The Atmosphere & Greenhouse gasses and Energy Balance

Order of the layers

Stratopause

the level of the atmosphere which is the boundary between two layers: the stratosphere and the mesosphere

tropopause

the upper limit of the troposphere

thermopause

The thermopause is the atmospheric boundary of Earth's energy system, located at the top of the thermosphere.

atmosphere

The atmosphere surrounds the Earth and holds the air we breathe; it protects us from outer space; and holds moisture (clouds), gases, and tiny particles. In short, the atmosphere is the protective bubble in which we live

Ozone layer

The ozone layer sits in the stratosphere between 15 km and 30 km above the earth and shields us and other living things from the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation

aurora borealis

a natural electrical phenomenon characterized by the appearance of streamers of reddish or greenish light in the sky, especially near the northern or southern magnetic pole. The effect is caused by the interaction of charged particles from the sun with atoms in the upper atmosphere. In northern and southern regions it is respectively called aurora borealis

Altitude

height relative to sea level (eg 5280)

pressure

continuous physical force exerted on or against an object by something in contact with it.

temperature

the measure of heat

Popular greenhouse gasses

Methane, carbon dioxide, ozone, CFCs, greenhouse gases, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides

Concentration, intensity

The amount of that substance in a space

intensity

the quantity of energy which the wave conveys per unit time across the surface of the unit area

duration

amount of time something takes

albedo energy budget/balance

describes the balance between the radiant energy that reaches Earth from the sun and the energy that flows from Earth back out to space

photon

a tiny particle or bundle of electromagnetic radiation

infrared

that portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that extends from the long wavelength, or red, end of the visible-light range to the microwave range

heat

the quality of being hot; high temperature; form of energy

Reflect

throw back heat/energy

absorb

take in or soak

Urban Heat Islands

Heat islands are urbanized areas that experience higher temperatures than outlying areas

transpiration

occurs when plants take up liquid water from the soil and release water vapor into the air from their leaves

Albedo

Albedo is the fraction of light that a surface reflects