The Atmosphere
Terms
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- atmosphere
- a mixture of gases that surrounds a planet, such as Earth
- air pressure
- the measure of the force with which air molecules push on a surface
- altitude
- the height of an object above the Earth's surface
- troposphere
- the lowest layer of the atmosphere
- stratosphere
- the atmospheric layer above the troposphere
- mesophere
- the coldest layer of the atmosphere
- thermosphere
- the uppermost layer of the atmosphere
- ozone
- a gas molecule that is made up of three oxygen atoms and that absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the sun
- radiation
- the transfer of energy as electromagnetic waves, such as visible light or infrared waves
- conduction
- the transfer of thermal energy from one material to another by direct contact; conduction can also occur within a substance
- convection
- the transfer of thermal energy by the circulation or movement of a liquid or a gas
- greenhouse effect
- the natural heating process of a planet, such as the Earth, by which gases in the atmosphere trap thermal energy
- global warming
- a rise in average global temperatures
- wind
- moving air
- Coriolis effect
- the curving of moving objects from a straight path due to the Earth's rotation
- trade winds
- the winds that blow from 30 degrees latitude to the equator
- westerlies
- wind belts found in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres between 30 degrees and 60 degrees latitude
- polar easterlies
- wind belts that extend from the poles to 60 degrees latitude in both hemispheres
- jet streams
- narrow belts of high-speed winds that blow in the upper troposphere and the lower stratosphere
- doldrums
- the name of the windless zone that lies between the trade winds
- primary pollutants
- pollutants that are put directly into the air by human or natural activity
- secondary pollutants
- pollutants that form from chemical reactions that occur when primary pollutants come in contact with other primary pollutants or with naturally occurring substances, such as water vapor
- acid precipitation
- precipitation that contains acids from air pollution
- What are the two most abundant atmospheric gases?
- Nitrogen and Oxygen
- If you were to travel throughout the atmosphere what changes would you find?
- Changes in air pressure, temperature, and gases
- What layer of the atmosphere has all the "weather"?
- Troposphere
- What layer contains the ozone layer?
- The stratosphere
- Which layer of the atmosphere is the coldest?
- The mesophere
- How does the Earth receive energy from the sun?
- Radiation
- What happens to the energy that reaches the earth's surface?
- The energy is absorbed or reflected.
- Name a source of human-caused pollution.
- factories, cars, and homes
- What health problems can increase with air pollution?
- allergies, lung problems and heart problems
- Give an example of secondary pollutants
- smog and ozone
- What happens to air pressure as you increase altitude?
- Air pressure decreases.
- What is the lowest and densest layer of the atmosphere?
- Troposphere