Earth Science-Meterology

meterology

study of the atmosphere

atmosphere

mixture of gases that surrounds Earth

ozone

a form of oxygen

Exosphere

• outermost layer of the atmosphere

• temperature goes up with altitude’

• satellites orbit in this layer

Thermosphere

• Temperature goes up with altitude

• aurora borealis can occur

Mesosphere

• Temperatures drop with altitude

• meteors burn in this layer

• radio waves reflected to Earth in this layer

Stratosphere

• Temperature goes up with altitude

• most jets fly here

• protective ozone layer above

troposphere

• Layer nearest to Earth

• all weather happens here

• majority of air in this layer

• temperature drops as altitude increases

Water cycle/hydrologic cycle

the continuous movement of water between the surface of the Earth and the troposhere

global winds

blown steadily across Earth in paths that r thousands of Km long

Coriolis effect

effects northern hemisphere winds toward the right/effects southern hemisphere winds toward the left

jet stream

high-altitude winds at 350 kilometers per hours at 6k-12k meters above earth’s surface

weather

the conditions of the atmosphere at a certain time and place

radar

sends out radio signals that are reflected from objects like clouds and rain

station model

a diagram that shows how data from a weather station appears on a weather map

air mass

a large body of air that has certain temperature and amount of moisture

maritime tropical

when air mass forms over the equator’s oceans

maritime polar

when air mass forms over northern U.S ocean water

continental tropical

when air mass forms over Mexico and moves north during summer

continental polar

when air mass that forms in Canada to the U.S in winter

front

leading edge of an air mass

clouds

masses of water droplets or ice crystals that hang in the troposphere

air pressure/barometric pressure

measure of weight pressing down on a given area

millibars

weather maps show air pressure in units called _________

highs

areas with the highest air pressure

lows

areas with the lowest air pressure

anemometer

used to measure wind speeds

Beaufort wind scale

relates common observations to wind speeds

humidity

moisture in air

relative humidity

a comparison of the amount of vapor in the air to the greatest amount of

saturated

when there is much air in the air

psychrometer

a way to measure humidity

dew

a water vapor that has condensed on a surface into liquid water

climate

the general weather of an area over a long period of time

Latitude

the distance of a place north or south of the equator

elevation

the distance of a place above sea level

topography

the shape of a land/affects the amount of precipitation an area receives

global winds

blows steadily in a specific direction that affects the amount of moisture in area

ocean currents

affects the temperature of landmasses they pass by