Chapter 15 Atmosphere Flashcards
Air pressure
The measure of the force with which air molecules push on a surface
Altitude
The height of an object above Earth’s surface
Troposphere
The lowest layer of the atmosphere
Stratosphere
The atmospheric layer above the troposphere
Ozone
A gas molecule that is made up of three oxygen atoms and that absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the sun
Mesosphere
The strong,lower part of the mantle between the asthenosphere and the outer core
Thermosphere
The uppermost layer of the atmosphere
Radiation
The transfer of energy as electromagnetic waves such as visible light or infrareds
Conduction
The transfer of thermal energy from one materials on another by direct contact
Convention
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 Earth,by which gases in the atmosphere trap thermal energy
Global warming
A rise in average global temperature
Wind
Moving air
Coriolanus effect
The curving of moving object from a straight path due to Earths rotation
Trade winds
The winds that blow 30 degrees latitude to the equator
Polar easterlies
Wind belts that extend from the poles to 60 degrees latitude in both hemispheres
Jet stream
Narrow belts of high speed winds that blow in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere
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 acid due to air pollution
Atmosphere
A mixture of gases that surrounds a planet, such as Earth
