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Chapter 11 Vocab
All Sections
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| troposphere | layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth's surface, where most of the mass of the atmos-phere is found and in which most weather takes place and air pollution collects |
| stratosphere | layer of Earth's atmosphere that is located above the tropopause and is made up primarily of concentrated ozone |
| mesospehere | layer of Earth's atmosphere above the stratopause |
| thermosphere | layer of Earth's atmosphere that is located above the mesopause ; oxygen atoms absorb solar radiation causing the temperature 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 the temperature-altitude relationship and can worsen air-pollution problems |
| Humidity | amount of water vapor in the atmosphere at a given location of Earth's surface |
| Saturation | the point at which water molecules leaving the water's 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 vapor 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 lifting | cloud formation that occurs when warm, moist air is forced to rise up the side of a mountain |
| Cumulus | puffy, lumpy looking clouds that usually occur below 2000 m |
| 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 6000 m ; 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 to heavy to remain aloft and can fall to Earth as precipitation |
Created by:
rickiward
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