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chapter 11 ks vocab
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| troposphere | the layer closest to Earth's surface. contains most of the mass of the atmosphere |
| stratosphere | above the tropopause, a layer in which air temperature mainly increases with altitude and contains the ozone layer |
| mesosphere | above the stratopause, about 50 km to 100 km above Earth's surface |
| thermosphere | the layer between about 100 km and 500 km above Earth's surface |
| exosphere | the outermost layer of Earth's atmosphere |
| radiation | the transfer of thermal energy by electromagnetic waves. |
| conduction | the transfer of thermal energy between objects when their objects when their atoms or molecules collide |
| convection | the transfer of thermal energy by the movement of heated material from one place to another |
| Temperature Inversion | an increase in temperature with height in an atmospheric layer. |
| Humidity | the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere at a given location on Earth's surface. |
| Saturation | Occurs when the amount of water vapor in a volume of air has reached the maximum amount |
| Relative humidity | the amount of water vapor in a volume of air relative to the amount of water vapor needed for that volume of air to reach saturation |
| Dew point | The temperature to which air must be cooled at constant pressure to reach saturation |
| Latent heat | The extra thermal energy contained in water vapor compared to liquid water |
| Condensation nucleus | A small particle in the atmosphere around which water droplets can form. |
| Orographic | Occurs when an air mass is forced to rise over a topographic barrier |
| Cumulus | Puffy, lumpy-looking clouds that usually occur blow 2000 m |
| Stratus | A layered sheetlike cloud that covers much or all of the sky in a given area. |
| Cirrus | Often have a wispy, indistinct appearance. |
| Precipitation | Rain, snow, sleet, and hail are the four main types of precipitation. |
| Coalescence | Occurs when cloud droplets collide and join together to form a larger droplet |