The Atmosphere Flashcards
atmosphere
a mixture of gases that surrounds a planet, such as Earth
atmospheric pressure
the force per unit area that is exerted on a surface by the weight of the atmosphere
troposphere
the lowest layer of the atmosphere, in which temperature drops at a constant rate as altitude increases; the part of the atmosphere where weather conditions exist
stratosphere
the layer of the atmosphere that lies between the troposphere and the mesosphere in which temperature increases as altitude increases; includes the ozone layer
mesosphere
the coldest layer of the atmosphere, between the stratosphere and the thermosphere, in which temperature decreases as altitude increases
thermosphere
the uppermost layer of the atmosphere, in which temperature increases as altitude increases; includes the ionosphere
electromagnetic spectrum
all of the frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation
albedo
the fraction of solar radiation that is reflected off the surface of an object
greenhouse effect
the warming of the surface and lower atmosphere of Earth that occurs when carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other gases in the air absorb and reradiate infrared radiation
conduction
the transfer of heat energy as heat through a material
convection
the movement of matter due to the differences in density that are caused by temperature variations; can result in the transfer of heat energy
Coriolis effect
the curving of the path of a moving object from an otherwise straight path due to the Earth’s rotation
trade winds
prevailing winds that blow from east to west for 30 degrees latitude to the equator in both hemispheres
westerlies
prevailing winds that blow from west to east between 30 and 60 degrees latitude in both hemispheres
polar easterlies
prevailing winds that blow from east to west between 60 and 90 degrees latitude in both hemispheres
