| Flap 1 |
Flap 2 |
| atmosphere | a mixture of gases that surrounds a planet |
| ozone | a gas molecule that is made up of three oxygen atoms |
| atmospheric pressure | the force per unit area that is exerted on a surface by the weight of the atmosphere |
| troposphere | the layer of the atmosphere where weather occurs |
| stratosphere | this layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer |
| mesosphere | coldest layer of the atmosphere |
| thermosphere | this layer includes the ionosphere |
| electromagnetic spectrum | all the frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation |
| albedo | the fraction of solar radiation that is reflected off the surface of an object |
| greenhouse effect | the warming of the lower atmosphere when gases absorb and reradiate infrared radiation |
| conduction | the transfer of energy as heat through a material |
| convection | the movement of matter due to differences in density, caused by temperature variations |
| radiation | energy that is transferred by electromagnetic energy |
| Coriolis effect | the curving path of a moving object from an otherwise straight path due to the Earth's rotation |
| trade winds | prevailing winds that blow from east to west from 0 to 30 deg latitude |
| polar easterlies | prevailing winds that blow east to west between 60 & 90 deg latitude |
| westerlies | prevailing winds that blow from west to east between 30 to 60 deg latitudes |
| jet stream | a narrow band of strong winds that blow in the upper troposphere |
| water vapor | water in the form of an invisible gas |
| ozone layer | layer of gas in the stratosphere that absorbs ultraviolet radiation |
| particulates | tiny, solid particles |
| barometer | instrument used to measure air pressure |
| mercurial | containing mercury |
| aneroid | without liquid |
| altimeter | an aneroid barometer used to measure altitude |
| ionosphere | an electrified region of the upper atmosphere where fairly large concentrations of ions and free electrons exist |
| auroras | an atmospheric phenomenon consisting of bands of light caused by charged solar particles |
| exosphere | the outermost atmospheric layer |
| scattering | the process by which small particles in the atmosphere deflect radiation from its path into different directions |
| reflect | light is bouncing back from a surface |
| absorb | to transform radiant energy into heat |
| doldrums | a narrow zone near the equator with weak and variable winds |
| horse latitudes | a sub-tropical high-pressure zone where winds are weak and variable |
| local winds | winds that blow distances less than 100 km, caused by local temperature variations |
