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Science Vocab
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Atmosphere | a mixture of gases that surrounds a planet or moon |
Stratosphere | the layer of the atmosphere that is above the troposphere and in which temperature increase as altitude increase |
Troposphere | the lowest layer of atmosphere in which temperature decrease at a constant rate as altitude increase |
Thermosphere | the uppermost layer of the atmosphere in which temperature increase as altitude increases |
Air pressure | the measure of the force with which air molecules push on surface |
Radiation | the transfer go energy as electromagnetic waves |
Thermal conduction | the transfer of energy as heat through a material |
Convection | the transfer go thermal energy by the circulation or movement of a liquid or gas |
Global warming | a gradual increase in average global temperatures |
Greenhouse effect | the warming of the surface and lower atmosphere of the earth that occurs when water vapor,carbon dioxide,and other gases absorb and reradiate thermal energy |
Wind | the movement of air caused by differences in air pressure |
Coriolis effect | the apparent curving of the path f a moving object from otherwise straight path due to the earth rotation |
Westerlies | prevailing winds that blow from west to east between 30 and 60 latitude in both hemispheres |
Trade winds | prevailing winds that blow northeast from 30 north latitude to the equator and that blow southeast from 30 south latitude to the equator |
Polar easterlies | prevailing winds that blow from east to west between 60 and 90 latitude in both hemispheres |
Jet stream | a narrow belt of strong winds that blow in the upper troposphere |
Air pollution | the contamination of the atmosphere by the introduction of pollutants from human and natural sources |
Acid precipitation | rain,sleet,or snow that contains a high a high concentration of acids |