding a planet or other celestial body.
These gases are found in layers troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere defined by unique features such as temperature and pressure. The atmosphere protects life on earth by shielding it from incoming ultraviolet UV radiation, keeping the planet warm through insulation, and preventing extremes between day and night temperatures. The sun heats layers of the atmosphere causing it to convect driving air movement and weather patterns around the world. Teach your students about the Earth's atmosphere with the resources in this collection.
We live at the bottom of an invisible ocean called the atmosphere, a layer of gases surrounding our planet. Nitrogen and oxygen account for 99 percent of the gases in dry air, with argon, carbon dioxide, helium, neon, and other gases making up minute portions. Join our community of educators and receive the latest information on National Geographic's resources for you and your students. Skip to content.
Image Moon Earth Troposhere Silver-blue noctilucent clouds are shown extending far above the orange-colored troposphere, the lowest and densest part of Earth's atmosphere. Twitter Facebook Pinterest Google Classroom. Encyclopedic Entry Vocabulary. Media Credits The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit.
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