Layers of atmosphere model

Introduction:

When we stand outside and look up, we might see blue sky or wooly clouds. At night we might see
stars, a satellite or a crescent moon. What we are not seeing, however, is the complexity of our
atmosphere. The atmosphere is a protective layer of gasses that shelters all life on Earth, keeping
temperatures within a relatively small range and blocking out harmful rays of sunlight. The atmosphere has
five different layers (Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, and Exosphere) that are
determined by the changes in temperature that happen with increasing altitude.

Objective:

To use different color of sand for making the different layers of atmosphere.

Observation:

Our model is made up of sand that contains different colors. A container was used from this kind of
activity, whereas the sands were settled inside of it. The brown sand that is located below represents the
earth. We used yellow sand to represent first layer of atmosphere which is the troposphere. Troposphere is
located at the surface of the Earth. We are usually only aware of the events happening in the lowest layer,
the troposphere, where all weather occurs. The base of this layer is warmer than its top because the air is
heated by the surface of the Earth, which absorbs the Sun’s energy. Blue sand represents the
stratosphere. Above the troposphere lies the stratosphere where jet airplanes fly. Temperatures increase
with altitude because of increasing amounts of ozone. The ozone layer within the stratosphere absorbs
harmful ultraviolet rays of sunlight. Sand that was colored green represents the mesosphere. As the
mesosphere extends upward above the stratosphere, temperatures decrease. The coldest parts of our
atmosphere are located in this layer and can reach –90°C. The red sand represents the thermosphere. In
the fourth layer from Earth’s surface, the thermosphere, the air is thin, meaning that there are far fewer air
molecules. The thermosphere is very sensitive to solar activity and can heat up to 1,500°C or higher when
the Sun is active making an aurora that lights up the night sky. Astronauts orbiting Earth in the space
station spend their time in this layer. Many of the earth’s satellites are in this level. Sand which is white in
appearance was used to represent exosphere. The upper layer of our atmosphere is where atoms and
molecules escape into space. Upon putting the sand, we made sure that it is compacted with no free space
from other area that can be filled. We used rubber bands during the time when we are placing the sand
because it serves as a guide in the margin of each layer. We used a black balloon to cover the container;
thus, it represents the galaxy. We painted many yellow dot shapes in the black balloon to represents the
stars that light up the galaxy.

The temperature at sea level, under standard conditions, is taken to be 15 degrees C. As we go up

or our altitude increases, temperature falls. The rate of decrease temperature is 6.5 degrees C for each 1
km altitude change. This can also be written as 3.6 degree F for every 1000 ft. increase in altitude. That is
why we find that mountaintops are always colder compared to plains and that some mountains are always
covered with snow. As we keep on going higher and higher, temperature falls till we reach the top of the
troposphere (except for the region known as tropopause), where the temperature is about -57 degrees C.
Beyond that, temperature increases in the stratosphere, only to fall again in mesosphere. And at the top of
our atmosphere, temperature increases with altitude in the thermosphere.

Documentation:

Materials Putting the brown sand

to represent the earth

Putting the yellow sand Putting the blue sand to

to represent the represent the
troposphere stratosphere

Putting the green sand Putting the red sand to

to represent the represent the
mesosphere thermosphere
 Putting the white sand All the sands that
to represent the represent each layer of
exosphere atmosphere were placed

Painted yellow dot in Temperature and

the balloon to altitude from the
represent stars layers

Height of the things

can reach in
Members: atmosphere

Jonathan Cabrera
Rica Agtarap1
Karen Pataueg2

https://eo.ucar.edu/basics/wx_1_b.html
https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-relationship-between-altitude-temperature-556362