Atmosphere + Climate + Geo APES Stuff

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Insolation

Incoming solar radiation, which is the main source of energy on Earth.

Troposphere

A layer of the atmosphere closest to the surface of Earth, extending up to approximately 16 km (10 miles).

Stratosphere

The layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere, extending roughly 16 to 50 km (10-31 miles) above the surface of Earth.

Ozone

A pale blue gas composed of molecules made up of three oxygen atoms

Mesosphere

The layer of the atmosphere above the stratosphere, extending roughly 50 to 85 km (31-53 miles) above the surface of Earth.

Thermosphere

The layer of the atmosphere above the mesosphere, extending 85 to 600 km (53-375 miles) above the surface of Earth.

Exosphere

The outermost layer of the atmosphere, which extends from 600 to 10,000 km (375- 6,200 miles) above the surface of Earth.

Adiabatic cooling

The cooling effect of reduced pressure on air as it rises higher in the atmosphere and expands.

Adiabatic heating

The heating effect of increased pressure on air as it sinks toward the surface of Earth and decreases in volume.

Latent heat release

The release of energy when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses into liquid water.

Atmospheric convection current

Global patterns of air movement that are initiated by the unequal heating of Earth.

Hadley cell

A convection current in the atmosphere that cycles between the equator and 30° N and 30° S.

Intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)

The latitude that receives the most intense sunlight, which causes the ascending branches of the two Hadley cells to converge.

Polar cell

A convection current in the atmosphere, formed by air that rises at 60° N and 60° S and sinks at the poles, 90° N and 90° S.

Ferrell cell

A convection current in the atmosphere that lies between Hadley cells and polar cells.

Coriolis effect

The deflection of an object's path due to the rotation of Earth.

Saturation point

The maximum amount of water vapor in the air at a given temperature.

Westerlies

prevailing winds that blow from west to east between 30 and 60 degrees N & S

Rain Shadow Effect

High precipitation on the windward side of a mountain range, resulting in lush vegetation & a warm, moist climate on that side, but a desert area on the leeward (opposite from the wind) side.

AIr Property: Moisture

Warm air holds more moisture than cold air

Air Property: Density

Warm air is less dense than cold air, so it rises

Air Property: Pressure

As air rises, it is under less atmospheric pressure, so it expands and cools

Gyers

large ocean circ. patterns due to global wind, clockwise in NH, counterclockwise in SH

Upwelling Zones

areas of ocean where wind blows warm surface water away from a land mass, drawing up colder, deepwater to replace it (Brings oxygen and nutrients to surface —> productive fishing).

Thermohaline Circulation

A large scale circulation that connects all of the world’s oceans together and distributes salt, nutrients, and temperature throughout them.

El Nino

El Niño is a climate pattern that occurs in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, where surface waters become unusually warm. It happens every 2 to 7 years and typically lasts 9 to 12 months. During El Niño, trade winds weaken or reverse direction, allowing warm water to shift eastward toward the coast of South America. This leads to heavy rainfall and flooding in South America, while areas like Australia and Indonesia experience drought.

La Nina

El Niño is a climate pattern that occurs in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, where surface waters become unusually warm. It happens every 2 to 7 years and typically lasts 9 to 12 months. During El Niño, trade winds weaken or reverse direction, allowing warm water to shift eastward toward the coast of South America. This leads to heavy rainfall and flooding in South America, while areas like Australia and Indonesia experience drought.