Unit 4 - Atmosphere

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The proportion of the incident light or radiation that is reflected by a surface is called __________.

Albedo

High albedo surfaces like __________ reflect more sunlight.

Ice and snow

The process by which particles and molecules deflect incoming solar radiation in different directions is known as __________.

Scattering

The warming of Earth's surface caused by greenhouse gases that trap heat is the __________.

Greenhouse Effect

The lowest layer of the atmosphere, where weather occurs and contains most of the atmospheric water vapor, is the __________.

Troposphere

The layer of the atmosphere that contains the ozone layer and absorbs ultraviolet solar radiation is the __________.

Stratosphere

The coldest layer of the atmosphere, where meteors burn up upon entry, is the __________.

Mesosphere

The layer containing the ionosphere and where auroras occur is the __________.

Thermosphere

The outermost layer of the atmosphere, transitioning into space, is the __________.

Exosphere

Atmospheric pressure is higher at sea level and __________ with elevation.

Decreases

The force exerted by the weight of the atmosphere above a surface is called __________.

Atmospheric Pressure

Major wind belts include __________, __________, and __________.

Trade Winds, Westerlies, Polar Easterlies

A land breeze occurs at night when the land cools faster than the __________.

Sea

The deflection of moving air and water due to Earth's rotation is known as the __________.

Coriolis Effect

The current composition of the atmosphere includes __________, __________, and __________.

Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon

The greenhouse gases include __________, __________, and __________.

Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), water vapor (H2O)