Atmosphere Vocabulary

Flashcards covering vocabulary terms from Chapter 15, Lessons 1 & 2 of the Atmosphere study guide.

Relative humidity

The ratio of water vapor the air contains to the maximum amount it could have at that temperature.

Air pressure

The force exerted by air on the area below it.

Stratosphere

The layer above the troposphere, contains the ozone layer.

Processes that affect weather in the troposphere

Heat transfer and the interaction of air masses.

Radiation

Transfer of energy through space.

Conduction

Transfer of energy through direct contact.

Convection

Transfer of energy through the movement of fluids or gases.

Front

A boundary between air masses with different properties.

Emission

Substances released into the atmosphere.

Fossil fuels

Fuels formed from the remains of ancient organisms.

Smog

Air pollution formed by chemical reactions in the presence of sunlight.

Temperature inversion

A condition in which a layer of warm air traps cooler air near the surface.

Acid deposition

Precipitation containing acids formed from air pollutants.