Chpt. 18 Key Terms Cards

atmosphere

The envelope of gases that surrounds any astronomical body; in particular, refers to the mass of gases that surrounds the earth

firmament

The curve of the sky

homosphere

the zone of a uniform mixture of gases closest to the earth’s surface; extends from gound level to an altitude of about 80 km

heterosphere

the zone of the earth’s atmosphere above the homosphere consisting of distinct layers of different gases; extends from about 80 km

troposphere

the lowest temperature layer of Earth’s atmosphere extending from ground level to about 11 km. Air temperature generally decreases steadily with altitude. This region is the location of most of the earth’s weather

stratosphere

the 2nd temperature layer in the Earth’s atmosphere above the troposphere and below the mesosphere, extending from about 11 km. Temperature increases with altitude in this region. Includes jet streams

mesosphere

the temperature layer in the earth’s atmosphere above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere, extending from about 50 km to about 80 km, or the top of the homosphere; contains the coldest temperature in the atmosphere.

thermosphere

the temperature layer in the earth’s atmosphere above the mesophere, extending from 80 km to about 300 km. the hottest temperature in the atmosphere are here

exosphere

region of the atmosphere above the thermosphere where the atmosphere thins into interplanetary space

ozone layer

A layer of concentrated ozone in the stratosphere that shields the stratosphere that shields the earth from harmful ultraviolet light

greenhouse effect

Warming of the lower atmosphere as it traps and absorbs infrared energy emitted by the ground and water from absorbed sunlight

solar constant

the rate of the flow of radiant energy

Ionosphere

75-500 km above the Earth’s surface that is a layer of ionized atoms that reflects long radio communication waves

Emissions

Due to manufacturing

Early Scientists

Scheele, Priestly, Lavoisier

Jet Streams

What aircrafts use to increase their speed and use less fuel

Carbon Cycle

Flow of carbon from living things to the environment and back again

Nitrogen Cycle

Atmospheric nitrogen must be converted to organic or fixed nitrogen

Magnetosphere

60-160,000 km above Earth’s surface

How does atmosphere near Earth’s surface absorb solar energy?

Radiation, Conduction, Convection