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Question 1

Troposphere

Answer 1

the lowest region of the atmosphere, extending from the earth’s surface; weather occurs here

Question 2

Stratosphere

Answer 2

the layer of the earth’s atmosphere above the troposphere; ozone layer is located here

Question 3

Mesosphere

Answer 3

The region of the earth’s atmosphere above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere; coldest layer

Question 4

Thermosphere

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Cyanobacteria

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

Ozone

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Greenhouse Effect

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

Albedo

Answer 8

The proportion of the incident light or radiation that is reflected by a surface

Question 9

Conduction

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

Convection

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Radiation

Answer 11

The emission of energy and heat as electromagnetic waves or as moving subatomic particles, especially high-energy particles which cause ionization.

Question 12

Insolation

Answer 12

exposure to the sun’s rays; the amount of solar radiation reaching a given area.

Question 13

Air Pressure

Answer 13

The force exerted by air, whether compressed or unconfined, on any surface in contact with it.

Question 14

Dew Point

Answer 14

the atmospheric temperature (varying according to pressure and humidity) below which water droplets begin to condense and dew can form

Question 15

Humidity

Answer 15

the state or quality of being humid; a quantity representing the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere or in a gas

Question 16

Relative Humidity

Answer 16

The amount of water vapor present in air expressed as a percentage of the amount needed for saturation at the same temperature

Question 17

Air Mass

Answer 17

A body of air with horizontally uniform temperature, humidity, and pressure.

Question 18

Jet Stream

Answer 18

A narrow variable band of very strong predominantly westerly air currents encircling the globe several miles above the earth

Question 19

Anticyclone

Answer 19

a weather system with high atmospheric pressure at its center, around which air slowly circulates in a clockwise (northern hemisphere); happy weather

Question 20

Cyclone

Answer 20

a system of winds rotating inward to an area of low atmospheric pressure, with a counterclockwise (northern hemisphere) circulation; lousy weather

Question 21

Front

Answer 21

a boundary separating air masses of several characteristics

Question 22

Hurricane

Answer 22

a storm with a violent wind greater than 74 mph sustained winds

Question 23

Storm Surge

Answer 23

a rising of the sea because of atmospheric pressure changes and wind associated with a storm

Question 24

Tornado

Answer 24

a mobile, destructive vortex of violently rotating winds having the appearance of a funnel-shaped cloud and advancing beneath a large storm system

Question 25

Orographic Lifting

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Global Climate Change

Answer 26

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.

Question 27

Weather

Answer 27

the state of the atmosphere at a place and time as regards heat, dryness, sunshine, wind, rain, etc.

Question 28

Climate

Answer 28

the weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period.

Question 29

Sea Breeze

Answer 29

a breeze blowing toward the land from the sea, especially during the day owing to the relative warmth of the land

Question 30

Land Breeze

Answer 30

a breeze blowing toward the sea from the land, especially at night, owing to the relative warmth of the sea.