Atmosphere Project

its small gravity), it has no substantial atmosphere. Its extremely thin atmosphere mostly consists of a small amount of helium and traces of sodium, potassium, and oxygen. These gases derive from the solar wind, radioactive decay, meteor impacts, and breakdown of Mercury's crust. Mercury's atmosphere is not stable and is constantly being refreshed because of its atoms escaping into space as a result of the planet's heat.
The earths atmosphere compared to mercury is much MUCH better in terms of protection. If we had the same atmosphere as mercury, we would all be dead.
The heat, the radiation, and the sheer brightness of the sun, would be a fatal combination. Sources http://aura.gsfc.nasa.gov/%5C/o utreach/index.html http://www.scienceterrific.com/at mosphere_function.php http://ds9.ssl.berkeley.edu/LWS_ GEMS/3/layers.htm http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Inor ganic_Chemistry/Case_Studies/
Case_Study%3A_Contrasting_E
arth,_Mars_and_the_Moon's_At mosphores The Atmosphere

By: Crystal Gurrola and Eva Muñoz

Mr. Fernandez

4

5

4th Period

The Atmosphere

-The Thermosphere starts at about 34 miles. The temperature here is very hot.
The temperature here however, is not measured with a thermometer, but by looking at the motion and speed of certain gases which are very energetic, but would not affect a thermometer. The temperatures in this region may be as high as thousands of degrees.
Earths atmosphere consists of the following layers:
-The Troposphere
-The Stratosphere
-The Mesosphere
-The Thermosphere
-The Exosphere
-The Ionosphere
-The Troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere and is about 7 miles thick. Most clouds and weather we have are found in this layer. The atmosphere is thicker at the equator, and thinner at the poles. The temperature also decreases with higher altitudes.
-The Stratosphere is located between
7 and 30 miles above the earths surface. This part of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer, which absorbs most of the harmful UV radiation from