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Importance of the Atmosphere

Importance of the atmosphere

The Atmosphere is an important layer of gases that makes the Earth a place where life is possible. Have a look at this image so that you can learn why the atmosphere is essential.
The importance of the AtmosphereWhy is the atmosphere so important? Yolanda Varela. (CC-BY-NC-SA)

Choose the right word to complete the sentences.

1. What is the most abundant element in the earth's atmosphere?

2. Carbon dioxide is important for .

3. The atmosphere avoids to fall on the Earth's surface.

4. Humans need to live.

5. The atmosphere helps to keep warm.

6. The atmosphere prevents harmful to reach the Earth.

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The natural greenhouse effect

Read this text about the greenhouse effect.

The greenhouse effect is a natural process that maintains the Earth's temperature warm enough to allow life in our planet.

The atmosphere absorbs some energy from the Sun and radiates the rest back into space. Certain gases in the atmosphere, called greenhouse gases, trap some of the energy radiated from the Earth and keep it to maintain a warm temperature.

Unfortunately human activities, such as combustion of fossil fuels and deforestation, produce an increase in greehouse gases, which avoid heat to be released into space and consequently a global warming occurs.

The greenhouse effect

Greenhouse effect. Environmental Protection Agency. Wikimedia Commons. (Public Domain)

Activity 1 and 2

Teamwork

1. In groups of four list everything you can remember about the text you have just read and reach an agreement to make a text with the ideas. Read your text to the other students.

After all groups have shared their texts, decide which one is the most complete.

 2. Choose the right word to complete the statements.
1. The greenhouse effect happens in the atmosphere.
2. The atmosphere is due to the greenhouse effect.
3. Some energy from the Sun is by the atmosphere.
4. The combustion of fossil fuels happens because of activities.
5. If there is an of gases in the atmosphere, there will be an increase in temperature.

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ESA (European Space Agency)

Read the text and do the proposed activity.

The European Space Agency is an international organization which works to study the Earth, the atmosphere, our Solar System and the Universe. It also serves to develop satellite-based technologies.

There are 22 Member States and Spain is one of them. ESA's headquarters are in Paris but there are some sites in other countries. In Spain we have got the European Space Astronomy Center in Madrid.

Many ESA members and Russia, Japan and Canada worked together to build The International Space Station (ISS).

ISS
 The International Space Station photographed by an STS-132 crew member on board the Space Shuttle Atlantis. NASA/ Crew of STS-132. Wikipedia. (Public Domain)

Teamwork

According to the information in the text, are these sentences true or false? Decide in groups of three and prepare to explain answers to the rest of students.

1. ESA stands for International Space Station.

2. ESA is an American organization.

3. ESA studies global warming.

4. Only a few European countries collaborate with ESA.

5. ESA main site is in Madrid.

6. European countries built the ISS.