For test on Tue
troposphere
atmospheric layer closest to Earth's surface; extends to altitudes between 8-15km; where weather occurs; temperature decreases with altitude increase
stratosphere
2nd layer of atmosphere; extends from 15 km to to 50km; location of ozone layer; absorbs 95% of Ultraviolet radiation; temperature increases with altitude increase
mesosphere
extends from 50kim to 85km; (prefix means middle); one of the two layers where most meteors burn up
thermosphere
extends from 85km to 500km; one of the two layers where most meteors burn up
ionosphere
region between 69km and 500km (within the mesophere and thermosphere) that contains ions; it's ions reflect AM radio waves transmitted at ground level
aurora
an atmospheric phenomenon that occurs when ions from the Sun strike air molecules, causing them to emit vivid colors of light; occurs in the ionosphere
exosphere
the outermost region of the atmosphere; molecules move at high speeds after absorbing the Sun's radiation
air pressure
the force that a column of air applies on the air or a surface below it
altitude
height above sea level
radiation
The transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves
electromagnetic radiation
a form of energy that includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared light, visible light, ultraviolet light, X-rays and gamma-rays
radiation balance
balance between incoming solar energy and outgoing energy radiated into space
greenhouse effect
natural situation in which heat is retained in Earth's atmosphere by carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and other gases
conduction
the transfer of thermal energy by collisions between particles of matter
convection
the transfer of thermal energy by the movement of particles within matter
temperature inversion
atmospheric condition in the tropsphere in which warm air traps cooler air near the earth's surface
wind
the movement of air from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure created by unequal heating of the Earth's surface
trade winds
prevailing winds that blow from east to west from 30 degrees latitude to the equator in both hemispheres
westerlies
prevailing winds that blow from west to east between 30 - 60 degrees latitude in both hemispheres
polar easterlies
prevailing winds that blow from east to west between 60 - 90 degrees latitude in both hemispheres
Coriolis effect
Earth's rotation causes moving air and water to appear to move to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere; contributes to prevailing winds
jet stream
narrow band of high winds near the top of the troposphere; move cold air from the poles toward the tropics and warm air from the tropics toward the poles
sea breeze
wind that blows from the sea to the land due to local temperature and pressure differences
land breeze
wind that blows from the land to the sea due to local temperature and pressure differences
weather
the atmospheric conditions, along with short-term changes, of a certain place at a certain time
climate
the average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time
weather variables
temperature, precipitation, air pressure, wind speed and direction, humidity, and cloud cover
humidity
amount of water vapor in the air
relative humidity
the amount of water vapor present in the air compared to the maximum amount of water vapor the air could contain at that temperature
dew point
the temperature at which air is saturated and condensation of water vapor can occur
condensation
the change from a gas to a liquid
cloud
a collection of small water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air, which forms when the air is cooled and condensation occurs
stratus clouds
flat, white, and layered clouds at altitudes up to 2,000 m
cumulus clouds
fluffy, heaped, or piled up clouds at 2,000 - 6,000 m of altitude
cirrus clouds
wispy clouds above 6,000 m of altitude
fog
near surface cloud
nimbus clouds
clouds that produce precipitation that reach the ground in the form of rain, snow or hail
high-pressure system
a large body of circulating air with high pressure at its center and lower pressure outside of the system
low-pressure system
a large body of circulating air with low pressure at its center and higher pressure outside of the system
front
a boundary between two air masses
cold front
dense cold air pushes under warm air mass; thunderstorms followed by cool, fair weather
warm front
moist, warm less dense air slides up and over cold air mass; condenses into broad clouds; brings gentle rain or light snow, followed by warmer, milder weather
stationary front
warm and cold air meet and stand still; clouds and fog form and it may rain or snow--can bring days of clouds and precipitation
occluded front
forms when warm air mass gets caught between two cold air masses; warm air rises as the cold air masses meet in the middle; temperature drops, can bring strong winds and heavy precipitation
Isaac
the coolest student