Meteorology Flashcards
What are the main gasses in the atmosphere?
nitrogen and oxygen
what are the four main layers of the atmosphere?
troposphere
stratosphere
mesosphere
thermosphere
what does cumulus mean?
puffy
what does stratus mean?
layered
what does nimbus mean
rain
what does cirrus mean
high, feathery
what does strato mean
low
what does alto mean
middle
what does cirro mean
high level
what does hydrosphere mean
all the water on earth
what is relative humitidy
a value the shows how near the air is to its maximum capacity for holding water
what is dew point
temperature at which condensation occurs
what is saturated air
when there is so much water vapor in the air that the rate of condensation equals the rate of evaporation
what is a sling psychrometer
an instrument that works on the principle that evaporation is a cooling process
what is condensation nuclei
tiny particles that water vapor condenses onto
what is air pressure
weight of the atmosphere per unit of area