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ENV-105 unit 3
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Atmosphere | A thin envelope of gases around the Earth held by gravity. |
| Permanent Gas | Gas whose atmospheric concentration does not change with time. |
| Noble Gas | A nonreactive element with a full outer electron shell. All are gases at room temperature. |
| Variable Gas | Gas whose atmospheric concentration does change with time. |
| Greenhouse Gas | Gas whose molecular structure absorbs infrared radiation. |
| Aerosol | A liquid droplet or solid particle suspended in the atmosphere. |
| Troposphere | The lowest level (0-12 km) of the Earth's atmosphere defined by decreasing temperature with altitude. |
| Stratosphere | The second level (12-50 km) of Earth's atmosphere defined by increasing temperature with altitude. |
| Mesosphere | The third level (50-85 km) of Earth's atmosphere defined by decreasing temperature with altitude. |
| Thermosphere | The fourth level (> 85 km) of Earth's atmosphere defined by rapidly increasing temperature with altitude. |
| Ionosphere | An electrified region with the upper atmosphere (mesosphere and thermosphere) due to a high concentration of free electrons and ions. |
| Exosphere | Region of the atmosphere (> 500 km) where gas molecules can escape Earth's gravitational pull. |
| Energy | The ability to do work. |
| Work | Force exerted on matter to displace or change the state of the matter. |
| Potential Energy | Stored energy. |
| Kinetic Energy | The energy of motion. |
| Perihelion | The day (Jan 3rd) in Earth's orbit when it is closest to the Sun. |
| Aphelion | The day (July 4th) in Earth's orbit when it is farthest from the Sun. |
| Solar Declination | The latitude where the Sun's rays strike the Earth's surface at 90-degrees. |
| Electromagnetic Wave | Self propagating waves of fluctuating magnetic and electric fields. A way of transmitting energy through a vacuum. |
| Wavelength | Horizontal distance between the crests or between the troughs of two adjacent waves |
| Frequency | The number of complete waves that pass a given point in a certain amount of time. |
| Electromagnetic Spectrum | The range of all possible frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation. |
| Shortwave Radiation | The electromagnetic radiation range emitted by the Sun. The majority of the range is in the visible light wavelengths but also includes ultraviolet and near infrared wavelengths. |
| Longwave Radiation | The electromagnetic radiation range emitted by the Earth. It is in thermal infrared wavelengths. |
| Absorption | When matter adds the energy of electromagnetic wave to it and increases its temperature. |
| Reflection | When an electromagnetic wave bounces off the surface of matter. |
| Albedo | A measure of the electromagnetic radiation reflected off a surface. |
| Scatter | When electromagnetic wave paths change direction by passing through matter OR the wave is split into multiple lower frequency waves. |
| Transmission | When electromagnetic radiation passes unaltered through matter. |
| Insolation | The amount of energy received on surface from the Sun. |
| Solar Constant | The amount of energy received at the average Earth-Sun distance. ~1365 watts per square meter. |
| Angle of Incidence | The angle at which sunlight strikes a surface. |
| Atmospheric Obstruction | Aerosols or gases in the atmosphere that absorbs, reflects, or scatters shortwave radiation before it strikes the Earth's surface. |
| Temperature | The average kinetic energy of matter. |
| Absolute Zero | The theoretical temperature at which all molecular motion ceases. |
| Heat | The transfer of energy due to differences in temperature. |
| Conduction | The transfer of energy through molecular motion by direct contact. |
| Radiation | The transfer of energy through electromagnetic waves. |
| Convection | The transfer of energy through mass circulation with matter. |
| Specific Heat | The amount of energy required to change the temperature of matter 1-degree per unit mass. |
| Latent Heat | Energy released or absorbed from the environment during a phase change of matter. |
| Condensation | The phase change from gas to liquid. |
| Evaporation | The phase change from liquid to gas. |
| Transpiration | The emission of water vapor from the leaves of plants |
| Evapotranspiration | The combined amount of evaporation and transpiration. |
| Melting | The phase change from solid to liquid. |
| Freezing | The phase change from liquid to solid. |
| Sublimation | The phase change from solid to gas. |
| Deposition | The phase change from gas to solid. |
| Humidity | The amount of water vapor in the atmosphere. |
| Water Vapor Capacity | The maximum amount of water vapor the atmosphere can hold at a given temperature. |
| Mixing Ratio | The mass of water vapor in the atmosphere divided by the mass of the dry air. |
| Dew Point | The temperature the air would need to be cooled to in order to reach the water vapor capacity. |
| Relative Humidity | The degree of saturation of the air. |
| Adiabatic Cooling | Decrease in temperature of rising air due to the expansion of volume. |
| Adiabatic Warming | Increase in temperature of descending air due to contraction of volume. |
| Lifting Condensation Level (LCL) | Altitude in the atmosphere at which rising air reaches saturation. |
| Saturation | When air is at the water vapor capacity. |
| Cloud | A visible accumulation or mass of ice crystals or water molecules suspended in the atmosphere. |
| Condensation or Ice Nuclei | A solid surface on which condensation or deposition can occur. |
| Cirriform (Cirrus) | High altitude clouds with a thin, wispy appearance. |
| Stratiform (Stratus) | Mid- to low altitude clouds that appear as an unbroken sheet or blanket. |
| Cumuliform (Cumulus) | Mid- to low altitude clouds that as rounded masses that grow vertically |
| Fog | A cloud at the Earth's surface which obscures visibility. |
| Precipitation | Solid or liquid water falling from a cloud under the pull of gravity. |
| Rain | Liquid droplets falling through the atmosphere to surface. |
| Snow | Ice crystals falling though the atmosphere to surface. |
| Sleet | Ice pellet or frozen rain drops falling through the atmosphere to the surface. |
| Freezing Rain | A glaze or coating of ice formed from supercooled rain. |
| Graupel | Snow pellets or soft hail falling through the atmosphere to surface. |
| Riming | A process where supercooled water (<0°C) freezes directly onto ice crystals in the atmosphere. |
| Hail | Irregular masses of ice with concentric layers falling through the atmosphere to the surface. |
| Air Pressure | The force applied to a surface by gas molecules. |
| Atmospheric Pressure | The weight of the overlying column of the atmosphere on a surface. Also known as barometric pressure. |
| Standard Atmospheric Pressure | Average atmospheric pressure at sea level. |
| Barometer | Instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure. |
| Wind | Horizontal movement of air in the atmosphere. |
| Draft | Vertical movement of air in the atmosphere. |
| Pressure Gradient | The change in atmospheric pressure over distance. |
| Pressure Gradient Force | The steepness of the pressure gradient. |
| Coriolis Force (Effect) | The deflection of free moving objects due to the spin of the Earth. |
| Friction | A force that opposes motion. Drag on a surface. |
| Geostrophic Winds | Upper level winds that flow parallel to isobars form by the balancing of the pressure gradient force with the Coriolis force. |
| Jet Stream | A high velocity current of wind in the upper troposphere. |
| Cyclone | A low-pressure center characterized by converging, rotating surface winds. |
| Anticyclone | A high-pressure center characterized by diverging, rotating surface winds. |
Created by:
clairemaggard
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