earth and space science weather vocab

atmosphere

a mixture of gases that surrounds a planet, moon, or other celestial body

ozone

a gas molecule that is made up of three oxygen atoms

polar easterlies

prevailing winds that blow from east to west between 60 degrees and 90 degrees latitude in both hemisphere.

jet stream

a narrow band of strong winds that blow in the upper troposphere

specific heat

The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of a substance by 1 degree Celsius

air mass

A large body of air that has similar temperature and humidity

front

the leading edge of an air mass

atmospheric pressure

the force per unit area that is exerted on a surface by the weight of the atmosphere

troposphere

the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere, where weather occurs; temperature decreases as altitude increases

stratosphere

layer of Earth's atmosphere between the troposphere and mesosphere; temperature increases as altitude increases

mesosphere

the coldest layer of the atmosphere, between the stratosphere and the thermosphere; temperature decreases as altitude increases

thermosphere

The uppermost layer of the atmosphere; temperature increases as altitude increases

coriolis effect

the curving of the path of a moving object from an otherwise straight path due to Earth's rotation

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 degrees and 60 degrees latitude in both hemispheres