1. Portrait Of The Atmosphere

Question 1

greenhouse gas

Answer 1

gas that can absorb and emit thermal energy

Question 2

aerosols

Answer 2

microscopic solid or liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere

Question 3

cloud droplets

Answer 3

microscopic drops of liquid water found in clouds

Question 4

air pressure

Answer 4

force exerted by molecules of air against a surface

Question 5

troposphere

Answer 5

lowest layer of the atmosphere, extending from Earth’s surface up to about 12km, where all weather occurs.

Question 6

stratosphere

Answer 6

atmospheric layer above the troposphere, which extends between about 12 and 50km above Earth’s surface and has a permanent temperature inversion.

Question 7

temperature inversion

Answer 7

layer of the atmosphere in which air temperature increases with increased height

Question 8

mesosphere

Answer 8

layer of the atmosphere between 50 and 80 km above the surface

Question 9

environmental lapse rate

Answer 9

rate of cooling with increasing altitude in the troposphere. the average environmental lapse rate is 6.5°C per 1 000 m.

Question 10

tropopause

Answer 10

boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere

Question 11

UV radiation

Answer 11

solar radiation that is shorter than visible wavelengths

Question 12

ozonosphere

Answer 12

region of the stratosphere with high concentrations of ozone molecules that block ultraviolet radiation

Question 13

ionosphere

Answer 13

region of the upper mesosphere and the thermospere between about 80 and 500km where gases are ionized by solar energy.

Question 14

Aurora borealis/australis

Answer 14

displays of light caused by energized molecules in the ionosphere

Question 15

air pollution

Answer 15

harmful concentrations of gases or aerosols in the atmosphere

Question 16

fossil fuels

Answer 16

ancient remains of plants preserved in the lithosphere in the form of coal, oil, and natural gas

Question 17

primary pollutant

Answer 17

a pollutant that enters the air or water directly from its source

Question 18

secondary pollutant

Answer 18

a pollutant that is not directly emitted from a source, but forms through chemical reactions amoung primary pollutants in air or water

Question 19

sulfur dioxide (SO2)

Answer 19

a pungent gas, produced by volcanic eruptions and by the burning of fossil fuels, that causes human health problems and acid rain

Question 20

acid rain

Answer 20

rainfall that has a lowered pH because it has mixed with sulfur compounds

Question 21

nitrogen dioxide (NO2)

Answer 21

toxic reddish-brown gas produced mainly by vehicle tailpipe emissary

Question 22

volatile organic compound (VOC)

Answer 22

toxic compound of hydrogen and carbon; also called a hydrocarbon

Question 23

photochemical smog

Answer 23

air pollution formed by the action of sunlight on tailpipe emissions

Question 24

ozone (O3)

Answer 24

molecule that is a pollutant in the lower atmosphere, but blocks harmful solar UV radiation in the stratosphere

Question 25

particulate matter (PM)

Answer 25

liquid and solid particles (aerosols) suspended in the atmosphere

Question 26

CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons)

Answer 26

class of ozone degrading compounds used mainly as refrigerants, aerosol propellants, and fire retardants