UNIT  4  :  THE  ATMOSPHERE 1º  ESO  NATURAL  SCIENCES  

UNIT  4  :  THE  ATMOSPHERE    

 
 
The   Earth's   ​atmosphere  ​is  a  thin  layer  of  gases  that  surrounds  the  Earth.  It  composed  
of  78%  nitrogen,  21%  oxygen,  0.9%  argon,  0.03%  carbon  dioxide,  and  trace  amounts  of  other  
gases.   This  thin   gaseous   layer  ​insulates  the  Earth  from  extreme  temperatures;;  it  ​keeps  heat  
inside   the   atmosphere   and   it   also   ​blocks   the   Earth   from   much   of   the   ​Sun's   incoming  
ultraviolet​  ​radiation.  
 
The   atmosphere   is   divided   vertically   into   four   layers   based   on   temperature:   the  
troposphere,  stratosphere,  mesosphere,  and  thermosphere.  
 
Troposphere:  ​All  of  the  earth's  weather  occurs  in  the  troposphere.    
 
Stratosphere  :   The  ozone   layer   protects  the  Earth  from  ultraviolet  solar  radiation.  The  
stratosphere   is   characterized   by   a   slight   temperature   increase   with   altitude   and   the   absence  
of  clouds.  
 
Mesosphere​:  The  mesosphere  is  characterized  by  temperatures  that  quickly  decrease  
as  height  increases.  
 
Thermosphere​:   In   the   thermosphere,   temperature   increases   with   altitude.   The  
thermosphere  includes  the  exosphere  and  part  of  the  ionosphere.  
 
Exosphere​:  The  exosphere  is  the  outermost  layer  of  the  Earth's  atmosphere.    
 
ACTIVITITIES  

 
1.  Say  if  the  next  sentences  are  True  or  False.  Correct  the  sentences  in  your  notebook  
a.  The  most  important  gas  in  the  atmosphere  is  the  oxygen.  
b.  Weather  conditions  happen  in  the  Stratosphere  
c.  Ozone  layer  is  in  the  Stratosphere  
d.  The  most  important  gases  in  the  atmosphere  are  hydrogen  and  oxygen.  
e.  Stratosphere  is  the  closest  layer  to  the  Earth  
f.  The  exosphere  is  between  the  stratosphere  and  the  mesosphere  
g.  The  ionosphere  is  included  in  the  thermosphere  
 
 
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UNIT  4  :  THE  ATMOSPHERE 1º  ESO  NATURAL  SCIENCES  

   
2  Make  correct  sentences  with  this  words.  
a.  life,  Ultraviolet,  harmful,  for,  solar,  is,  human,  radiation  
b.  Stratosphere,  closer,  than,  is  ,  Troposphere.  
c.  The  ,  of  the,  is,  17  Km,  height,  troposphere,  approximately  
 
 
 
 
 
3.  Read  the  next  text  and  answer  the  questions.  
The   Troposphere   is   the  lowest  portion  of  Earth´s  atmosphere.  It  is  approximately  80%  of  
the   atmosphere´s   mass   and   it   contains   most   part   of   oxygen   and   water   vapour   of   the  
atmosphere.  
 
The   average   height   of   troposphere   is   approximately   17   Km   ,   but   in  the   tropic   latitude   is  
higher  up  to  20  Km.  
 
Stratosphere   is   the  second   major   layer  of  Earth´s  atmosphere  just  above  the  troposphere  
and   below   the   mesosphere.   It   is   situated   between   10   .20   Km   and   50   Km.   Stratosphere  
contains   ozone   layer   which  absorbs   ultraviolet   radiation,   harmful  solar  radiation,  from  the  Sun  
.  
 
Scientist   have   discovered   a   hole   in   the   ozone   layer   .  This   is   produced   by   contaminant  
products  like   CFCs.  This   kind   of   pollution   is  in   aerosols   or   sprays   so   they   must   be   reduced  if  
we  want  to  resolve  this  problem.  
Answer:  
1.  What  percentage  of  the  atmosphere´s  mass  does  the  troposphere  represent  ?  
a.  70% b.  80% c.  90%  
2.  What  average  height  the  troposphere  is?  
a.  10  Km   b.  20  Km   c.  17  Km  
3.  Select  the  correct  answer:  
a.  The  stratosphere  is  between  the  troposphere  and  the  mesosphere  
b.  The  stratosphere  is  between  the  troposphere  and  the  ionosphere  
c.  The  stratosphere  is  below  the  troposphere  
4.  The  stratosphere  reaches  to  :  
a.  150Km b.  100  Km c.  50  Km  
5.  The  contaminant  products  that  destroy  the  ozone  layer  is  called:  
a.  SDS b.  CFC c.  CFS  
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UNIT  4  :  THE  ATMOSPHERE 1º  ESO  NATURAL  SCIENCES  

 
 
 
 
WEATHER  AND  CLIMATE  
What’s  the  weather  like  today  in  the  world?  

 
Watch  and  play  :  
http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/es/fun-­games/whats-­the-­weather  
 

Speaking  practice:    Do  you  know  the  difference  between  weather  and  climate?  
 
 
Weather   is   considered   to   be   the   atmospheric   conditions   that   are   happening   now   or  
within   a   few   days.   On   the   other   hand,  ​Climate  represents  the  long  term  atmospheric  patterns  
within   which   weather   occurs.   As   the   popular   saying   goes,   "Climate   is   what  you   expect,   and  
weather  is  what  you  get!".  
 
VOCABULARY:  WEATHER  
 
Activity  :Use  this  link  and  match  
http://www.educa.jcyl.es/educacyl/cm/gallery/recursos_educativa/ingles_tiempo/pdf/O
A3_weather_vocabulary.pdf  
 
Activity:  Link  with  the  definition  
http://www.weather.com/glossary/  
 

Activity  :  Imagine  that  you  are  the  weather  man/  woman  and  you  have  to  say  
the  weather  on  the  news.  Write  a  short  script  about  it.  

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UNIT  4  :  THE  ATMOSPHERE 1º  ESO  NATURAL  SCIENCES  

Activity:  Draw  a  comic  weather  joke.  You  have  an  example  below.  
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
RESOURCES  FOR  THIS  LESSON  
https://www.ucar.edu/learn/1_1_1.htm  
 
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/earth/Atmosphere.shtml  
https://buruagabilingual.wordpress.com/tag/programa-­aicle/  
 

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