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A&J Chapter 11
Vocab
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth´s surface, where most of the mass of the atmosphere is found and in which most weather takes place and air pollution collects. | Troposphere |
| Layer of Earth´s atmosphere that is located above the tropopause and is made up primarily of concentrated ozone. | Stratosphere |
| Layer of Earth´s atmosphere above the stratopause. | Mesosphere |
| Layer of Earth´s atmosphere that is located above the mesopause; oxygen atoms absorb solar radiation causing the temperature to increase in this layer. | Thermosphere |
| Outermost layer of Earth´s atmosphere that is located above the thermosphere with no clear boundary at the top; transitional region between Earth´s atmosphere and outer space. | Exosphere |
| A transfer of thermal energy by electromagnetic waves. | Radiaiton |
| The transfer of thermal energy between objects in contact by the collisions between the particles in the objects. | Conduction |
| The transfer of thermal energy by the movement of heated material from one place to another. | Convection |
| Increase in temperature with height in an atmospheric layer, which inverts the temperature-altitude relationship and can worsen air-pollution problems. | Temperature Inversion |
| Amount of water vapor in the atmosphere at a given location on Earth´s surface. | Humidity |
| The point at which water molecules leaving the water´s surface equals the rate of water molecules returning to the surface. | Saturation |
| Ratio of water vapor contained in a specific volume of air compared with how much water vapor that amount of air actually can hold; expressed as a percentage. | Relative Humidity |
| Temperature to which air is cooled at a constant pressure to reach saturation, at which point condensation can occur. | Dew Point |
| Stored energy in water vapor that is not released to warm the atmosphere until condensation takes place. | Latent Heat |
| Small particle in the atmosphere around which cloud droplets can form. | Condensation Nucleus |
| Cloud formation that occurs when warm, moist air is forced to rise up the side of a mountain. | Orographic Lifting |
| Puffy,lumpy-looking clouds that usually occur below 2000m. | Cumulus |
| A layered sheetlike cloud that covers much or all of the sky in a given area. | Stratus |
| High clouds made up of ice crystals that form at heights of 6000m; often have a wispy, indistinct appearance. | Cirrus |
| All solid and liquid forms of water-including rain, snow, sleet, and hail-that fall from clouds. | Precipitation |
| Process that occurs when cloud droplets collide and form larger droplets, which eventually become too heavy to remain aloft and can fall to Earth as precipitation. | Coalescence |