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Science Quarter 4

Atmospheric Science Ch 9-11

TermDefinition
meteorology The study of the atmosphere
weather Condition of the atmosphere at any given time
Atmospheric pressure The weight (force exerted) of the gases in the atmosphere
Absolute humidity The total amount of water vapor a certain volume of air holds
Relative humidity the ratio of the amount of water the air does hold to the amount of water it can hold.
Wind chill factor The temperature of still air that would have the same effect on the exposed skin as a certain combination of air temperature and wind speed
precipitation Any form of water that falls to the earth’s surface from the sky
mirage A real optical phenomenon that the atmosphere produces because of the differing densities of hot and cool air and the way light travels through them
Greenhouse Effect The warming of the lower atmosphere by infrared radiation that is radiated by the earth’s surface after it absorbs visible radiation from the sun
Greenhouse gases Certain gases, like water vapor and carbon dioxide, are more effective at trapping gases in the atmosphere
conduction heat transferred through direct contact between substances (conduct)
convection energy is carried from one place to another due to differences in density (oven)
atmosphere The envelope of gases surrounding our planet
homosphere Homogeneous mixture of gases
heterosphere Gas layers above the homosphere consisting of separate layers of oxygen, helium, and hydrogen
troposphere The weather layer
Lapse rate Steady drop in temperature
stratosphere The second temperature layer
Jet streams A high speed wind current with winds up to 300mph!
contrail Vapor trail left by airplanes
exosphere The outermost zone of the earth’s atmosphere that extends into space itself
Ozone layer Shields the earth from the harmful forms of ultraviolet light
ionosphere Reflects short radio waves
magnetosphere Composed of protons and electrons from the sun that have become trapped in the earth’s magnetic field
evaporation Liquid changes into a gas
Condensation A gas changes into a liquid
Vaporization Liquid changes to a vapor
boils Rapid vaporization of a liquid at its boiling point
freezes Liquid changes to solid
melts Solid turns into liquid
sublimation Solid changes directly into a gas, or vice versa
Dew point The temperature at which the relative humidity is 100%
cloud A mass of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in air
Adiabatic cooling Cooling of an air mass (without a change in the air mass’s overall thermal energy) by a reduction in atmospheric pressure and/or an increase in volume
Condensation nuclei Microscopic particles of material, such as salt or smoke, around which the tiny water droplets form
Freezing nuclei Small particles of clay or dust shaped like ice crystals
Supercooled water Cloud droplets that remain liquid even with very cold temperatures
fog The stratus cloud is so low that it touches the ground
drizzle Small droplets of rain falling slowly
Mares’ tails Cirrus clouds that are arranged in wispy streaks or bands across the sky
Mackerel sky Cirro- and altocumulus clouds that form in patterns that resemble the striped markings on the sides of a mackerel
Dew Water that condenses on a cool surface when air in contact with the surface cools to below its dew point.
frost The Ice crystals that sublimate on a cold surface when the film of air in contacts with the surface is cooled to a dew point below freezing.
coalescence Smaller pieces joining together to form a single larger mass.
Convection The process by which energy is carried from one place to another due to differences of density in matter. (ex
orographic The lifting of an air mass and resulting precipitation as it flows over a mountain.
front The boundary surface between two dissimilar air masses.
Frontal wedging Vertical Movement of a warm air mass due to a wedge of cold air moving in under it.
Convergence The collision of two or more air masses or winds at a single location.
Freezing rain Supercooled water that falls as rain and then freezes on the surface it contacts.
snow Frozen precipitation formed by the sublimation of water vapor onto freezing nuclei.
sleet Small frozen or partially frozen raindrops that form when rain falls through a layer of cold air.
hail Precipitation in the form of spheres or irregular lumps of ice.
Air mass A huge body of air that has somewhat uniform temperature and humidity and covers hundreds or thousands of square kilometers of the earth’s surface
Source region The air mass takes on the humidity and temperature of this region
Warm air masses Warmer than the surface over which they pass
Cold air masses Cooler than the surface over which they pass
Stationary front The boundary is not moving
Warm front Warmer air is replacing cooler air
Cold front Colder air is replacing warmer air
Squall line Line of thunderstorms
Pressure gradient force The horizontal force exerted on a mass of air that has a higher pressure on one side than on the other
Geostrophic winds A high-altitude wind that is controlled by the relative influence of the pressure gradient force and the Coriolis effect
cyclones A weather system centered on a low-pressure area
Sea breeze Wind from sea to shore. Usually during a sunny day when it is warmer on the land
Land breeze Wind from the shore to the sea. Usually at night when the water is warmer than the land
Valley breezes Slopes of mountains tend to heat up quicker, causing winds that go up the mountain (hang glider example)
Mountain breeze At night, the valleys tend to stay warmer, causing winds from the tops of the mountains down to the valleys
doldrums A low-pressure zone caused by the rising of warm air
Horse latitudes Zones of high pressure circling the earth that are caused by descending air
Popular Earth Science sets

 

 



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