ATMO 105/106 Introductory Meteorology - Notes (Vocabulary Flashcards)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts and terms from the lecture notes.

Weather

The conditions of the atmosphere over a short period of time; example: tornado, cold front.

Climate

The accumulation of daily and seasonal weather events over a long period of time (mean, variation, and extremes); examples include mean precipitation in Kansas or average global temperature.

Troposphere

The lowest layer of the atmosphere, where weather occurs; contains mostly permanent gases with some variable gases.

Stratosphere

The layer above the troposphere; temperature increases with height, is relatively stable, and contains the ozone layer.

Ozone

O3; near the surface it is highly reactive and harmful, while in the stratosphere it absorbs UV radiation, protecting the surface.

Ozone Hole

A minimum of ozone centered over the Antarctic, historically linked to CFCs, allowing more UV radiation to reach the surface.

Water Vapor

The most important and variable greenhouse gas; concentrations up to about 4% in maritime tropical regions and a fraction of a percent in the Arctic; essential for cloud formation and precipitation.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

A small but crucial atmospheric component (~0.037%); important greenhouse gas with natural and anthropogenic sources.

Temperature

A measure of the average kinetic energy of molecules; higher temperatures mean faster average speeds; scales include Kelvin, Celsius, and Fahrenheit.

Kelvin Scale

An absolute temperature scale with zero at absolute zero; used in scientific contexts.

Fahrenheit Scale

A temperature scale used primarily in the U.S.; conversions relate to Celsius (e.g., °C = 5/9(°F − 32)).

Celsius Scale

A temperature scale; conversions to Fahrenheit are given; often used with the relation K = °C + 273.15.

Pressure

The amount of force per unit area exerted by air molecules.

Air Pressure

Atmospheric pressure expressed in common units: millibar (mb), hectopascal (hPa), and inches of Mercury (inHg); standard sea-level values are ~1013.25 mb/hPa and ~29.92 inHg.

Millibar (mb)

A unit of pressure equal to 1/1000 bar; widely used in meteorology.

Hectopascal (hPa)

A unit of pressure equal to 100 pascals; numerically equivalent to mb; standard sea-level ~1013.25 hPa.

Inches of Mercury (inHg)

A unit of pressure using a column of mercury; standard sea-level pressure is 29.92 inHg.

Tropopause

The boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere; its altitude varies with latitude and season and marks the top of weather activity.

Lapse Rate

The rate at which air temperature decreases with height; commonly ~6.5°C per kilometer (3.6°F per 1000 ft).

Density

Mass per unit volume.

Mass

The quantity of matter in an object.