Glossary term: Atmósfera
Description: La atmósfera es una capa de gas que rodea un cuerpo celeste. Se mantiene gracias a la atracción gravitatoria del cuerpo celeste, por lo que es más densa en la superficie y se funde con el espacio interplanetario a gran altitud.
En los planetas con superficies sólidas o líquidas, el límite inferior de la atmósfera es claro. Las estrellas tienen interiores gaseosos, por lo que no tienen un límite inferior claro para sus atmósferas. Una atmósfera estelar se refiere normalmente a la capa gaseosa exterior de una estrella a través de la cual la luz del interior viaja hacia el espacio.
El campo magnético de un planeta puede proteger su atmósfera de una rápida disipación en el espacio a causa del viento solar o estelar. En el caso de la Tierra, también protege a todos los organismos de los daños genéticos debidos a los efectos nocivos del viento solar y los rayos cósmicos.
Related Terms:
See this term in other languages
Term and definition status: The original definition of this term in English have been approved by a research astronomer and a teacher The translation of this term and its definition is still awaiting approval
The OAE Multilingual Glossary is a project of the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE) in collaboration with the IAU Office of Astronomy Outreach (OAO). The terms and definitions were chosen, written and reviewed by a collective effort from the OAE, the OAE Centers and Nodes, the OAE National Astronomy Education Coordinators (NAECs) and other volunteers. You can find a full list of credits here. All glossary terms and their definitions are released under a Creative Commons CC BY-4.0 license and should be credited to "IAU OAE".
If you notice a factual or translation error in this glossary term or definition then please get in touch.
In Other Languages
- Árabe: الغلاف الجوي
- Alemán: Atmosphäre
- Inglés: Atmosphere
- Francés: Atmosphère
- Italiano: Atmosfera
- Coreano: 대기
- Portugués de Brasil: Atmosfera
- Chino simplificado: 大气层
- Chino tradicional: 大氣層
Related Media
Moon and Earth's thin atmosphere
Caption: Taken from the International Space Station (ISS), approximately 400 kilometers above the ground, the picture shows the Moon far in the background and Earth's thin atmosphere. It appears blue as light in this wavelength is scattered more than in others by the gases in the upper layers. The photo was taken in March 2015 by a crew member. Clearly visible is the vanishingly small layer of gases compared to Earth's dimensions. There is no clear border between the atmosphere and space; it is a smooth transition with no sharp edges. The thickness to the upper limit of the stratosphere, roughly 50 kilometers, does not even amount to one percent of Earth's radius. Above 600 kilometers, particles reaching the critical escape velocity can leave into space. The total mass of the atmosphere is around 300 times less than that of all oceans combined or one million times less than Earth's total mass.
Credit: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center
credit link
License: PD Public Domain icons
Related Activities
Blue Marble in Empty Space
astroEDU educational activity (links to astroEDU website) Description: Students are taken on a virtual journey to outer space to experience that we live on a tiny planet that floats in a vast and empty space.
License: CC-BY-4.0 Creative Commons Reconocimiento 4.0 Internacional (CC BY 4.0) icons
Tags:
Life
, Hands-on
, Model
, Scales
, Distances
, ISS
Age Ranges:
6-8
, 8-10
Education Level:
Primary
, Secondary
Areas of Learning:
Interactive Lecture
, Modelling
Costs:
Low Cost
Duration:
30 mins
Group Size:
Group
Skills:
Asking questions
, Communicating information
, Developing and using models
Fizzy Balloons – CO2 in School
astroEDU educational activity (links to astroEDU website) Description: Investigate the properties of carbon dioxide with this fun demonstration.
License: CC-BY-4.0 Creative Commons Reconocimiento 4.0 Internacional (CC BY 4.0) icons
Tags:
Life
, Hands-on
, Chemistry
, Earth Science
, Carbon Dioxide
Age Ranges:
8-10
, 10-12
Education Level:
Primary
, Secondary
Areas of Learning:
Interactive Lecture
, Traditional Science Experiment
Costs:
Medium Cost
Duration:
2 hours
Group Size:
Group
Skills:
Analysing and interpreting data
, Asking questions
, Constructing explanations
, Engaging in argument from evidence
, Planning and carrying out investigations
Investigating the Atmosphere – Air Takes Up Space
astroEDU educational activity (links to astroEDU website) Description: Air takes up space even though you cannot see it.
License: CC-BY-4.0 Creative Commons Reconocimiento 4.0 Internacional (CC BY 4.0) icons
Tags:
Geography
, Mathematics
, Air
Age Ranges:
6-8
, 8-10
Education Level:
Primary
Areas of Learning:
Modelling
, Social Research
Costs:
Low Cost
Duration:
1 hour
Group Size:
Group
Skills:
Analysing and interpreting data
, Asking questions
, Communicating information
, Constructing explanations
, Planning and carrying out investigations
The Intertropical Convergence Zone
astroEDU educational activity (links to astroEDU website) Description: The air circulation system: how are winds created?
License: CC-BY-4.0 Creative Commons Reconocimiento 4.0 Internacional (CC BY 4.0) icons
Tags:
Climate
, Updraft
, Convection
, Winds
Age Ranges:
12-14
, 14-16
Education Level:
Middle School
Areas of Learning:
Discussion Groups
, Modelling
, Social Research
Costs:
Medium Cost
Duration:
1 hour
Group Size:
Group
Skills:
Communicating information
, Constructing explanations
, Developing and using models
, Engaging in argument from evidence
, Planning and carrying out investigations
