Term | Definition |
atmosphere | a thin layer of gases surrounding the earth |
water vapor | water in its gaseous form. |
troposphere | the atmospheric layer closest to the Earth's surface. |
stratosphere | the second layer away from the Earth's surface |
ozone layer | the area of the stratosphere with a high concentration of O3. |
ionosphere | the region within the mesosphere and the |
thermosphere | that contains ions. |
nitrogen | most abundant gas in the atmosphere. |
oxygen | the gas in the atmosphere that animals use as they breath. |
radiation | the transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves |
conduction | the transfer of thermal energy by collisions between particles of matter. |
convection | the transfer of thermal energy by the movement of matter from one place to another. |
stability | describes whether circulating air motions are strong or weak. |
temperature inversion | occurs in the troposphere when temperature increases as altitude increases. |
reflection | the throwing back by a body or surface of light, heat, or sound without absorbing it. |
absorption | the process or action by which one thing absorbs or is absorbed by another. |
wind | the movement of air from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure |
trade winds | are steady winds that flow from east to west between 30 N latitude and 30 S latitude |
westerlies | are steady winds that flow from west to east between latitudes 30 N and 60 N, and 30 S and 60 S |
polar easterlies | cold winds that blow from the east to west near the Noth Pole and The south pole |
jet stream | near the top of the troposphere is a narrow band of high winds |
sea breeze | is wind that blows from the sea to the land due to local temperature and pressure differences |
land breeze | is wind from the land due to local temperature and pressure differences |
air pollution | the contamination of air by harmful substance including gas and smoke |
acid precipitation | when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides combine with moisture in the atmosphere and form precipitation that has a pH lower than that of normal rainwater |
photochemical smog | is air pollution that forms from the interaction between chemicals in the air and sunlight |
particulate matter | is a mixture of dust, acids, and other chemicals that can be hazardous to human health |