Term | Definition |
Atmosphere | A mixture of gases that surrounds a planet or moon. |
Air Pressure | The measure of the force with which air molecules push on a surface. |
Troposphere | The lowest layer of the atmosphere in which temperature decreases at a constant rate as altitude increases. |
Stratosphere | The layer of the atmosphere that is above the troposphere and in which temperature increases as altitude increases. |
Mesosphere | The layer of the atmosphere between the stratosphere and the thermosphere and in which temperature decreases as altitude increases. |
Thermosphere | The uppermost layer of the atmosphere in which temperature increases as altitude increases. |
Ions | Electrically charged particles. |
Ionosphere | As thermosphere temp rises gas particles become charged (ions). This part of the Thermosphere is the ionosphere. |
Auroras | In polar regions, these ions radiate energy as shimmering light. |
Radiation | Is the transfer of energy as electromagnetic waves. |
Thermal Conduction | Is the transfer of energy as heat through a material. |
Convection | Is the movement of matter due to the differences in density; transfer of energy due to the movement of matter. |
Convection Currents | Is the cycle of warm air rising and cool air sinking causing circular movements of air. |
Global Warming | Is a gradual increase in average global temperature. |
Green House Effect | Is the warming of the surface and lower atmosphere of Earth that occurs when water vapor , carbon dioxide, and other gases absorb and reradiate thermal energy. |
Ozone or Ozone Layer | Protects life on Earth by absorbing harmful ultraviolet radiation. |
Radiation Balance | The balance between incoming energy and outgoing energy. The amount of energy received from the sun and amount of energy returned to space must be approximately the same. |
Wind | The movement of air caused by differences in air pressure. |
Convection Cells | Air travels in many large, circular patterns. |
Pressure Belts | Bands of high pressure and low pressure found about every 30 degrees of latitude. |
Coriolis Effect | The apparent curving of the path of a moving object from an otherwise straight path due to the Earth's rotation. |
Global winds | The combination of convection cells found at every 30 degrees latitude and the Coriolis effect produces patterns of air circulation called this. |
Polar Easterlies | Prevailing winds that blow from east to west between 60 degrees and 90 degrees latitude in both hemispheres |
Westerlies | Prevailing winds that blow from west to east between 30 degrees and 60 degrees latitude in both hemispheres |
Trade Winds | Prevailing winds that blow northeast from 30 degrees north latitude to the equator and that blow southeast from 30 degrees south latitude to the equator. |
Doldrums | The trade winds of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres that meet in an area around the equator. |
Horse Latitudes | At about 30 degrees north and 30 degrees south latitudes sinking air creates an area of high pressure. Winds in this area are weak. |
Jet Stream | A narrow belt of strong winds that blow in the upper troposphere. |
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