Atmosphere Unit

ATMOSPHERE

The envelope of gases that surrounds the planet

CONDUCTION

Energy transfer within a solid by direct contact

CONVECTION

Energy transfer within fluids from one place to another

RADIATION

Energy transfer by waves

CORIOLIS EFFECT

The curving of an object due to the rotation of the Earth

TRADE WINDS

Blow towards the equator

DOLDRUMS

Low pressure at the equator with very little winds

HORSE LATITUDES

Areas of weak winds away from the equator

WESTERLIES

Wind belts at 30˚ and 60˚ latitude blowing opposite the trade winds

POLAR EASTERLIES

Wind belts near the poles formed from cold, sinking air moving

SEA BREEZE

During the day, air flows from the water to the land

LAND BREEZE

During the night, air flows from the land to water

VALLEY BREEZE

During the day, the valley warms up heating the air causing it to rise

MOUNTAIN BREEZE

During the night, the mountains cool faster than the valley causing the cool air to sink to the valley

OZONE

A form of oxygen that absorbs ultraviolet solar radiation, found in the stratosphere

NITROGEN

Most abundant gas in our atmosphere

AIR PRESSURE

The result of the weight of a column of air pushing down on an area

ALTITUDE

Elevation above sea level

TROPOSPHERE

The layer of the atmosphere in which Earth's weather occurs

STRATOSPHERE

The second layer of the atmosphere and contains the ozone layer

MESOSPHERE

The layer of the atmosphere protects Earth's surface from being hit by most meteoroids.

THERMOSPHERE

The outermost layer of Earth's atmosphere

POLLUTANT

Harmful substances in the air, water, or soil

TEMPERATURE

The average amount of energy of motion of each particle of a substance

WIND

The horizontal movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

LOCAL WINDS

Caused by the unequal heating of Earth's surface within a small area

GLOBAL WINDS

Created by unequal heating of Earth's surface over a large area

AQI

Air Quality Index- the lower the # the healthier the air.

Ozone Layer

Protective layer in stratosphere that shields earth from UV radiation.

Convection Current

a current caused by the rising of heated fluid and sinking of cooled fluid