Term | Definition |
atmosphere | the mixture of gasses that surrounds earth |
air pressure | the measure of the force with which particles in the air push on an area |
troposphere | lowest layer of the atmosphere |
stratosphere | the layer above the troposphere |
mesosphere | the layer above the stratosphere |
ionosphere | reflects radio waves |
exosphere | the layer in outer space with thin air |
thermosphere | the upper most layer of the atmosphere |
ozone layer | protects earth by absorbing large amounts of harmful radiation from the sun |
greenhouse effect | process by which gasses in the atmosphere absorb and give off infrared radiation |
temperature | measure of the average kinetic energy of particles |
thermal energy | the total kinetic energy of particles |
thermal expansion | increase in volume that results in an increase in temperature |
heat | energy that is transferred between objects that are at different temperatures |
radiation | heat transferred by electromagnetic waves |
convection | transfer of energy by the movement of matter |
conduction | transfer of energy from one object to another through direct contact |
wind | movement of air caused by difference in air pressure |
Coriolis Effect | the apparent ocurring path of moving objects from otherwise straight path due to earths rotation |
Jet Stream | narrow belts of high speed winds that blow from east to west |
local wind | movement of air over short distances |
sea breeze | wind blowing from the water to land |
land breeze | wind blowing towards the water |
mountain breeze | air along the mountain slopes cool and move towards the valley |
valley breeze | warm air in the mountain slopes warmer than the valley air uneven heating |
global wind | create global wind patterns from place to place |
trade winds | cool air over hoarse latitude sinks and produces high pressure system, blow towards and away from equator |
westerlies | blow west to east |
polar easterlies | cool air sinks and flows back to lower latitude |
doldrums | calm area around the equators, weak area low pressure system |
horse latitudes | air stops moving and sinks |
weather | condition of earths atmosphere at a certain time and place |
humidity | the amount of water vapor in the air |
relative humidity | the amount of water vapor in the air compared to amount of water vapor needed to reach saturation |
dew point | temperature at which more condensation than evaporation occurs |
precipitation | any form of water that falls from a cloud |
cirrus | feathery, whispery, made of ice crystals. they form when the wind is strong |
cumulus | heap or pile. the form in fair weather |
stratus | spread out, form in flat layers |
air pressure (density) | force of air molecules pushing on an area. They both decrease with altitude |
high pressure system | air sinks slowly |
low pressure system | air comes together and rises sad weather rainy,cloudy |
air mass | large volume of air in which temperature and moisture content are nearly the same throughout |
front | (boundry) cool mass that is more dense than warm mass |
warm front | a warm air mass following a retreating cold air mass |
cold front | cold air moves under warm air |
stationary front | not enough wind so 2 air masses remain in one place |
occluded | mixture |
evaporation | cool mass that is more dense than warm mass |
condensation | water vapor cools and changes from a gas to a liquid |
runoff | the excess of water |
anemometer | measures wind speed |
wind vanes | determines the direction of the wind |