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.

layer of Earth's atmosphere that is located above the tropopause and is made up primarily of concentrated ozone.

layer of Earth's atmosphere above the stratopause.

layer of Earth's atmosphere that is located above the mesopause; oxygen atoms absorb solar radiation causing the temperature to increase in this layer.

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.

the transfer of thermal energy electromagnetic waves; the transfer of thermal energy from the Sun to Earth by radiation.

the transfer of thermal energy between objects in contact by the collisions between the particles in the objects.

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.

amount of water vapor in the atmosphere at a given location on Earth's surface.

the point at which water molecules leaving the water's surface equals the rate of water molecules returning to the surface.

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.

temperature to which air is cooled at a constant pressure to reach saturation, at which point condensation can occur.

stored energy in water vapor that is not released to warm the atmosphere until condensation takes place.

process by which a cooling gas changes into a liquid and releases thermal energy.

cloud formation that occurs when warm, moist air is forced to rise up the side of a mountain.

puffy, lumpy looking clouds that usually occur below 2000 m.

a layered sheetlike cloud that covers much or all of the sky in a given area.

high clouds made up of ice crystals that form at heights of 6000m; often have a wispy, indistinct appearance

all solid and liquid forms of water-including rain, snow, sleet, and hail-that fall from clouds.

process that occurs when cloud droplets collide and form larger droplets, which eventually become too heavy o remain aloft and can fall to Earth as precipitation.

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Ch. 11 Sec 1 and 2

Vocabulary

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.
mesosphere	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-altitude relationship and can worsen air-pollution problems.
humidity	amount of water vapor in the atmosphere at a given location on 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	process by which a cooling gas changes into a liquid and releases thermal energy.
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 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 o remain aloft and can fall to Earth as precipitation.

Created by: cinthyatorres

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