| Question/Vocab. word |
Answer |
| weather | the condition of earth's atmosphere at a particular time and place |
| atmosphere | the envelope of gases that surrounds the planet |
| ozone | a form of oxygen that has three oxygen atoms in each molecule |
| water vapor | water in the form of a gas |
| density | the amount of mass in a given volume |
| pressure | the force pushing on an area or surface |
| air pressure | the result of the weight of a column of air pushing down on an area |
| barometer | an instrument that is used to measure air pressure |
| mercury barometer | a glass tube open at the bottom end and partially filled with mercury; measures air pressure |
| aneroid barometer | an airtight metal chamber sensitive to changes in air pressure |
| altitude | elevation; distance above sea level; the average of the surface of the oceans |
| list three factors affecting air pressure | temperature, altitude, water vapor content |
| troposphere | the layer of the atmosphere in which Earth's weather occurs |
| What is the rate at which temperature decreases in the troposphere? | drops 6.5 degrees celsius for every kilometer in altitude |
| stratosphere | second layer of atmosphere; contains the ozone layer |
| Describe the temperature change in the stratosphere | Temperature begins very cold (-60 c) but warms with increasing altitude due to the ozone layer |
| mesosphere | middle layer of the atmosphere |
| What is a main characteristic of the mesosphere | protects earth's surface from being hit by most meteoroids. |
| Define: Thermosphere | outermost layer; has no definate outer limit; thermo- means heat |
| Describe the Ionosphere | lower part of the thermosphere; engery from sun causes gas molucules to become electrically charge particles called ions; auroras occur; radio waves bounce here |
| Describe the Exosphere | Outer layer of thermosphere; |
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