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Chapter 11 vocab
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| troposphere | contains most of the mass of the atmosphere |
| stratosphere | air temperature mainly increases with altitude and contains the ozone layer |
| mesosphere | air temperature decreases with altitude |
| thermosphere | extremely low density of air cause temperature to rise |
| exosphere | outermost layer of Earth's atmosphere |
| radiation | transfer of thermal energy by electromagnetic waves |
| conduction | transfer of thermal energy between objects when their atoms or molecules |
| convection | transfer of thermal energy by the movement of heated materials from one place to another |
| temperature inversion | an increase in temperature with height in an atmospheric layer |
| humidity | amount of water vapor in the atmosphere |
| saturation | amount of water vapor in a volume of air has reached maximum amount |
| relative humidity | amount of water vapor needed for that volume of air to reach saturation |
| dew point | temperature to which air must be cooled at constant pressure |
| latent heat | extra thermal energy contained in water vapor compared to liquid water |
| condensation nucleus | small particle in the atmosphere around which water droplets can form |
| orographic lifting | when an air mass is forced to rise over a topograph barrier |
| cumulus | clouds are puffy, lumpy looking |
| stratus | layered sheetlike cloud |
| cirrus | wispy indistinct appearance |
| precipitation | rain, snow, sleet, hail |
| coalescence | cloud droplets collide and join together to form a larger droplet |