Term | Definition |
atmosphere | the mixture of gasses around Earth |
air pressure | measure of force which particles in the air push on an area |
troposhere | lowest layer of the atmosphere |
stratosphere | 2nd layer of atmosphere, 50km up |
mesosphere | meteors are destroyed here, 3rd layer of atmosphere |
ionosphere | layer above the stratosphere |
exosphere | last layer of atmosphere |
thermosphere | thermal energy is transferred by touch |
ozone layer | protects earth from harmful radiation |
greenhouse effect | process which gases in the atmosphere adsorb and give off infrared radiation |
temperture | average kinetic energy in the air |
thermal energy | total kinetic energy in the air |
thermal expansion | increase in volume that results from an increase in temperture |
heat | is energy transferred between objects a different temperture |
radiation | transfer of energy through electromagnetic waves |
convection | transfer of energy through movement of matter |
conduction | transfer of energy through direct contact |
wind | movement of air |
Coriolis effect | the apparent curving of the path an object is going even if it is going straight |
Jet stream | narrow belts of high speed winds that travel west to east |
local wind | movement of air over short distances |
land breeze | during night the cooler air of the land blows to the sea |
sea breeze | during the day the cooler air of the sea blow onto the land |
mountain breezes | at the night the cool breezes come off the mountain to the valley |
valley breeze | at day the cool air of the valley blows to the mountains |
global winds | the wind systems across Earth |
trade winds | 30 degree to equator blow to west |
westerlies | between 30 degrees and 60 curve east |
polar easterlies | between poles and 60 degrees, cold sinking air |
horse latitudes | at 30 degrees air sinks |
doldrums | the trade winds meet here, at the equator |
weather | the condition of Earth's atmosphere at a certain time |
humidity | amount of water vapor in air |
relative humidity | amount of water vapor in the air compared to the amount in the land |
dew point | temperature saturation when more condensation then evaporation |
precipation | any form of water falling to Earth's surface |
cirrus | wispy clouds made of ice |
cumulus | form in fair weather, can produce rain |
stratus | they spread, low and dark can produce rain |
air pressure | force of air pushing at a certain point |
high air pressure density | air sinks and moves outward, clockwise |
low air pressure density | air rises can cause clouds and rain |
air mass | large volume of air in temp. is constant |
front | forms between air masses |
warm front | follows cold air front |
cold front | pushes warm air up |
stationary front | warm,cold front stay still |
occluded | the force of a cold front pushing a warm front up |
evaporation | liquid turns into solid |
condensation | when water vapor becomes a liquid |
runoff | when water goes back to a large body of water |