Important terms:

Atmosphere - the relatively thin layer that forms Earth’s outermost layer

air pressure - the pressure caused by the weight of the collum of air pushing down on an area

barometer - an instrument used to measure changes in air pressure

electromagnetic waves - 1) a wave made up of a combination of a changing electric field and a changing magnetic field. 2) a wave that can transfer electric and magnetic energy that can travel through a vacuum of space

altitude- an elevation above sea level

convection-the transfer of thermal energy by the movement of a fluid

conduction - the transfer of thermal energy from one particle of matter to another

radiation - the transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves

scattering - a reflection of light in all directions

greenhouse effect - the trapping of heat near a planet’s surface by certain gases in the planet’s atmosphere

What does the atmosphere consist of - nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other gases, as well as particles of liquids and solids

Layers in the atmosphere - troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere

Troposphere - Lowest Layer of the atmosphere

Troposphere - the densest layer of the atmosphere

Troposphere - Weather conditions vary the most in this layer of the atmosphere

Relationship between altitude and temperature in the troposphere - per 1km increase in altitude there is a 6.5 degree Celsius decrease in temperature

Stratosphere - the layer of the atmosphere that contains the ozone layer

ozone layer - captures heat energy from the sun so the upper part of the stratosphere is where heat has been reflected.

stratosphere - the upper part of this layer is warmer because it is where heat has been reflected from the ozone

mesosphere - the layer of the atmosphere that protects the earth’s surface from meteoroids

meteor - “shooting starts”

thermosphere - the outermost layer of the atmosphere

thermosphere - no definite outer limit

Ionosphere - the lower part of the thermosphere

exosphere - where satellites orbit in the thermosphere

radiation - direct transfer by electromagnetic waves

an example of radiation - the sun

conduction - direct transfer by touching

an example of conduction - heat from the ground

convection - the transfer by movement of a fluid

an example of convection - heat traveling in the air due to density differences

the cause of local winds - pressure diferences

the cause of global winds - convention from unequal heating from earth