Atmosphere
We live at the very bottom of a massive invisible ocean of air! Join Bill Nye the Science Guy as we investigate how atmospheric pressure and weather patterns make life on Earth absolutely possible.
The Ocean of Air!
Because the moon has no atmosphere! The gravity of the moon is far too weak to hold onto any floating gases. Because there is no air to breathe and no atmospheric pressure to protect them, astronauts must bring their own Earth environment inside their suits!
It is caused by changing air pressure! As you travel higher, the air becomes thinner and the outside pressure drops. Your ears pop when the trapped air inside your head finally equalizes with the lower pressure outside your body!
Put Your Instincts to the Test
Think about how the invisible air around us physically behaves. Pick an answer for each question, then see if your instincts were right.
It would become boiling hot during the day and freezing cold at night! The atmosphere acts like a massive thermal blanket, trapping the heat of the sun to keep our global temperatures perfectly balanced and comfortable.
The Troposphere! This is the lowest and thickest layer of the atmosphere. It contains the air we breathe and is where all clouds, storms, and winds physically form!
A barometer! A barometer physically measures the heavy weight of the air pushing down from above, which helps meteorologists successfully predict incoming storms and clear skies.
Understanding the Science
Tap each card to uncover the spectacular invisible forces and layers that protect life on our planet.
Key Concepts
Atmosphere
Tap to learn moreThe massive protective ocean of invisible gases perfectly held to the surface of the Earth by planetary gravity.
Air Pressure
Tap to learn moreThe heavy physical weight of the entire atmosphere pushing down on absolutely everything at the surface of the planet.
Troposphere
Tap to learn moreThe lowest and thickest layer of the atmosphere where human beings live and all turbulent rain and weather takes place.
Stratosphere
Tap to learn moreThe calm middle layer of the sky that houses the ozone layer, safely protecting the Earth from deadly ultra violet light.
Greenhouse Effect
Tap to learn moreThe incredible natural process where atmospheric gases trap the heat of the sun, keeping the planet perfectly warm at night.
Acid Rain
Tap to learn moreDangerous atmospheric pollution caused when sulfur from burning coal mixes with rain clouds, harming lakes and forests.
Barometer
Tap to learn moreA highly sensitive scientific instrument designed to explicitly measure the rising and falling pressure of the atmosphere.
Ozone
Tap to learn moreA special oxygen molecule floating high in the stratosphere that acts as a global shield against dangerous solar radiation.
Try It: The Atmospheric Pressure Lab
Welcome to the altitude testing zone!
The Mission: You must observe exactly how external air pressure affects an expanding weather balloon. Press the massive round activation buttons to instantly teleport the balloon from deep below sea level up to a towering mountain peak. Watch the physics happen live!
Apply Your Knowledge
Let us see if you can correctly identify the mighty layers that make up the Earth's atmosphere.
Match the Concepts
Click a layer term to select it, then click the matching atmospheric description to place it.
Earth where all clouds and weather happen
shield to block dangerous ultra violet sunlight
friction to safely melt incoming space meteors
absorb and trap lethal gamma rays from outer space
Real World Challenge
Bill Nye the Science Guy demonstrates how air pressure pushes down on a plastic disk with over one hundred and fifty kilograms of force! If there is that much invisible weight pushing down on us all the time, explain why our human bodies do not simply get crushed flat like a pancake!
What Has Changed Since This Episode Aired
This episode originally aired in 1995. While the fundamental layers of the atmosphere remain exactly the same, our global scientific ability to successfully monitor and protect the sky has absolutely skyrocketed!
Updated: Incredible global teamwork actually fixed it! In the late twentieth century, scientists discovered that human made chemicals called CFCs were burning a massive hole directly through the ozone layer. Nations around the entire world united to successfully ban those chemicals. Today, modern satellite data proves that the massive ozone hole is officially shrinking and slowly repairing itself!
Updated: We now use spectacular fleets of orbital supercomputers! Modern meteorology relies on advanced geostationary satellites floating incredibly high in the exosphere. These machines use infrared lasers and microwave sensors to instantly map global atmospheric pressure, ocean temperatures, and hurricane paths, providing brilliantly accurate global weather models directly to your smart phone!
Test Your Understanding
Answer these questions and get instant feedback. How many can you get right?
Results
Your score:
Reflection
Think about how the atmosphere provides the absolute perfect amount of pressure, temperature, and breathable oxygen to keep us alive. How does studying the atmosphere help engineers successfully design protective suits for deep space exploration?
Episode Discussion
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