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chap 11 vocab
Term | Definition |
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troposphere | layer of the atmosphere closest to earths surface where most of the mass of the atmosphere is found and in which most weather takes place and air pollution collects |
stratosphere | layer of earths atmosphere that is located above the tropopause and is mad up primarily of concentrated ozone |
mesosphere | layer of earths atmosphere above the stratosphere |
thermosphere | layer of earths atmosphere that is located above the mesopause oxygen atoms absorb solar radiation causing the temperature to increase in this layer |
exosphere | outer most layer of earths atmosphere that is located above the thermosphere with no clear boundary at the top transitional region between earths atmosphere and outer space |
radiation | the transfer of thermal energy electromagnetic waves the transfer of thermal energy from the sun to earth by radiation |
conduction | the transfer of thermal energy between objects in contact by the collisions between the particles in the objects |
convection | the transfer of thermal energy by the movement of heated material from one place to another |
temperature inversion | increase in temperature with height in an atmospheric layer which inverts the temp altitude relationship and can worsen air pollution and season. |
humidity | amount of water vapor in the atmosphere at a given location on earths surface |
saturation | the point at which water molecules leaving the waters surface equals the rate of water molecules returning to the surface. |
relative humidity | ratio of water vapor contained in a specific volume of air compared with how much water vapor that amount of air actually can hold expressed as a percentage. |
dew point | temperature to which air is cooled at a constant pressure to reach saturation at which point condensation can occur |
latent heat | stored energy in water that is not released to warm the atmosphere until condensation takes place |
condensation nucleus | small particles in the atmosphere around which cloud droplets can form |
orographic lifting | cloud formation that occurs when warm moist air is forced to rise up the side of a mountain. |
cumulus | puffy lumpy looking clouds that usually occur below 2000 m. |
stratus | a layer sheetlike cloud that covers much or all of the sky in a given area. |
cirrus | high clouds made up of ice crystals that form at heights of 6000 m" often have a wispy indistinct appearance. |
precipitation | all solid and liquid forms of water including rain snow sleet and hail that fall from clouds |
coalescence | process that occurs when cloud droplets collide and form larger droplets which eventually become too heavy to remain aloft and can fall to earth as precipitation. |