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Atmosphere Vocab
Hopkins
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| troposphere | the lowest atmospheric layer; from 4 to 11 miles high (depending on latitude) |
| stratosphere | the atmospheric layer between the troposphere and the mesosphere |
| mesosphere | the atmospheric layer between the stratosphere and the thermosphere |
| ionosphere | the outer region of the Earth's atmosphere; contains a high concentration of free electrons |
| thermosphere | the atmospheric layer between the mesosphere and the exosphere |
| exosphere | the outermost atmospheric layer |
| ozone layer | a layer in the stratosphere (at approximately 20 miles) that contains a concentration of ozone sufficient to block most ultraviolet radiation from the sun |
| conduction | the transmission of heat or electricity or sound |
| convection | the transfer of heat through a fluid (liquid or gas) caused by molecular motion; (meteorology) the vertical movement of heat or other properties by massive motion within the atmosphere |
| radiation | energy that is radiated or transmitted in the form of rays or waves or particles; the spontaneous emission of a stream of particles or electromagnetic rays in nuclear decay |
| greenhouse effect | warming that results when solar radiation is trapped by the atmosphere; caused by atmospheric gases that allow sunshine to pass through but absorb heat that is radiated back from the warmed surface of the earth |
| heat | a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature |
| greenhouse gas | a gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation |
| meteorology | the earth science dealing with phenomena of the atmosphere (especially weather); predicting what the weather will be |
| weather | the meteorological conditions: temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation |
| climate | the weather in some location averaged over some long period of time; the prevailing psychological state |
| water vapor | water in a vaporous form diffused in the atmosphere but below boiling temperature |
| atmospheric pressure | the pressure exerted by the atmosphere |
| isotherm | (meteorology) an isogram connecting points having the same temperature at a given time |
| air pollution | pollution of the atmosphere |
| Chlorofluorocarbons | a group of chemical compounds that when released into the atmosphere can damage the earth’s ozone later |
| humidity | wetness in the atmosphere |
| hygrometer | measuring instrument for measuring the relative humidity of the atmosphere |
| dew point | the temperature at which the water vapor in the air becomes saturated and condensation begins |
| cloud | a visible mass of water or ice particles suspended at a considerable altitude |
| cirrus cloud | a wispy white cloud (usually of fine ice crystals) at a high altitude (4 to 8 miles) |
| stratus cloud | a large dark low cloud |
| cumulus cloud | a globular cloud |
| cumulonimbus cloud | a dark cloud of great vertical extent charged with electricity; associated with thunderstorms |
| fog | droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground; an atmosphere in which visibility is reduced because of a cloud of some substance |
| precipitation | the falling to earth of any form of water (rain or snow or hail or sleet or mist) |
Created by:
keh
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