atmosphere vocabulary cards

Question 1

Troposphere

Answer 1

The lowest layer of the Earth’s atmosphere. Air is heated in the troposphere from radiation that bounces off of the Earth’s surface.

Question 2

Exosphere

Answer 2

The outermost layer of the Earth’s atmosphere, before space.

Question 3

Ionosphere-

Answer 3

Electronically charged particles-that play a role in Earth’s everyday communications and navigation systems. For example, radio waves and GPS through the atmosphere (found between Thermosphere and Exosphere)

Question 4

Thermal energy

Answer 4

energy in the form of heat.
(The thermal energy of a substance is equal to the total kinetic energy of its atoms and/or molecules).

Question 5

Radiation

Answer 5

the transfer of energy through space or matter in the form of electromagnetic waves.
o Different types of radiation are distinguished by the wavelength of the waves.

o Types of radiation (from longest to shortest wavelength) include radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X rays, and gamma rays.

o Most hot objects radiate heat in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Question 6

Conduction

Answer 6

the transfer of heat through a material or from one object to another by direct contact.

Question 7

Stratosphere

Answer 7

the second layer of the atmosphere. This layer is located in between the Troposphere and the Mesosphere. The prefix Strato means layer. Within this layer, there is no weather, therefore, the bottom is cold air (heavy density) and the top is warm air (light density) as there is no turbulence to stir up the air.

Question 8

Mesosphere

Answer 8

the third layer of the atmosphere. This layer is located in between the Stratosphere and the Thermosphere. The prefix Meso means middle. Within this layer, the gases are all mixed up, the coldest at -130 ℉, and is 22 miles thick!

Question 9

Thermosphere

Answer 9

the fourth layer of the atmosphere. This layer is located in between the Mesosphere and the Exosphere. The prefix Thermo means heat. This layer absorbs all of the sun’s heat, therefore, this layer reaches up to 4,500 ℉. The International Space station is located here, satellites orbit the Earth here, and also the special layer, the ionosphere is located within the thermosphere.

Question 10

Smog

Answer 10

Smog is a type of air pollution caused by tiny particles in the air. The word comes from a mixture of the words smoke and fog and was first used to describe the hazy mixture of smoke and sulfur dioxide produced by the burning of large amounts of coal in London in the early 1900s. Today, smog generally refers to photochemical smog, which is the haze created when sunlight reacts with nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds that can be found in fossil fuel emissions from automobiles, factories, and power plants.

Question 11

Ambient air

Answer 11

portion of the atmosphere that we breathe.

Question 12

Particulate matter

Answer 12

Ultrafine particles smaller than .1 micrometer found in the troposphere. (an average human hir is 100 micrometers in diameter). These particles are associated with serious health problems such as including respiratory diseases, heart attacks, strokes and cancer, as well as developmental problems in children.

Question 13

Ozone Layer

Answer 13

This is not the air we breathe! It is made up of 03 molecules. We breathe 02! Like a sponge, the ozone layer absorbs bits of radiation hitting Earth from the sun. The ozone layer acts as a shield, 1 extra Oxygen molecule, for life on Earth. Remember, it is found between the troposphere and the stratosphere.

Question 14

Biomagnification

Answer 14

refers to the increased concentration of a toxic chemical the higher an animal is on the food chain.