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Env Science Week 12
Week 12 Vocabulary for Environmental Science
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| atmosphere | the layer of gases surrounding our planet; mostly consists of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide today |
| ozone | made of 3 atoms of oxygen (O3), found in the upper atmosphere, helps absorb harmful UV rays from the sun |
| troposphere | layer of atmosphere closest to earth, where our weather occurs, 75%+ of our atmosphere is in this layer |
| stratosphere | 2nd layer, above troposphere, 24% of the atmosphere is in this layer, holds the ozone layer |
| mesosphere | 3rd layer, shooting stars burn up here, cold with very few molecules |
| thermosphere | 4th layer, very few molecules, large temperature fluctuations, very hot due to closeness to the sun |
| exosphere | almost no molecules, gradually leads out into space |
| ionosphere | begins in the mesosphere and extends out through the thermosphere, electrified region where the Northern lights (auroras) can be seen |
| radiation | transfer of energy through space |
| conduction | transfer of energy from one object to another when they are touching |
| convection | transfer of energy through air or water currents, as a fluid heats up, it rises, then it sinks as it cools down |
| weather | atmospheric conditions at any given time in any given place (what is it doing right now) |
| climate | an average of all the weather variations during the year (cold winters, mild summers, etc.) |
| latitude | the distance from the equator measured from north to south in degrees |
| density | mass/volume, (heavy vs light) |
| convection currents | cycles of flowing air due to warm air rising and cold air sinking |
| wind | movement of air within the atmosphere |
| Coriolis Effect | winds do not move in straight lines. The rotation of the Earth causes winds to curve |
| jet stream | a band of high altitude, swiftly moving westerly winds |
| polar front jet | The jet stream found over North America |
| Topography | elevation of land above sea level |
| NOAA | National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration |
| tornado | a vortex with swirling winds up to 220 miles per hour or more, form where warm, moist air meets cold, dry air |
| Latent heat | the hidden heat that is found in the molecules of water vapor |
| inversion | where moist, warm air gets trapped beneath warm, dry air under a stable layer of cold, dry air |
| Hurricanes | produce extreme winds, which can wreak havoc on shoreline communities, form in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific oceans,produced when warm, moist air rises over the heated waters of the equator |
| eye | the center of the hurricane |
| lake effect | in the winter, the land quickly loses its heat while the water slowly cools as winter sets in, keeping the air on and near the shoreline warmer than the temperatures found further inland |
| Gulf Stream | ocean current that originates in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, carries warm water to areas of the earth that don't get much energy from the sun, creates a mild climate in places like England |
Created by:
jodytwining
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