Earth's Atmosphere - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from Chapter 1: Earth's Atmosphere.

Weather

The state of the atmosphere at a specific location and time.

Climate

The long-term accumulation of daily and seasonal weather events.

Geostationary satellite

A satellite that orbits at the same rate as the Earth’s rotation, continuously observing the surface and collecting imagery and data (water vapor, visible, infrared, temperature, pressure).

Middle-latitude cyclonic storm system

A storm system that forms outside the tropics in the Northern Hemisphere.

Storm system (examples)

Large-scale weather disturbances such as hurricanes, thunderstorms, and tornadoes.

Wind

Air in motion relative to the surface.

Wind direction

The compass direction from which the wind is blowing.

Wind speed

The rate at which air moves past a point.

Fronts

Boundaries between air masses with different properties (e.g., temperature, humidity).

Pressure

Force per unit area exerted by the weight of air; decreases with height.

Temperature

A measure of the average kinetic energy of air molecules and a key factor in weather patterns.

Cumulus clouds

Puffy, cotton-ball clouds associated with convection and rising air.

Atmosphere

The envelope of gases surrounding Earth, organized into layers with varying properties.

Early atmosphere

Earth’s first atmosphere, mainly hydrogen and helium; CO2 was absorbed by oceans and plants later produced oxygen.

Modern atmosphere

Today’s atmosphere contains nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor, carbon dioxide, ozone, aerosols, and pollutants.

Permanent gases

Gases that occur in relatively constant proportions (e.g., N2, O2, Ar) in the atmosphere.

Variable gases

Gases whose amounts vary (e.g., H2O, CO2, CH4, N2O, O3).

Water vapor (H2O)

A variable gas; up to about 0–4% of the atmosphere by volume.

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

A greenhouse gas released by burning fuels, respiration, volcanism, and more; absorbed by photosynthesis, weathering, and dissolution in water.

Ozone (O3)

A gas that protects against UV radiation in the stratosphere but contributes to photochemical smog at the surface; most ozone is in the stratosphere (~97%).

Aerosols

Tiny solid or liquid particles suspended in air, from natural and human sources; influence condensation and can be pollutants.

Nitrogen (N2)

Major permanent gas comprising about 78% of the atmosphere.

Oxygen (O2)

Second major permanent gas comprising about 21% of the atmosphere.

Ozone distribution

Ozone is largely in the stratosphere where it protects against UV radiation; destruction by CFCs leads to ozone depletion.

Atmospheric layers

Vertical structure of the atmosphere: Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, and Ionosphere, defined by temperature, composition, or electrical properties.