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Unit 3
Earth's Atmosphere
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Atmosphere | the mixture of gases surrounding the Earth |
| Altitude | refers to the distance from the surface of the Earth |
| Air pressure | caused by molecules colliding with surfaces |
| Troposphere | the lowest atmospheric layer; from 4 to 11 miles high |
| Stratosphere | atmospheric layer between the troposphere and the mesosphere |
| Ozone | a colorless gas that is a screen for ultraviolet radiation |
| Mesosphere | the atmospheric layer between the stratosphere and the thermosphere |
| Thermosphere | the atmospheric layer outside of the mesosphere |
| Greenhouse effect | the stabilization of the temperature in the troposphere due to the presence of carbon dioxide and several other gases in the atmosphere |
| Temperature | a measure of the average kinetic energy of the molecules in a substance |
| Thermal energy | a measure of the total kinetic energy of the molecules in a substance |
| Thermal expansion | the spreading out of molecules when the temperature increases |
| Density | a measure of the amount mass in a given volume |
| Heat | energy that flows from warmer objects to cooler objects |
| Specific heat | a measure of the amount of heat required to change the temperature of a material |
| Radiation | transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves through space |
| Electromagnetic radiation | a form of energy that is radiated from the sun |
| Convection | transfer of heat caused by molecular motion in liquid or gas |
| Convection current | flow of matter caused by the movement of warmer, less dense material and cooler, more dense material |
| Conduction | the transfer of energy from one object to another by direct contact between them |
| Wind | air moving from high pressure to low pressure |
| Convection cells | movement of air in small circular patterns due to differences in density resulting from differences in temperature |
| Coriolis effect | deflecting of wind and water currents due to the rotation of the Earth |
| Global wind | large-scale wind systems that affect a wide region on Earth |
| Polar easterlies | winds in the polar regions that blow from east to west |
| Westerlies | winds between 30 and 60 degrees latitude that blow from west to east |
| Trade winds | winds that blow between the equator and 30 degrees latitude in both hemispheres |
| Doldrums | a belt of calms between the Atlantic and Pacific trade winds |
| Horse latitudes | either of two belts or regions near 30 degrees north or 30 degrees south; characterized by calms and light-baffling winds |
| Jet stream | a high-speed high-altitude airstream blowing from west to east near the top of the troposphere; has important effects on the formation of weather fronts |
| Local wind | movement of air over relatively short distances |
| Sea breeze | a cooling wind that forms during the day and flows in toward the land from a large body of water |
| Land breeze | wind that flows from land toward a large body of water at night |
| Mountain breeze | wind that flows down a mountain toward a valley at night |
| Valley breeze | wind that flows from a valley up the slopes of a mountain during the day |
| Air pollution | a change to the atmosphere that has harmful effects |
| Particulate | tiny particles of solids suspended in air |
| Smog | brownish haze that forms when a mixture of ground-level ozone and other pollutants is exposed to sunlight |
| Acid precipitation | rain or snow that has a lower than normal pH due to certain pollutants in the air |
| Air quality | a measure of how clean or polluted the air is |
| Air quality index | a number used to represent the relative degree of pollution in the air at a location |
| Ventilation | circulation of fresh air |
| Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) | chlorine compounds formerly used in air conditioners, refrigerators, and aerosol spray cans |
Created by:
CSchveder74
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