| 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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