The Atmosphere

The atmosphere is the layer of gases that surrounds Earth. It may seem invisible, but it plays a powerful role in supporting life and shaping our plan

The atmosphere is the layer of gases surrounding Earth. It may look empty, but it’s actually made up of different gases that are essential for life an

The atmosphere might seem like empty space, but it's full of gases that have mass, and that mass creates pressure. Atmospheric pressure is the force t

The temperature of the atmosphere changes as you move higher above Earth’s surface, but it doesn’t just keep getting colder. Instead, temperature foll

The troposphere is the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere, where all weather happens! It stretches from the ground to about 8–15 kilometers (5–9 miles

The stratosphere is the second layer of Earth’s atmosphere, located just above the troposphere. It extends from about 15 kilometers (9 miles) to aroun

The mesosphere is the third layer of Earth’s atmosphere, found above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere. It starts around 50 kilometers (31 m

The Sun sends energy to Earth in the form of electromagnetic (EM) waves. This energy travels through space and enters Earth’s atmosphere, driving weat

The Sun is the main source of energy for life on Earth. This energy travels through space in the form of electromagnetic radiation. It moves in waves

The Sun heats Earth’s surface, and that energy is then transferred throughout the atmosphere in different ways. Heat moves through the atmosphere by t

The Earth’s heat budget explains how energy from the Sun enters, moves through, and exits Earth’s system. Sunlight brings energy to Earth. Some of it

The amount of solar energy that reaches different parts of the Earth’s surface depends on latitude. Areas near the equator receive more direct sunligh

Atmospheric circulation is the large-scale movement of air that helps distribute heat and moisture around the Earth. This circulation is driven by sol

The greenhouse effect is a natural process that helps keep Earth warm enough to support life. When sunlight reaches the Earth’s surface, it is absorbe

The thermosphere is one of the uppermost layers of Earth’s atmosphere. It begins around 53 miles above Earth and can stretch up to 373 miles or more.

The ozone hole is a seasonal thinning of the ozone layer high in Earth’s stratosphere, most noticeable over Antarctica. The ozone layer acts as a prot

Jet streams are fast-moving ribbons of air that flow high in Earth’s atmosphere, around 8 to 15 kilometers above the surface. They form where warm and

Local winds are winds that blow over short distances, caused by small differences in air pressure in a specific area. Nearby features like oceans, lak

Mountain and valley breezes are local wind patterns caused by differences in how fast mountain slopes and valleys heat up and cool down. During the da

Santa Ana winds are powerful, dry winds that blow from inland deserts toward the Southern California coast. They form when high-pressure air builds ov

Global winds are steady air currents that move across large areas of Earth. They are caused by the Sun heating the Earth unevenly. The equator receive

As Earth spins on its axis, it causes winds to curve instead of moving in straight lines. This curving motion is called the Coriolis effect. In the No