Science - Chapter 8

Atmosphere

the relatively thin layer that forms Earth’s outermost layer

air pressure

the pressure caused by the weight of the collum of air pushing down on an area

barometer

an instrument used to measure changes in air pressure

electromagnetic waves

1) a wave made up of a combination of a changing electric field and a changing magnetic field. 2) a wave that can transfer electric and magnetic energy that can travel through a vacuum of space

altitude

an elevation above sea level

convection

the transfer of thermal energy by the movement of a fluid

conduction

the transfer of thermal energy from one particle of matter to another

radiation

the transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves

scattering

a reflection of light in all directions

greenhouse effect

the trapping of heat near a planet’s surface by certain gases in the planet’s atmosphere

What the atmosphere consist of

nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other gases, as well as particles of liquids and solids

Layers in the atmosphere

troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere

Troposphere

Lowest Layer of the atmosphere

Troposphere

the densest layer of the atmosphere

Troposphere

Weather conditions vary the most in this layer of the atmosphere

Relationship between altitude and temperature in the troposphere

per 1km increase in altitude there is a 6.5 degree Celsius decrease in temperature

Stratosphere

the layer of the atmosphere that contains the ozone layer

ozone layer

captures heat energy from the sun so the upper part of the stratosphere is where heat has been reflected.

stratosphere

the upper part of this layer is warmer because it is where heat has been reflected from the ozone

mesosphere

the layer of the atmosphere that protects the earth’s surface from meteoroids

meteor

“shooting starts”

thermosphere

the outermost layer of the atmosphere

thermosphere

no definite outer limit

Ionosphere

the lower part of the thermosphere

exosphere

where satellites orbit in the thermosphere

radiation

direct transfer by electromagnetic waves

an example of radiation

the sun

conduction

direct transfer by touching

an example of conduction

heat from the ground

convection

the transfer by movement of a fluid

an example of convection

heat traveling in the air due to density differences

the cause of local winds

pressure differences

the cause of global winds

convention from unequal heating from the earth