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Science Vocabulary
Atmosphere
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Atmosphere | A mixture of gasses that surrounds a planet or moon. |
Stratosphere | The layer of the atmosphere that is above the troposphere and in which temperature increase as altitude increases. |
Troposphere | The lowest layer of the atmosphere, in which temperature decreases at a constant rate as altitude increases. |
Thermosphere | The uppermost layer of the atmosphere, in which temperature increases as altitude increases. |
Air Pressure | The me sure of the force with which air molecules push on a surface. |
Radiation | The transfer of energy as electromagnet waves. |
Thermal Conduction | The transfer of energy as heat through a material. |
Convection | The transfer of thermal energy by the circulation or movement of a liquid or gas. |
Global Warming | A gradual increase in average global temperature. |
Greenhouse Effect | The warming of the surface and lower atmosphere of earth that occurs when water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other gases absorb and reradiate thermal energy. |
Wind | The movement of air caused by differences in air pressure. |
Coriolis Effect | The apparent curving of a path of a moving object from an otherwise straight path due to the Earth's rotation. |
Westerlies | Prevailing winds that blow from west to east between 30* and 60* latitude in both hemispheres. |
Trade Winds | Prevailing winds that blow northeast from 30* north latitude to the equator and that blows southeast from 30*south latitude to the equator. |
Polar Easterlies | Prevailing winds that blow from east to west between 60* and 90* latitude in both hemispheres. |
Jet Stream | A narrow belt of strong winds that blow in the upper troposphere. |
Air Pollution | The contamination of the atmosphere by the introduction of pollutants from human and natural sources. |
Acid Precipitation | rain, sleet, or snow that contains a high concentration of acids |