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McC 8 Atmosphere
Atmosphere & Climate
Question | Answer |
---|---|
atmosphere | thin layer of air that forms a protective covering around the planet. |
troposhpere | the lowest of Earth's atmospheric layers; contains 99% of all the water vapor and 75% of all atmospheric gases; rain, snow, and clouds form here and this layer extends up to 10 km. |
stratosphere | extends from 10-50km above the surface of the Earth; contains a gas called ozone. |
mesosphere | from 50-85 kmm above the surface of the Earth; shooting stars can be seen in this layer. |
thermosphere | named for its high temperatures,; the thickest of all atmospheric layers and extends from 85 km to 500 km above the Earth. |
ionosphere | an electrically charged layer of the atmosphere within the thermoshere; this layer allows radio waves to travel across the country |
exosphere | layer having very few air molecules; where the space shuttle orbits the Earth. |
ozone layer | extends from 19-48 km above the Earth's surface; made of 3 oxygen molecules and necessary for life since it shields us from the Sun's ultraviolet radiation. |
ultraviolet radiation | one of the many types of energy that comes to the Earth from the Sun. Too much exposure can damage skin and casue cancer. |
cholofluorocarbons | group of chemical compunds used in various industries, that when leaked into the atmospher can attach to oxygen molcules in ozone and destroy the ozone molecule |
radiation | energy that is transferred in the form of rays or waves. |
conduction | the transfer of energy that occurs when molecules bump into one another |
convection | the transfer of heat through the flow of material |
hydrosphere | all of the water on the Earth's surface |
condensation | process of water vapor changing into a liquid |
Coriolis Effect | the result of the Erath's rotation which causes moving air and water to appear to turn to the right north of the equator and left south of the equator. |
sea breeze | created during the day becasue solar radiation warms the land more than the water so wind blows from the sea toward the land. |
land breeze | movement of the air toward the water from the land. |
climate | the pattern of weather that occurs in an area over many years |
tropics | the region between latitudes 23 degrees N and 23 degrees S; receives the most amount of solar radiation because the Sun shines directly over these areas. |
polar zone | extends from 66 degrees N to 66 degrees S; solar radiation hits the zones at a low angle, spreading energy over a large area. |
temperate zone | the zone found in between the polar and tropic zones; weather here is moderate |
adaptation | any structure or behavior that helps an organism survvie in its environement. |
hibernation | reduction in bodily activity which results in lower body temperatures |
seasons | short periods of climatic changecaused by changes on the amount of solar radiation on an area |
El Nino | climatic event that involve the Pacific Ocean and the atmosphere; increased ocean temperatures result |
greenhouse effect | a natural heating that occurs when certain gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap heat. |
global warming | average global temperatures of the Earth are rising |
deforestation | the destruction and cutting down of forests; impacts the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere |