m Flashcards
Troposphere
the lowest region of the atmosphere, extending from the earth’s surface; weather occurs here
Stratosphere
the layer of the earth’s atmosphere above the troposphere; ozone layer is located here
Mesosphere
The region of the earth’s atmosphere above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere; coldest layer
Thermosphere
the region of the atmosphere above the mesosphere and below the height at which the atmosphere ceases to have the properties of a continuous medium
Cyanobacteria
A division of microorganisms that are related to the bacteria but are capable of photosynthesis. They are prokaryotic and represent the earliest known form of life on the earth.
Ozone
A colorless unstable toxic gas with a pungent odor and powerful oxidizing properties, formed from oxygen by electrical discharges or ultraviolet light. It differs from normal oxygen (O2) in having three atoms in its molecule
Greenhouse Effect
the trapping of the sun’s warmth in a planet’s lower atmosphere, due to the greater transparency of the atmosphere to visible radiation from the sun than to infrared radiation emitted from the planet’s surface.
Albedo
The proportion of the incident light or radiation that is reflected by a surface
Conduction
The process by which heat, or electricity is directly transmitted through a substance when there is a difference of temperature or of electrical potential between adjoining regions, without movement of the material.
Convection
The movement caused within a fluid by the tendency of hotter and therefore less dense material to rise, and colder, denser material to sink under the influence of gravity, which consequently results in transfer of heat
Radiation
The emission of energy and heat as electromagnetic waves or as moving subatomic particles, especially high-energy particles which cause ionization.
Insolation
exposure to the sun’s rays; the amount of solar radiation reaching a given area.
Air Pressure
The force exerted by air, whether compressed or unconfined, on any surface in contact with it.
Dew Point
the atmospheric temperature (varying according to pressure and humidity) below which water droplets begin to condense and dew can form
Humidity
the state or quality of being humid; a quantity representing the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere or in a gas
Relative Humidity
The amount of water vapor present in air expressed as a percentage of the amount needed for saturation at the same temperature
Air Mass
A body of air with horizontally uniform temperature, humidity, and pressure.
Jet Stream
A narrow variable band of very strong predominantly westerly air currents encircling the globe several miles above the earth
Anticyclone
a weather system with high atmospheric pressure at its center, around which air slowly circulates in a clockwise (northern hemisphere); happy weather
Cyclone
a system of winds rotating inward to an area of low atmospheric pressure, with a counterclockwise (northern hemisphere) circulation; lousy weather
Front
a boundary separating air masses of several characteristics
Hurricane
a storm with a violent wind greater than 74 mph sustained winds
Storm Surge
a rising of the sea because of atmospheric pressure changes and wind associated with a storm
Tornado
a mobile, destructive vortex of violently rotating winds having the appearance of a funnel-shaped cloud and advancing beneath a large storm system
Orographic Lifting
occurs when air is forced to rise and cool due to terrain features such as hills or mountains. If the cooling is sufficient, water vapor condenses into clouds. Additional cooling results in rain or snow
Global Climate Change
the average long-term changes over the entire Earth. These include warming temperatures and changes in precipitation, as well as the effects of Earth’s warming, such as: Rising sea levels. Shrinking mountain glaciers.
Weather
the state of the atmosphere at a place and time as regards heat, dryness, sunshine, wind, rain, etc.
Climate
the weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period.
Sea Breeze
a breeze blowing toward the land from the sea, especially during the day owing to the relative warmth of the land
Land Breeze
a breeze blowing toward the sea from the land, especially at night, owing to the relative warmth of the sea.
