WW FOSS Investigation 1.2 and 1.3 Vocab

atmosphere

A mixture of gases that surrounds a planet or moon.

troposhere

the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere, where weather occurs

seasons

each of the four divisions of the year (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) marked by particular weather patterns and daylight hours, resulting from the earth's changing position with regard to the sun.

air pressure

The measure of the force with which air molecules push on a surface

weather factors

Properties of air that affect weather, including temperature, humidity, pressure, and wind.

Stratosphere

2nd layer of atmosphere; extends from 10 to 30 miles up; location of ozone layer; absorbs 95% of Ultraviolet radiation; temperature increases with altitude increase.

jet stream

bands of high-speed winds about 10 kilometers above Earth's surface

Mesophere

The layer of Earth's atmosphere immediately above the stratosphere

Thermosphere

the region of the atmosphere above the mesosphere The thermosphere is characterized throughout by an increase in temperature with height.

solar energy

energy that comes from the sun

exosphere

The outer layer of the thermosphere, extending outward into space.

carbon dioxide

a colorless, odorless gas produced by burning carbon and organic compounds and by respiration. It is naturally present in air (about 0.03 percent) and is absorbed by plants in photosynthesis.

nitrogen

Most abundant gas in the atmosphere

water vapor

water in the form of a gas

Oxygen

21% of Earth's atmosphere

ozone

a gas molecule that is made up of three oxygen atoms

mass

the amount of matter in an object

permanent gases

nitrogen and oxygen

variable gases

atmospheric gases such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, and ozone that vary in concentration in space and time

greenhouse gas

gases in the atmosphere that trap energy

thermal energy

Heat energy

Photosynthesis

Plants use the sun's energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into sugars

Stratosphere

2nd layer of atmosphere; location of ozone layer; absorbs 95% of Ultraviolet radiation;

Methane

variable gas that is increasing in concentration in the atmosphere.