Earth's atmosphere

Earth > Earth materials and structure > Earth's atmosphere

The atmosphere is one of Earth's most important system. It protects life from high energy solar radiation, it stabilizes the temperature and provides living organisms with element important for their survival, like oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide.

Connection to Big Idea about energy: The atmosphere of the Earth collects energy coming from the Sun, lets some of it through, and reflects some of it to space. The imbalances in the distribution of energy fuel the weather manifestations.

Connection to Big Idea about forces: The atmosphere is the site for many interactions resulting from gravitational and electro-magnetic phenomena, such as rain, lightnings and aurorae.

Connection to Big Idea about particles: The atmosphere is a mixture of particles and molecules of many different elements each of which play a significant role for Earth’s climate and life on Earth. For example, bacteria in the soil form nitrates out of nitrogen in the air which are essential for plants to create proteins. Many weather phenomena in the atmosphere result from the behaviour and interaction of particles such as gas and water molecules.

Subjects related: Environmental Sciences, Physics

Age ranges: 12-13,13-14, 14-15