Term | Definition |
Atmosphere | A mixture of gases that surrounds a planet, moon or ohter celestial body. |
Air pressure | The measure of force with whickh particles in the air push on an area of surface. |
troposphere | The lowest layer in the atmosphere and has an average thickness of 10 to 12km. |
stratosphere | The layer above the troposphere. The top has an average of 50km. Holds the ozone layer. |
mesosphere | The atmosphere layer above the stratosphere. It does not contain an ozone layer. |
ionosphere | Ther region of the earth's atmosphere betwwen the stratosphere and the exosphere. |
exosphere | The highest region of the earth's atmosphere. |
thermosphere | Ther upper most layer of the atmosphere. Aroun 80km above earth's surface. |
ozone layer | A relativaly large amount of ozone in the stratosphere. |
greenhouse effect | The process by which gases in the atmosphere, such as Co2 and water vapor, absorb and give off infared radiation. |
temperature | The measurement of the average Kinetic Energy in an object. |
thermal energy | The total Kinetic Energy in an object. |
thermal expansion | The increase of volume that results from an increase in temperature. |
heat | The energy that is transferred between objects that are at different temperatures. |
radiation | Ther transfer of energy through electromagnetic waves. |
convection | The transfer of enerrgy due to the movemnt of matter. |
conduction | The transfer of energy through a material. |
wind | movement in air caused by differences in air pressure. |
Coriolis Effect | The curving of the path of a moving object from an otherwise straight path dure to earth's rotation. |
Jet Stream | A narrow band of strong winds that blow in the upper troposphere. |
local wind | The movement of air over short distances. |
sea breeze | Wind that travels along a body of water. |
land breeze | Wind that travels from land to water. |
mountain breeze | Mountain or valley areas that experience local winds. |
valley breeze | Locsl winds that happen in valleys. |
global wind | Presure belts at every 30 degrees Latutude and the Corolis effect produced patterns of calm areas and wind systems. |
Trade Winds | Blow between 30 degrees Latutude and the equator in both hemispheres. |
Westerlies | Blow between 30 and 60 degrees Latitude in both hemispheres. |
Polar Easterlies | Blow between 60 degrees Latitude and in the poles in both hemispheres. |
Doldrums | The calm area in the equator where trade winds hemispheres meet. |
Horse Latitude | At about 30 degrees Latitude in both hemispheres, air stops and sinks. |
weather | The condition of earth's atmosphere at a certain time and place. |
humidity | The amount of water vapor in the air. |
relative humidity | The amount of water vapor in the air compared the the amount of water vaper needed. |
dew point | The temperature when condensation occurs more than evaporation. |
precipitation | Any for of water that falls from the clouds to the earth's surface. |
cirrus | Cirrus clouds appear feathery or wispu. They are made of ice ctystals and form strong winds. |
cumulus | Cumulus clouds are formed in fair weather. If they keep growing taller, they will produce thunderstoms. |
stratus | Stratus clouds form in flat layers. Low, dark stratus clouds can block out the sun and produce steady drizzle. |
air pressure [density] | The force of all molecules pushing on an area. |
high pressure system | High pressure systems are areas when air sinks and moves outward. |
low pressure system | Low pressure systems are when air comes together, or converges and rises. |
air mass | A large volume in which temperature and moisture content are nearly trhe same throughout. |
front | A boundary that forms between a warm air mass, and a cool air mass. |
warm front | They form when a warm air mass follows a retreating cold air mass. |
cold front | A cold front is formed when a cold air mass pushes up a warm air mass. |
stationary front | This is when there is not enough wind to push a cold o warm air mass. |
occluded front | A composite fromd formed when a cold front and warm front are mixed together. |
evaporation | Occurs when liquid water changes into water vapor. |
condensation | The change of state from a gas to a liquid. |
runoff | Something that drains or flows off, as rain that flows off from land in streams. |