CCHS Atmosphere, Clouds, and Moisture in the Atmosphere Brown

Alto

prefix meaning cloud is found higher in the sky than usual

Capacity

the maximum amount of water that can be present in the air at a certain temperature; increases with increasing temperature.

Cirrus

high-altitude clouds that are thin, feathery tufts of ice crystals.

Cloud

a collection of small water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air

Condensation

the change from water vapor to liquid water

Condensation Nuclei

microscopic particles on which water vapor condenses to form cloud/fog droplets.

Cumulus

low altitude thick, puffy, white clouds with flat bases, formed by vertically rising air currents often localized convective lifting or convergence

Deposition

phase change from gas to solid

Dew

tiny drops of water that form on cool surfaces when water vapor condenses

Dew Point

the temperature at which condensation occurs because the air is saturated

Evaporation

the change from liquid water to water vapor

Fog

a cloud in contact with the ground

Frost

feathery crystals of ice formed on surfaces when water vapor in the air deposits at a temperature below freezing

Nimbo

prefix-suffix to indicate that a cloud is rain-bearing

Relative Humidity

a comparison of the actual amount of water vapor in the air with the maximum amount of water vapor that can be present in the air. (Specific Humidity/Capacity)

Saturation

the condition in which the air is holding as much water vapor as possible at a given temperature and pressure. When air is saturated it is also 100% RH and the dewpoint temperature has been reached so there will be condensation.

Specific Humidity

the amount of water vapor in the air at a given time and place; expressed as the number of grams of water vapor per kilogram of air.

Stratus

clouds that form in low, horizontal layers, covering all or most of sky

Transpiration

the emission of water vapor into the atmosphere from the leaves of plants

Mesosphere

The layer of the Earth's atmosphere that extends from the stratosphere to the thermosphere, characterized by decreasing temperatures.

Ozone

a form of oxygen that has three oxygen atoms in each molecule instead of two. In the stratosphere it protects us from dangerous ultraviolet radiation. In troposphere it is considered a pollutant as it is a main ingredient in photochemical smog and damaging to plants and people.

Stratosphere

The layer of Earth's atmosphere that extends from the troposhere to the mesosphere; concentration of ozone in this layer causes the temperature to rise as you go up.

Thermosphere

The layer of Earth's atmosphere above the mesosphere, characterized by increasing temperatures with altitude.

Troposphere

The lower layer of the atmosphere where we live. The temperature decreases with altitude

Weather

the state of the atmosphere at any given time, varies considerably and is described and measured by the "elements of weather" such as cloud cover and type, wind direction and speed, humidity, temperature etc.

Climate

a description of aggregate weather conditions; the sum of all statistical weather information that helps describe the weather of a region, the "expected" norm against which this year's/today's weather can be compared. Usually graphically described in terms of monthly temperature and precipitation.

atmosphere

the envelope of gases surrounding the earth

adiabatic cooling

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

Quantitative

Data that is in numbers

Qualitative

Data in the form of words

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

chemicals that have the potential to destroy the ozone; ex.) hair-spray, refrigeration, etc.

smog

air pollution by a mixture of smoke and fog

Montreal Protocol

meeting in 1987 where a group of nations met in Canada and agreed to take steps to fight against Ozone Depletion-CFC's banned

Variable components

Can change from place to place (Water vapor, dust, ash, ozone)

aerosol

Microscopic particles that can remain suspended for long periods of time (Dust, pollen, sea salt, smoke)

strato

latin for "layer"

cirro

latin for "curl of hair"

cumulo

latin for "heap"

Saturation

the air is "full", or reached capacity

Temperature

how fast molecules are moving

humidity

The amount of water vapor in the air

sling psychrometer

tool made of a wet and dry thermometer that measures relative humidity and requires a table to interpret the two temperatures