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The Atmosphere
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| weather | The condition of Earth's atmosphere at a particular time and place. |
| water vapor | Water in the form of a gas. |
| atmosphere | The envelope of gases that surrounds Earth. |
| density | The ratio of the mass of a substance to its volume (mass divided by volume). |
| air pressure | The pressure caused by the weight of a column of air pushing down on an area. |
| barometer | An instrument used to measure changes in air pressure. |
| mercury barometer | An instrument that measures changes in air pressure, consisting of a glass tube partially filled with mercury, with its open end resting in a dish of mercury. |
| aneroid barometer | An instrument that measures changes in air pressure without using a liquid. |
| altitude | Elevation above sea level. |
| troposphere | The lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere. |
| stratosphere | The second-lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere. |
| mesosphere | The layer of Earth's atmosphere immediately above the stratosphere. |
| thermosphere | The outmost layer of Earth's atmosphere. |
| ionosphere | the lower part of the thermosphere. |
| exosphere | The outer layer of the thermosphere. |
| electromagnetic waves | A wave that can transfer electric and magnetic energy through the vacuum of space. |
| radiation | The transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves. |
| infrared radiation | Electromagnetic waves with wavelengths that are longer than visible light but shorter than microwaves. |
| ultraviolet radiation | Electromagnetic waves with wavelengths that are shorter than visible light but longer than X-rays. |
| scattering | Reflection of light in all directions. |
| greenhouse effect | The trapping of heat near a planet's surface by certain gases in the planet's atmosphere. |