NAME ________________________________

1. Open this site in a new window (right click on the link and then select "Open in New Window"):

1. List at least three atmospheric properties that might change as you traveled from the Earth's surface to space. [Step 1]

2. Write a general statement that describes how the air temperature changes as the balloon rises through the atmosphere. [Step 5]

3. Commercial airplanes fly at an altitude of about 12,000 meters. What would the air temperature be at that altitude? [Step 5]

4. What is the range of altitudes for the top of the troposphere? [Step 6]

5. What is the range of the lowest temperatures found at the top of the troposphere? [Step 6]

6. How does the height of the tropopause change from the polar region to the equator? [Step 7]

7. How does the minimum temperature of the tropopause change from the equator to the polar region? [Step 7]

8. In general, how does the height of the tropopause change from day to night? [Step 8]

9. Make a general statement about what happens to the speed of the wind as the balloon rises through the atmosphere. [Step 9]

10. How does the altitude at which the wind speed stops increasing and begins decreasing compare to the altitude of the change from troposphere to stratosphere? [Step 9]

2. Open this site in a new window (right click on the link and then select "Open in New Window"):

• What is the relationship between pressure and height?

• What is the relationship between temperature and height?

3. With any remaining time, please explore the following:

• Earth Science Picture Of The Day
• Astronomy Picture Of The Day
• Earth From Above