click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Chapter 11 Vocab
Vocab
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Troposphere | Layer of the atmosphere closet 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 |
| Stratosphere | A layer of earth's atmosphere that is located above the troposphere and is made up primarily of concentrated ozone |
| Mesosphere | Layer of earths surface atmosphere; above the stratopause |
| Thermosphere | Layer of earths atmosphere that is located above the mesopause; oxygen atoms absorb solar radiation causing the temperatures to increase in this layer |
| Exosphere | 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 |
| Radiation | The transfer of thermal energy electromagnetic waves; the transfer of thermal energy from the sun to earth by radiation |
| Conduction | The transfer of thermal energy between objects in contact by the collisions between the particles in the objects |
| Convection | The transfer of thermal energy by the movement of heated material from one place to another |
| Temperature inversion | Increase in temperature with height in an atmospheric layer, which inverts the temperature- altitude relationship and can worsen air pollution problems |
| Humidity | Amount of water vapor in the atmosphere at a given location on earths surface |
| Saturation | The point at which water molecules leaving the waters surface equals the rate of water molecules returning to the surface |
| Relative Humidity | Ratio of water vapor contained in a specific volume of air compared with how much water that amount of air actually can hold; expressed as a percentage |
| Dew point | Temperature to which air is cooled at a constant pressure to reach saturation at which point condensation can occur |
| Latent Heat | Stored energy in water vapor that is not released to warm the atmosphere until condensation takes place |
| Condensation nucleus | Small particle in the atmosphere around which cloud droplets can form |
| Orographic lifiting | Cloud formation that occurs when warm, moist air is forced to rise up the side of a mountain |
| Cumlus | Puffy, lumpy looking clouds that usually occur below 2000m |
| Stratus | A layered sheetlike cloud that covers much or all of the sky in a given area |
| Cirrus | High clouds made up of ice crystals that form at heights of 6000m; often have a wispy, indistinct appearance |
| Precipitation | All solid and liquid forms of water including rain, snow, sleet, and hail that fall from clouds |
| Coalescence | 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 |