Atmosphere Flashcards
A large body of air with similar characteristics of temperature and humidity.
Air mass
A measure of how much sunlight a surface reflects.
Albedo
The layers of gases that surround the Earth. The important gases in the atmosphere are nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Atmosphere
All winds, storms and cyclones are moving parts of a giant atmospheric heat transfer system. The greater the temperature gradient, the faster the system works to transfer energy.
Atmospheric circulation
Average weather conditions over long periods and over large areas.
Climate
The line around the centre of the Earth, parallel to the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.
Equator
The retention of heat in the atmosphere caused by the build up of greenhouse gases.
Greenhouse effect
Incoming solar energy is balanced by outgoing terrestrial (earth based) energy (geothermal and tidal).
Heat budget
When the air holds a lot of moisture.
Humid
Imaginary lines around the Earth running parallel to the equator. These are measured in degrees north and south of the equator.
Latitude
The top half (north) of the world, found anywhere above the equator.
Northern hemisphere
The place that is located at latitude 90 degrees north of the equator. It is the northernmost point on the Earth’s surface.
North Pole
The great ocean currents such as the Northern Atlantic Drift also help to transfer heat from the tropics towards the poles.
Oceanic currents
Moisture that falls from the air to the ground. Including rain, snow, hail, sleet, drizzle, fog and mist.
Precipitation
Energy from the sun -consisting of visible light, heat or infra-red radiation, ultra-violet and other forms of radiation.
Solar radiation
